Munster Technological University (MTU) is a public technological university in Cork and Kerry, established on 1 January 2021.[1] It has six principal campuses and a student body of about 18,000.[2] We could not confirm a position for MTU in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[3]
Non-EU students pay €13,500 a year for undergraduate and most postgraduate programmes, and €15,000 for three MSc programmes; scholarships of €2,500 or €3,000 for 2026/27 reduce this to €11,000 or €12,000.[4] The usual English requirement is IELTS Academic 6.0 (no section below 5.5), or 6.5 for postgraduate media, business, art and music programmes.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Munster Technological University (MTU) |
| Location | Cork and Tralee, Ireland; six principal campuses (Bishopstown, Kerry North, Kerry South, Cork School of Music, Crawford College of Art & Design, National Maritime College of Ireland)[2] |
| Type | Public, multi-campus technological university[1] |
| Established | 1 January 2021, by merging Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee[1] |
| Students | A student body of 18,000[2] |
| Staff | Over 2,000 members of staff (Wikipedia; MTU’s own figure did not load on the page we read)[6] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Position could not be confirmed[3] |
| Tuition, non-EU undergraduate | €13,500 per year[4] |
| Tuition, non-EU postgraduate | €13,500 per year; €15,000 per year for MSc Data Science and Analytics, MSc Cybersecurity and MSc Artificial Intelligence[4] |
| Scholarship 2026/27 (self-funded non-EU) | €2,500 (fee after scholarship €11,000) or €3,000 for the three higher-fee MSc programmes (€12,000)[4] |
| Student contribution, EU students | €2,500 per year on MTU’s page; €2,350 on the HEA page (see fee section)[7] |
| English requirement | IELTS Academic 6.0 (no section below 5.5) for undergraduate and postgraduate engineering, maths and computing; 6.5 (no section below 6.0) for postgraduate media, business, art and music[5] |
| Official website | mtu.ie |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Munster Technological University
MTU was established on 1 January 2021 from the former Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee.[1] Its creation was announced in May 2020.[6] The HEA describes it as a multi-campus technological university that provides academic programmes and research for its region.[1]
The six principal campuses are Bishopstown in Cork, Kerry North and Kerry South in Tralee, the Cork School of Music and Crawford College of Art & Design in Cork city, and the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy, Cork Harbour.[2] MTU reports about 18,000 students[2] and, according to Wikipedia, over 2,000 staff.[6]
How is MTU ranked?
We could not confirm a position for MTU in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026; QS’s site blocks automated access. A news report on the results lists eight Irish institutions, and MTU is not among them.[3] We do not read that as proof that MTU is unranked, because the report may list only the better-placed Irish institutions. MTU’s pages that we read state no ranking position.[2] Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at MTU?
MTU offers the full range of higher education qualifications, from honours bachelor degrees to master’s and PhD.[2] The campuses have different subject strengths:
- Bishopstown Campus (Cork): Business, Science, Computing, Engineering, Media Communications and Humanities.
- Kerry campuses (Tralee): three principal schools: Business, Computing & Humanities; Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics; and Health & Social Sciences.
- Cork School of Music: honours degrees in music, theatre and drama, and popular music, plus MA and PhD degrees.
- Crawford College of Art & Design: fine art and contemporary applied art, with postgraduate programmes in fine art, art education and art therapy.
- National Maritime College of Ireland: nautical science, marine engineering and marine electrotechnology.
How much does MTU cost for international students?
| Programme (non-EU) | Fee per year | 2026/27 scholarship | Fee after scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | €13,500 | €2,500 | €11,000 |
| Postgraduate, MSc Data Science and Analytics, MSc Cybersecurity, MSc Artificial Intelligence | €15,000 | €3,000 | €12,000 |
| Postgraduate, all other programmes | €13,500 | €2,500 | €11,000 |
MTU’s non-EU fee page shows these fees without a year; its scholarship table is headed academic year 2026/2027.[4] The MA Art Therapy costs €13,500 for the whole two-year programme, and scholarships do not apply to it.[4] The Cork campus page for 2027/28 lists the same fees.[5] The fee, or the fee net of a scholarship, that applies in your first year stays the same for later years of a longer programme, unless you defer or take a break of a year or more.[4]
Scholarships are awarded automatically to approved candidates who are self-funded and classed as non-EU for fees; MTU says it offers no full scholarships.[4] For 2027/28 the Cork page gives a smaller scholarship (€1,500) to later applicants.[5] A non-refundable €1,000 deposit secures the place and is deducted from the tuition.[5]
EU students and the student contribution
Under the Free Fees Initiative the government pays tuition for many first-time EU undergraduates; they pay the student contribution, which MTU’s page gives as €2,500 a year, plus a €7 students’ union levy (Cork) or a €95 campus levy (Kerry).[7] The HEA’s Free Fees page states €2,350 for 2026/27.[8] The Irish Times reported on 6 October 2026 that Budget 2027 cuts the maximum contribution by €150 to €2,350, without saying from which year.[9] Confirm the amount that applies to you with MTU. Non-EU students are initially assessed at €13,500, though many can qualify for the EU rate.[7] For living costs see our Ireland guide.
How do you apply to MTU?
- EU applicants (undergraduate): apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO). EU fees depend on residency, not citizenship: you must be a full-time tax resident in an EU country for 3 of the last 5 years.[10]
- Non-EU applicants, Cork campuses: complete the online application form, then reply to the automated email with your documents merged into one PDF. Undergraduates send passport, CV, school-leaving certificate, English certificate if applicable and a statement of purpose of about 500 words; postgraduates add the degree certificate and full transcripts. You can apply without an English certificate but must supply one if made an offer.[5]
- Some non-EU applicants may use the CAO, for example those living in Ireland or the EU for more than three of the last five years with a Stamp 4EU, or with refugee or humanitarian status. Anyone resident outside the EU in the past five years should contact the relevant MTU admissions office first.[10]
Some programmes, such as the Cork School of Music undergraduate courses (audition) and the MSc Art Therapy, have their own closing dates and extra forms. We give no deadlines here because they change every year; check the Cork campus page for your programme. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an offer.[5]
Which English level do you need?
MTU sets two levels for non-native speakers.[5]
| Test | Level 1 | Level 2 |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0, no section below 5.5 | 6.5, no section below 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 80 (Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17) | 90 (Listening 23, Reading 21, Speaking 22, Writing 23) |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 59, no section below 56 | 63, no section below 59 |
| Duolingo | 105, no section below 100 | 120, no section below 110 |
Level 1 covers all undergraduate programmes and postgraduate engineering, mathematics and computer science. Level 2 covers postgraduate media, business, art and design, and music programmes.[5] Tests must be taken within two years of the programme start, and you may need a test for your visa even if MTU does not ask for one.[10]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are MTU fees for non-EU students?
€13,500 a year for undergraduate and most postgraduate programmes, and €15,000 for MSc Data Science and Analytics, Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence. For 2026/27 a scholarship of €2,500 or €3,000 can reduce this.[4]
Does MTU offer scholarships to international students?
Yes, partial ones: €2,500 or €3,000 for 2026/27 for self-funded non-EU students on eligible programmes. MTU says it does not currently offer full scholarships.[4]
What English score does MTU require?
IELTS Academic 6.0 with no section below 5.5 for Level 1 programmes, and 6.5 with no section below 6.0 for Level 2 programmes.[5]
Is MTU ranked in the QS World University Rankings?
We could not confirm an MTU position in the 2027 edition. A report on the results lists eight Irish institutions, none of them MTU.[3]
Is MTU the same as University College Cork?
No. MTU was formed in 2021 from Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee.[1] University College Cork is a separate university.
More about studying in Ireland
- Ireland: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Ireland
- Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
- Dublin City University (DCU)
- Maynooth University
- National College of Art and Design (NCAD)
- RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM)
- South East Technological University (SETU)
- Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
- Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Cork
- University College Dublin
- University of Galway
- University of Limerick (UL)
Sources
[1] Higher Education Authority: Munster Technological University (page without a date)
[2] MTU: Our Campuses (page published 13 Aug 2026)
[3] TheJournal.ie: Six Irish universities rise in global rankings (QS 2027) (article of 18 Jun 2026; lists eight Irish institutions, MTU not among them; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access)
[4] MTU: Non-EU Tuition Fees and Scholarships (page published 21 Oct 2026; fee table without a year, scholarship table for 2026/27)
[5] MTU: Non-EU applicants to the Cork campuses (page published 30 Oct 2026; fees shown for 2027/28)
[6] Wikipedia: Munster Technological University (history and staff figure; secondary source)
[7] MTU: Full-time Undergraduate Fees, New Students (page published 17 Aug 2026; its EU tuition table is for 2023/24 and is not used here)
[8] Higher Education Authority: Free Fees Initiative (page without a date; states the 2026/27 student contribution)
[9] The Irish Times: Student contribution fees permanently cut by €150 in Budget 2027 (article of 6 Oct 2026; does not state the academic year the cut applies from)
[10] MTU: EU applicants, how to apply (page published 21 Oct 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.