The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) is a public technological university in Ireland’s Midwest and Midlands, established on 1 October 2021 from Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology.[1][2] Its website reports more than 15,000 students across seven campuses; Limerick and Athlone are the principal ones.[3]
Eligible EU students on a full-time first undergraduate degree pay no tuition under the Free Fees Initiative, only the student contribution, which is €2,350 for 2026/27.[4] Non-EU tuition on the fee schedule for the 2027/28 intake is €14,500 a year for undergraduate degrees and €14,500 to €21,500 for the taught master’s programmes listed.[5] We could not confirm an overall QS World University Rankings 2027 position for TUS.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | Technological University of the Shannon (TUS); established as “Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest”[1] |
| Locations | Limerick (Moylish Campus, Moylish Park, V94 EC5T) and Athlone (Athlone Campus, University Road, N37 HD68); further campuses in Limerick (Clare Street, Coonagh), Clonmel, Ennis and Thurles[7] |
| Type | Public technological university, the third in Ireland[2] |
| Established | 1 October 2021, from Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology[1] |
| Students | More than 15,000, across seven campuses[3] |
| Faculty areas | Business, Hospitality and Humanities; Engineering and Technology; Limerick School of Art and Design; Science and Health[3] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | No position found in the sources we read[6] |
| QS Stars rating | 5 stars overall, announced 19 February 2024 (a rating, not a league-table position)[8] |
| EU students, student contribution (2026/27) | €2,350 for full-time undergraduates eligible for the Free Fees Initiative[4] |
| Non-EU tuition (2027/28 schedule) | Undergraduate €14,500; foundation €12,000; taught master’s €14,500–€21,500 per year[5] |
| International application | Online portal; €50 processing fee for direct applicants; €1,000 deposit within 21 days of an unconditional offer[9] |
| English language (international) | IELTS 5.0 foundation, 6.0 for NFQ levels 6–8, 6.5 for levels 9–10, or equivalent[10] |
| Official website | tus.ie |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About the Technological University of the Shannon
TUS was established on 1 October 2021 as “Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest”. The Higher Education Authority records that Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology applied together for technological university designation on 20 November 2020.[1] Wikipedia describes TUS as a public technological university, the third of its kind in Ireland, created from the two institutes.[2]
The university’s own site describes seven campuses across the Midwest and Midlands, with Limerick and Athlone as the principal locations, and more than 15,000 students.[3] Its study page for international students speaks of six campuses, so the count differs even within TUS’s own pages.[11] Wikipedia gives over 14,000 students, an older figure than the university’s own.[2]
How is TUS ranked?
We found no overall QS World University Rankings 2027 position for TUS. A summary of the QS 2027 results for Irish institutions, dated 18 June 2026, does not mention TUS and lists three other Irish technological universities as “Not ranked”.[6] We therefore give no position. How we compile rankings.
TUS does hold a QS Stars rating. It announced on 19 February 2024 that it had reached 5 stars, the highest level, with five stars in all eight assessed categories: teaching, employability, internationalisation, academic development, online learning, programme strength, arts and culture, and inclusiveness. The announcement says the rating is valid until February 2027.[8] A QS Stars rating is not a position in a league table of universities.
What can you study at TUS?
TUS groups its teaching into four faculty areas: Business, Hospitality and Humanities; Engineering and Technology; Limerick School of Art and Design (Clare Street, Limerick); and Science and Health.[3][7] Its study menu covers undergraduate courses applied for through the CAO, postgraduate courses, flexible and professional learning, and apprenticeships, and the university says it enrols students in hundreds of courses.[3] Programmes lead to awards at levels 6 to 10 of Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications.[10]
The non-EU fee schedule shows the breadth of the postgraduate offer. Examples are an MBA, MSc Data Analytics (Limerick and Athlone), MSc Biopharmaceutical Technology, MSc Software Engineering, MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence for Business, MA Fine Art, MA Accounting (Athlone) and MSc Applied Sports Performance (Thurles).[5] TUS Global also runs a foundation-level entry programme for international learners.[10]
How much does TUS cost?
Non-EU students
TUS publishes a non-EU annual fee schedule headed 2027/2028. Selected lines:[5]
| Programme | Non-EU fee per year (2027/28) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | €14,500 |
| Foundation | €12,000 |
| Higher Diploma in Business Management (Level 8) | €14,500 |
| Master of Business Administration (Level 9) | €20,500 |
| MSc Biopharmaceutical Technology | €21,500 |
| MSc Data Analytics (Limerick or Athlone) | €18,500 |
| MSc Software Engineering | €17,500 |
| MA Accounting (Athlone) | €16,500 |
| MA Fine Art | €14,500 |
The page states that the fee applicable at entry stays fixed for the full duration of the programme. We did not find a separate non-EU schedule for 2026/27 entry on the pages we read.[5]
Scholarships
TUS Global lists merit-based scholarships of up to €3,000 for undergraduates and up to €4,000 for postgraduates, based on grade point average, plus alumni, sibling, nursing, embassy and other awards. Except for the Homecoming and Partnership scholarships, the maximum awarded is €4,000, and scholarships are awarded at the point of application.[5]
EU students
The government has permanently reduced the student contribution under the Free Fees Initiative to €2,350 for 2026/27. It applies only to full-time undergraduates eligible for free fees; a student paying half by 31 October 2026 pays at most €1,175.[4] We did not read TUS amounts for EU students who do not qualify for free fees or for EU postgraduates.
How do you apply to TUS?
Irish and other EU undergraduates. TUS lists its undergraduate courses under “Undergraduate – CAO”.[3] A course page such as the BSc (Hons) in Computing with Artificial Intelligence shows a CAO code (US826) and, for that programme, the Leaving Certificate requirement of a minimum of 2 H5 and 4 O6/H7 grades in six subjects including Mathematics and English or Irish.[12] Check the page of your course for its own requirement and the CAO for points.
International students. Course pages say international applicants apply directly to the TUS international office,[12] through the online portal. The steps are:[9]
- Create an account with your details exactly as in your passport and verify your email.
- Start a new application and choose the academic year, study level and programme; you can save a draft.
- Pay the €50 non-refundable processing fee (deducted from the final tuition fee; applicants using a TUS agent do not pay it).
- Upload your documents: passport photo page, transcripts and certificates, proof of English, a CV, references if requested and a portfolio if the programme needs one.
- Wait for the decision; TUS aims to respond within two weeks of a complete submission.
- After an unconditional offer, pay the €1,000 deposit within 21 days.
We do not repeat intake dates because they change each year; the TUS Global study page lists which programmes and countries are closed for the current intake.[11]
Which English level do you need?
The TUS English Language Policy 2024–2029 (approved 22 November 2024) sets the minimum for international learners:[10]
| Entry level | Minimum IELTS | CEFR |
|---|---|---|
| International foundation (NFQ level 6) | 5.0 | B1 |
| NFQ levels 6, 7 and 8 (undergraduate) | 6.0 | B2 |
| NFQ levels 9 and 10 (master’s and doctorate) | 6.5 | C1 |
Certificates must have been awarded within the two years before entry, and TUS may set a higher standard where a programme needs it, for example for professionally regulated courses. The policy adds that the university’s language requirement is not the same as the one for Irish immigration purposes.[10] The TUS Global study page gives the same picture in its FAQ: IELTS 6.0 or equivalent for most undergraduate courses, 7.0 for nursing and 6.5 for postgraduate courses, with Duolingo, TOEFL and Pearson PTE also accepted. That page has no date, so use the policy as the reference.[11]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to study at TUS as a non-EU student?
On the non-EU fee schedule headed 2027/2028, undergraduate programmes cost €14,500 a year, the foundation year €12,000 and taught master’s programmes between €14,500 and €21,500 a year.[5]
Do EU students pay tuition fees at TUS?
Eligible EU students on a full-time first undergraduate degree pay no tuition under the Free Fees Initiative, only the student contribution of €2,350 for 2026/27.[4]
Is TUS in the QS World University Rankings?
What English score do I need for TUS?
IELTS 6.0 for undergraduate degrees (levels 6 to 8) and 6.5 for master’s and doctoral programmes, or an equivalent test; the international foundation needs 5.0. Certificates must be less than two years old.[10]
How do I apply to TUS from outside the EU?
Through the TUS international online portal: create an account, choose your programme, pay the €50 processing fee, upload your documents and, after an unconditional offer, pay a €1,000 deposit within 21 days.[9]
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
- Munster Technological University (MTU)
- 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)
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Cork
- University College Dublin
- University of Galway
- University of Limerick (UL)
Sources
[1] Higher Education Authority: Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (page without a date)
[2] Wikipedia: Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (secondary source; page last edited 5 Jun 2026)
[3] TUS: Our Story (page without a date; footer © 2025)
[4] TUS: Grants and fees, Midwest (student contribution) (page without a date; amounts for 2026/27)
[5] TUS Global: Fees & scholarships (non-EU annual fees) (page without a date; fee table headed 2027/2028)
[6] The Mentor’s Circle: QS 2027 Ireland, top lines (secondary source, page dated 18 Jun 2026; does not mention TUS)
[7] TUS: Contact us (campus addresses) (page without a date)
[8] TUS: QS 5 Star rating announcement (article of 19 Feb 2024)
[9] TUS Global: How to apply to TUS (page without a date; footer © 2025)
[10] TUS: English Language Policy 2024–2029 (approved by Academic Council on 22 Nov 2024)
[11] TUS Global: Study at TUS (page without a date; FAQ refers to the September 2026 intake)
[12] TUS: Computing with Artificial Intelligence, BSc (Hons) (US826) (page without a date; example of a course page with CAO code)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.