No. National College of Ireland is an independent, not-for-profit college funded by the Higher Education Authority, and its degrees are awarded through QQI, Ireland’s national qualifications body. Its master’s are Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (the same level as a university master’s), which is what Stamp 1G and employers look at.

Does an NCI master’s qualify for Stamp 1G?

Yes. An NCI master’s is a Level 9 award, so graduates can get up to 24 months of Stamp 1G stay-back, with no job offer needed. NCI’s Higher Diploma is Level 8 and gives up to 12 months instead, which is worth weighing against its lower fee.

NCI vs DBS: which is better?

It depends on budget and subject. DBS master’s cost €14,500–€15,575 with a €500 deposit, and many also start in April. NCI charges €17,000 with a €7,500 deposit, but its automatic merit scholarship can bring the possible net fee to €12,000 if you are eligible.

What is the NCI fee for a master’s?

Every NCI master’s on the January 2027 list costs €17,000 (about ₹18.7 lakh), with a €7,500 deposit and no application fee. The NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship takes up to €5,000 off automatically, depending on your degree percentage, so the possible net fee is from €12,000 if you are eligible.

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Ireland

National College of Ireland: Fees, Courses & Admissions for Indian Students (2027)

Updated on 30 September 2026Written by Amit SouravReviewed by Ashmita Agarwal

Dublin (IFSC)

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Is NCI good for Indian students?

For an affordable Dublin master’s, yes. NCI is an independent, HEA-funded college on Dublin’s IFSC campus. Each of its 9 master’s for January 2027 costs €17,000 (about ₹18.7 lakh), up to €5,000 can come off automatically if you are eligible, and a Level 9 master’s gives up to 24 months of stay-back.

Open for January 2027 (of 10)

from €17,000

Lowest list fee

€7,500

Deposit to hold a place

24 months

Stamp 1G after a Level 9 master’s

Overview

About National College of Ireland

National College of Ireland is an independent, not-for-profit college funded by the Higher Education Authority. Its awards are made through QQI, and it teaches on the IFSC campus in Dublin’s docklands, the city’s financial district.

University highlights

One flat fee for every master’s on the January list: €17,000

NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship: up to €5,000 off automatically, by degree percentage

9 master’s open for January 2027, mostly in AI, data, cloud and cyber security

IFSC campus in the heart of Dublin’s financial district

Key facts

NCI at a glance

National College of Ireland: key facts for Indian applicants
Fact	NCI
Type	Independent, HEA-funded
City	Dublin (IFSC)
Intakes (our partner list)	January, September
January 2027 courses	9 open · 1 closed for January
Application fee	Waived
Deposit to hold a place	€7,500
IELTS (typical)	6.0–6.5 (indicative only; check the official page)
Stamp 1G stay-back	Up to 24 months after a Level 9 master’s; up to 12 after a Level 8 degree or diploma
Work rights while studying	20 hrs/week in term, 40 in holidays

National College of Ireland: key facts for Indian applicantsLast checked 30 September 2026Source: AdmitVerse partner course data, January 2027 intake. Confirm on the official course page before paying

Intakes

NCI January 2027 intake

9 of 10 NCI courses on our list are open for the January–February 2027 intake; Higher Diploma in Science in Computing is closed for January.

Course guides

NCI

MSc Artificial Intelligence

National College of Ireland

MSc Data Analytics

National College of Ireland

MSc Cyber Security

National College of Ireland

MSc Cloud Computing

National College of Ireland

MSc Artificial Intelligence for Business

National College of Ireland

MSc Management

National College of Ireland

Higher Diploma in Science in Computing

National College of Ireland

Every NCI course on our list

10 of 10 programs · 9 open

National College of Ireland: January 2027 courses, fees and status
Program	Institution	NFQ level	Fee	Duration	Intakes	Deposit	App fee	January
MSc Artificial Intelligence	National College of Ireland	Level 9	€17,000≈ ₹18.7 lakhPossible net fee, if eligible: from €12,000 (≈ ₹13.2 lakh) with the NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship (up to €5,000)	12 months	Sep, Jan	€7,500	Waived	Open
MSc Data Analytics	National College of Ireland	Level 9	€17,000≈ ₹18.7 lakhPossible net fee, if eligible: from €12,000 (≈ ₹13.2 lakh) with the NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship (up to €5,000)	12 months	Sep, Jan	€7,500	Waived	Open
MSc Cyber Security	National College of Ireland	Level 9	€17,000≈ ₹18.7 lakhPossible net fee, if eligible: from €12,000 (≈ ₹13.2 lakh) with the NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship (up to €5,000)	12 months	Sep, Jan	€7,500	Waived	Open
MSc Cloud Computing	National College of Ireland	Level 9	€17,000≈ ₹18.7 lakhPossible net fee, if eligible: from €12,000 (≈ ₹13.2 lakh) with the NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship (up to €5,000)	12 months	Sep, Jan	€7,500	Waived	Open
MSc Business Analytics for Decision Makers	National College of Ireland	Level 9	€17,000≈ ₹18.7 lakhPossible net fee, if eligible: from €12,000 (≈ ₹13.2 lakh) with the NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship (up to €5,000)	12 months	Sep, Jan	€7,500	Waived	Open
MSc Artificial Intelligence for Business	National College of Ireland	Level 9	€17,000≈ ₹18.7 lakhPossible net fee, if eligible: from €12,000 (≈ ₹13.2 lakh) with the NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship (up to €5,000)	12 months	Sep, Jan	€7,500	Waived	Open
MSc International Business	National College of Ireland	Level 9	€17,000≈ ₹18.7 lakhPossible net fee, if eligible: from €12,000 (≈ ₹13.2 lakh) with the NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship (up to €5,000)	12 months	Sep, Jan	€7,500	Waived	Open
MSc Management	National College of Ireland	Level 9	€17,000≈ ₹18.7 lakhPossible net fee, if eligible: from €12,000 (≈ ₹13.2 lakh) with the NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship (up to €5,000)	12 months	Sep, Jan	€7,500	Waived	Open
MA Human Resource Management	National College of Ireland	Level 9	€17,000≈ ₹18.7 lakhPossible net fee, if eligible: from €12,000 (≈ ₹13.2 lakh) with the NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship (up to €5,000)	12 months	Sep, Jan	€7,500	Waived	Open
Higher Diploma in Science in Computing	National College of Ireland	Level 8	€12,000≈ ₹13.2 lakhPossible net fee, if eligible: €8,000 (≈ ₹8.8 lakh) with the NCI Higher Diploma Scholarship	12 months	Sep	€7,500	Waived	Closed for January

National College of Ireland: January 2027 courses, fees and statusLast checked 30 September 2026Source: AdmitVerse partner course data, January 2027 intake. Confirm on the official course page before paying

₹ figures use €1 = ₹110 (September 2026 mid-market rate). Your bank’s rate on the day you pay will differ. Fees are as quoted for the January 2027 intake. Confirm on the official course page before paying.

January 2027 intake

What is open, what is closed and what to pay NCI before the visa.

NCI January intake guide

Fees

NCI fees in € and ₹

List fees first. A possible net fee is shown only for a named, verified scholarship, and only if you are eligible.

National College of Ireland: January 2027 list fees and possible net fees
Level	Courses	List fee	Possible net fee, if eligible
Postgraduate (master’s)	9 courses, incl. MSc Artificial Intelligence, MSc Data Analytics	€17,000≈ ₹18.7 lakh	from €12,000 (≈ ₹13.2 lakh) with the NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship

National College of Ireland: January 2027 list fees and possible net feesLast checked 30 September 2026Source: AdmitVerse partner course data, January 2027 intake. Confirm on the official course page before paying

Funding and work

Scholarships and work rights

Verified scholarships

Possible net fee only if you are eligible; never guaranteed.

Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship

Master’s and PhD applicants; separate annual HEA application, 60 awards

Full tuition + €10,000

NCI Masters Academic Merit Scholarship

Automatic for NCI master’s applicants, by degree percentage, if eligible

Up to €5,000

No other NCI scholarship figure is verified yet, so plan on the list fee.

Work rights

During study

20 hrs a week in term, 40 in the holidays, on Stamp 2

After graduation

Stamp 1G: up to 24 months after a Level 9 master’s, 12 after a Level 8 degree, with no job offer needed

Plan your budget

Honest answer

NCI: pros and cons

Dublin (IFSC)