A person in dentistry training)

Dentistry

Bachelor of Dental Surgery, BDS (Hons)
School of Dentistry

Fees and funding

All applicants to RCSI Undergraduate programmes are categorised as either EU or Non-EU, depending on whether they meet the EU applicant criteria (which includes nationality and residency criteria).

If you do not meet the criteria for EU applicant status, you will be deemed a Non-EU applicant for fees and application purposes. It is important to establish your status before making an application as students retain their EU/Non-EU fee status for the duration of their studies.

To determine your EU or Non-EU applicant and fees category, please consult RCSI’s EU vs Non-EU policy. 

Irish and EU applicants

All RCSI Undergraduate degree programmes are covered under the Irish Government’s Free Fees Initiative.

Under the terms of the Free Fees Initiative, the Irish Exchequer will pay tuition fees on behalf of students who:

  • Meet the eligibility criteria for EU applicant status, as outlined in more detail above
  • Undertake a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years' duration
  • Are first time, full-time undergraduate students, and
  • Are not repeating the year due to failing exams or changing course (Note: This exclusion may be waived if repeating a year due to a certified serious illness).

How much do I pay under the Free Fees Initiative?

  • The Free Fees Initiative will cover the tuition component of your Undergraduate Dentistry course fee 
  • Students covered under Free Fees are required to pay a student contribution charge* - for the 2025/2026 academic year this is expected to be in the region of €3,000, but is yet to be confirmed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA)
  • Please note: All registered Dentistry students are required to pay a once-off charge for the use of school equipment and instruments of €4,000 at the beginning of Year 2
  • Students covered under Free Fees are also required to pay the balance of non-tuition costs (in addition to the student contribution charge), which are shown below
  • Students who qualify for Free Fees and the SUSI Grant are not required to pay a student contribution charge, but will be liable for the non-tuition costs listed below:

Non-tuition costs (excluding student contribution charge)
for students who qualify for Free Fees / students who qualify
for Free Fees and SUSI Grant)
IT fee** €475
Health screening charge*** (once-off charge) €380
NUI fee**** (once-off charge) €135
Total non-tuition costs (for academic year 2025/2026) €990

Note: If you are an Irish or EU student who does not qualify for Free Fees, you are liable for EU Fees.

How much do I pay if I am a School Leaver applicant liable for EU Fees?

  • EU Dentistry tuition fees have not yet been published for the 2025/26 academic year and will be available in due course
  • Students liable for EU Fees are required to pay a student contribution charge* in addition to tuition fees - for the 2025/2026 academic year this is expected to be in the region of €3,000, but is yet to be confirmed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA)
  • Please note: All registered Dentistry students are required to pay a once-off charge for the use of school equipment and instruments of €4,000 at the beginning of Year 2
  • Students liable for EU fees are also required to pay the balance of non-tuition costs, which are shown below:

Non-tuition costs for students who are liable for EU Fees
IT fee** €475
Health screening charge*** (once-off charge) €380
NUI fee**** (once-off charge) €135
Total non-tuition costs (for academic year 2025/2026) €990

*The student contribution charge applies in all universities in Ireland and covers non-tuition costs such as library services, examinations, student support services, welfare and counselling services etc.

**The IT fee is an annual charge to cover the costs of providing significant IT support which is essential to the delivery of the Undergraduate programmes.

***RCSI has a duty of care to its students and to the patients with whom they engage. Students risk being exposed to blood-borne viruses (BBV) in the clinical setting throughout their academic programme. To minimise the risk of infection, students are required to undergo BBV screening and vaccinations in the first year of their studies. This is delivered through Mercer’s Medical Centre.  

****The Undergraduate Degrees issued by RCSI are the degrees of the National University of Ireland (NUI). This fee is a once-off registration fee with the NUI.

Non-EU applicants

If you are unsure whether you are an EU or Non-EU applicant, please consult the EU vs Non-EU Policy for guidance. 

You can also contact the RCSI Admissions Office directly to verify your fees status, however, this must be done well in advance of the closing date.

How much do I pay if I am liable for Non-EU Fees?

Fees for the 2025/26 academic year are listed below:

Non-EU Dentistry tuition fees €61,000
NUI fee* (once-off charge) €135
Total fees (for academic year 2025/26) €61,135

*The Undergraduate Degrees issued by RCSI are the degrees of the National University of Ireland (NUI). This fee is a once-off registration fee with the NUI.

Please note:
All registered Dentistry students are required to pay a once-off charge for the use of school equipment and instruments of €4,000 at the beginning of Year 2.

The Non-EU Fees for Undergraduate Dentistry are subject to annual increases. The inflationary increase is expected to be in the order of 2% per annum.

Fee payment

The following fee payment process applies to applicants.

Incoming students (first year)

A minimum of 50% of fees are due prior to registration, with the balance due by 31 January.

Returning students (from second year onwards)

In subsequent years, 50% of fees are due prior to the start of the academic year, with the balance due by 31 January.

Fee payment methods

Fees are normally paid by electronic funds transfer, which is the best and fastest payment method. Further information on fee payment methods can be found in the student finance section.