DCU Postraduate Guide 2026

Careers Service With 95% of our graduates either employed full-time or pursuing further study within six months of graduation, DCU takes pride in its award-winning Careers Service. We are here to support international students to navigate the Irish job market - identifying career paths, refining your CV and LinkedIn profile, and preparing you for interviews. Throughout the year, our Careers Service hosts various events, including career fairs and events specifically tailored for international and postgraduates students. These events provide opportunities to connect with employers, gain valuable insights, and prepare for life after graduation. Working in Ireland as an International Student Ireland’s Employer Ecosystem Ireland is the European base for over 1,000 leading multinational companies in sectors such as IT, pharmaceuticals, and finance. Major companies like Google, IBM, Meta, Pfizer, Oracle, and Deloitte have all chosen Ireland as their hub, creating a demand for a skilled and educated workforce to support their success. Working in Ireland while Studying Students attending a full-time course who have an Irish Residence Permit card are entitled to take up casual/ part-time employment while studying in Ireland provided that their course of study is included on the government’s list of visa-eligible courses, known as the ILEP. This will entitle you to undertake part-time work for up to 20 hours per week during term time, and up to 40 hours full-time work per week during two standardised periods of 15 December to 15 January and between 1 June and 30 September. These dates are subject to change and are fixed for all non-EU students,regardless of the actual programme teaching calendar for their course. In order to work in Ireland you will need to get a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN), but you need to have evidence of a job offer to secure one. The first step is to find work, and then apply for a PPSN. You can find out more fromCitizens’ Information: citizensinformation.ie Working in Ireland after you Graduate After successfully completing your studies you can take advantage of a “stay-back” visa to remain and work in Ireland. International students who complete an undergraduate degree at DCU can apply for the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G). Stamp 1G allows you to work in Ireland for 12 months from the date of issue of final results. International students who complete aMaster’s Degree, a Postgraduate Diploma or a PhD can also apply for the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G). This allows you to work in Ireland for 24 months after you graduate. Full details can be found at: irishimmigration.ie DCUGlobal Community 21