Shannon College of Hotel Management (University of Galway): Admissions, Fees & Careers Guide for International Students

Shannon College of Hotel Management, founded in 1951, is Ireland's only dedicated hotel management college and is now part of the University of Galway. Its degrees combine business study with hospitality practice and a work placement, and it teaches at its own campus near Shannon in the west of Ireland, with some final-year study on the University of Galway campus. This guide covers exactly what Shannon College of Hotel Management international students need to know: the programs, published fees, English requirements, campus life, and Ireland's post-study permission for graduates.

Quick facts snapshot

• Founded: 1951, Ireland's only dedicated hotel management college
• Status: part of the University of Galway, whose degrees it awards
• Undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Business Studies (International Hotel Management) and Bachelor of Commerce (International Hotel Management), both Level 8
• Postgraduate: three one-year master's programs
• International tuition: €19,300 per year for the undergraduate programs (2025/26 basis) and €19,300 for each one-year master's
• Fee rule: international students pay tuition for the first four years of their degree programs
• English requirement: IELTS 6.0 with no band below 6.0 for some programs, and 6.5 for postgraduate programs (third-party figures)
• Pathway: an International Foundation Business Programme is available as a one-year route

Rankings and reputation

Shannon College is not ranked separately in world university tables, because its degrees are awarded by the University of Galway, and any ranking belongs to that university. Its reputation is specialist: it has a long history of training hospitality managers, its degree includes paid or structured industry placements, and its graduates work in hotels and hospitality businesses in Ireland and abroad. Prospective students should judge it on placement quality, industry links, and graduate outcomes rather than on league tables.

Academics and how the degrees work

The Bachelor of Business Studies and Bachelor of Commerce are similar Level 8 business degrees. Students spend the first three years and the placement period studying and working together, and the two programs diverge in the final year. In the BBS, students stay at Shannon College and focus on general business and advanced hospitality modules while developing strategic hotel management skills. In the BComm, students study on the Galway campus and specialise in one business discipline, without hotel management modules in that year. Which one you choose shapes your options after graduation, so decide whether you want to stay in hospitality or keep the wider commerce route open.

Admissions and international eligibility

The college does not publish an acceptance rate that I could verify. International applicants need a secondary school qualification judged equivalent to Irish entry standards, and postgraduate applicants need a relevant bachelor's degree. An International Foundation Business Programme offers a one-year route for students who do not yet meet direct entry. A third-party source lists an application fee of €35.

English language requirements

• Some programs accept IELTS 6.0 overall with no band below 6.0 (third-party figure)
• Postgraduate programs require IELTS 6.5 or an equivalent test
• Duolingo and TOEFL results may be accepted at published equivalents
• Confirm the score for your program before you book a test

Application checklist

A typical application includes certified transcripts, English test results, and passport details. After an offer, non-EU students apply for an Irish study visa where required and register for an Irish Residence Permit after arrival.

Tuition, living costs, and scholarships

The college lists an international tuition fee of €19,300 per year for the undergraduate programs on a 2025/26 basis, and warns that fees may rise slightly for 2026/27. Each of the three one-year master's programs also costs €19,300 for international students. The college states that international students pay tuition for the first four years of their undergraduate degree, and it publishes a separate 2026 undergraduate fee sheet that I could not read, so ask for that sheet and confirm how the placement period is charged. Living costs, accommodation, and insurance are extra.

Estimated living costs in Ireland

• Accommodation in the Shannon area is generally cheaper than in Dublin or Galway city
• The college is close to Shannon Airport, which helps with international flights
• Non-EU students must register for an Irish Residence Permit and carry private medical insurance
• Student visa holders can work limited hours in term under current Irish rules
• Placement earnings can offset some costs, but confirm how your placement is paid

Scholarships

I could not confirm scholarships at Shannon College for international students. Ask the admissions office about University of Galway international scholarships and any awards for hospitality students.

Campus life and student support

Shannon College is a small, close-knit college, and students study, work, and often live together, so the community is tight. Hospitality training includes practical sessions, and the college links study with industry through placement. Students who choose the BComm move to the Galway campus for the final year and join a much larger student community.

Career outcomes and post-study work rights

Graduates work in hotel and resort management, events, food and beverage, revenue management, and wider business roles, in Ireland and internationally. Ask the college for recent graduate outcome data and the names of employers who hire its graduates.

Ireland's Stamp 1G stay-back scheme

Ireland's Third Level Graduate Programme, known as Stamp 1G, lets eligible non-EU graduates stay to look for work or work full-time after their degree. At the time of writing the period is generally 12 months after a bachelor's-level degree and 24 months after a master's or doctoral-level degree, based on the qualification's level on the National Framework of Qualifications. Rules change, so confirm the current conditions with the Irish immigration service and the college.

Health insurance and pre-arrival preparation

Non-EU students need private medical insurance as a condition of their residence permit. Budget for the first-year fee, the residence permit, flights, and a housing deposit, and arrange accommodation early.

What to expect in your first months

The first weeks involve orientation, registration, and settling into the college routine, which combines academic classes with practical hospitality training. Students who prepare for Irish hospitality standards and customer service early tend to make the most of their placements.

A realistic four-year budget

At €19,300 per year, four years of undergraduate tuition come to €77,200 before any fee increases, and a one-year master's is €19,300. Add accommodation, insurance, and living costs, and note that a placement may be paid, which can reduce net costs. Confirm the exact schedule in writing.

Questions to ask before you accept an offer

• How is the placement year charged and paid, and where are placements based?
• What is the difference between the BBS and the BComm for my career goals?
• How is the fee structured across the four charged years?
• Which scholarships are open to international students?
• What is the current Stamp 1G period for my qualification level?
• What support exists for finding accommodation near Shannon?

Who Shannon College suits best

Shannon College suits students who want a specialist hospitality management degree, a small college community, and a structured link with industry, within a University of Galway degree. It may suit less well students who want a large city campus, a wide choice of subjects, or the lowest possible fees.

Choosing between the BBS and the BComm

The BBS keeps you at Shannon College for the final year and deepens hospitality management skills, which suits students committed to a hotel and hospitality career. The BComm sends you to Galway in the final year to specialise in one business discipline, which suits students who want a broader commerce base or who may move to a different industry. Both are Level 8 degrees, so ask how each is viewed by employers and by further-study programs in your target countries.

Step-by-step application roadmap

1. Choose your program and check its fee and duration.
2. Confirm the English requirement and book a test if needed.
3. Apply with transcripts and passport details.
4. Accept your offer and pay any required deposit.
5. Apply for any visa needed, then register for your residence permit on arrival.
6. Book accommodation and attend orientation.

Preparing your documents early

Gather certified transcripts, English results, and proof of funds, and ask the college for written confirmation of fees, the placement structure, and refund terms.

Working in hospitality while you study

Hospitality is a practical field, and much of the value of a Shannon degree comes from the work placement and the industry contacts you build. Before you choose, ask how many placements are offered abroad and in Ireland, whether placements are paid, and how the college helps non-EU students who need work permission for placements. Irish student-visa rules on work change from time to time, so confirm what is allowed during term and during holidays, and how placement work is treated for visa purposes.

• Ask where recent graduates work three years after finishing, and in which roles
• Ask whether the college has partnerships with international hotel groups that recruit graduates
• Ask which language skills help most in hospitality careers and whether the college offers language modules
• Ask how the college supports students who want to move into wider business careers after the BComm

Shannon compared with a general business degree

A hospitality management degree is more specialised than a general business degree, which can be an advantage if you are sure about the industry and a limitation if you are not. The BComm route keeps more options open, while the BBS is closer to a professional hospitality qualification. Consider your long-term plans, including whether you might return home to family businesses, join a hotel group, or move into consulting, and ask alumni how the degree helped them.

Frequently asked questions