Shared apartments
€400–€650per month, by area and amenities
- Maximum independence
- Real friendships
- Full kitchen
- Furnished basics
Ireland's cultural capital, and a quarter of it students
A West Coast city where roughly one resident in four is a student, the whole place is walkable, and traditional music spills out of the pubs most nights of the week.
Enquire about Galway
Our Galway specialists know the halls, the landlords and the host families personally, so send your dates and your budget and they will come back with places that actually suit you.
Galway accommodation overview
Galway is compact enough that most accommodation sits twenty to thirty minutes from campus on foot or by bus. Nobody needs a car here.
Galway is not just a place to study, it is a place to live. As Ireland's cultural capital, this West Coast city has pulled in thousands of students looking for genuine community, creative energy and affordable living.
Whether you are heading to the University of Galway, GMIT or one of the city's language schools, accommodation runs from shared apartments and halls of residence to homestays and purpose-built student housing. Costs sit well below Dublin across every option.
With about a quarter of the population being students, you land in a ready-made educational ecosystem. The compact size means you bump into classmates at the market, in cafés and at gigs — community here builds itself.
Accommodation types in Galway
Prices are monthly and sit well under Dublin equivalents. Most options are within twenty to thirty minutes of campus without needing transport.
Why choose Galway
Roughly a quarter of Galway is students, which makes the whole city feel like one connected campus rather than a place you visit for lectures.
Galway's reputation as Ireland's cultural capital is lived daily rather than marketed: traditional music out of the pubs, independent galleries showing new work, and a creative community that takes in newcomers quickly.
The University of Galway ranks among Ireland's leading universities and GMIT offers strong practical education, with several language schools serving international students, all without Dublin's price tag.
Around 80,000 residents in a compact centre means most accommodation is twenty to thirty minutes from campus on foot or by bus. No commute, no car, and you keep bumping into people you know.
The International Arts Festival in July, the Oyster Festival and the Races in September, the Film Fleadh in October — the city turns into a celebration several times a year, and students work and volunteer at all of them.
Salthill promenade for walking and swimming, Connemara for hiking within the hour, and the Aran Islands by ferry. Your accommodation is really just a base camp.
Student life in Galway
Your choice of neighbourhood comes down to temperament: seaside and social, central and busy, or quiet and residential with a short bus in.
Fifteen to twenty hours a week is normal alongside full-time study, and comes to roughly €150–€300 a week towards rent and living costs.
“Galway stole my heart on day one. My homestay family taught me to make soda bread and took me to the Cliffs of Moher. The city feels like one big student community, and my English improved faster than any classroom could manage.”
Frequently asked questions
Still unsure? Our Galway specialists know the halls, the landlords and the host families personally.
Between €400 and €800 a month depending on type and location. Homestays and outer-area house shares sit at the bottom of that range, central shared apartments and modern halls at the top. Add €200–€300 for living expenses and a realistic total is €650–€1,100 a month, against €1,200–€1,600 in Dublin.
Yes. Galway has very low crime rates, and the compact, walkable centre means you are rarely isolated. With a quarter of the population being students, support networks are well established — host families and hall staff add another layer of guidance for international students.
The University of Galway and GMIT both run online applications with priority for first-year students. Apply as early as the portal opens, state your preferences clearly and submit documents promptly. Private accommodation and homestays are the usual backup if halls fill up.
Yes. International students on standard visas can normally work twenty hours a week during term and full time during breaks. Hospitality, retail, tourism and language teaching all hire students, at roughly €11–€15 an hour, which comes to €150–€300 a week part-time.
How it works
Our accommodation specialists know Galway's neighbourhoods, halls, landlords and host families, and match people to the right one rather than the first one.
Tell us your budget, your course dates and how you want to live.
Compare verified homestays, house shares and halls with real photos.
Confirm, sign and get everything in writing before you travel.
Move in, with support through the whole stay if anything goes wrong.
Accommodation here is more than housing, it is your base for cultural immersion, study and a community that builds itself. Tell us what you need and we will match it.
