University of Galway

University of Galway (formerly NUI Galway, formally renamed in 2022) is Ireland's western university, located in the city of Galway on Ireland's Atlantic coast. Founded in 1845, it is one of Ireland's oldest universities and has a strong international reputation in biomedical engineering, marine science, law, and the arts. Galway is home to one of Europe's largest medical device manufacturing clusters — Medtronic, Abbott, Boston Scientific, and Zimmer Biomet all have major operations in the Galway area — making it particularly relevant for Nepali engineering students who want to enter the medical device industry.

Galway city is significantly more affordable than Dublin for student accommodation and daily costs — rent for a shared house typically runs €500–€700/month compared to €900–€1,400 in Dublin. The city has a vibrant student culture, an active arts and music scene, and a growing international student community. University of Galway's tuition fees (approximately €12,500–€15,000/year for most international programs) are among Ireland's lowest for a research-active university. Graduates are eligible for Ireland's 24-month Graduate Visa post-study work authorisation.