Before you arrive, important information will be communicated to new students through the email address you provided on your application form. Once you have arrived and registered fully, we will communicate with you via your MU email address. To make sure you receive our emails, please add "[email protected]" to your Safe Senders list. Please also add the following email addresses:
Check how to add these emails to your Safe Senders list depending of your email provider here:
Ireland is now in the recovery phase of our response to the pandemic - reopening society and the economy as the vaccination programme progresses.
More information can be found from the following source:
We will be in touch with you in advance of your arrival to provide details of an online health briefing to help you better understand the public health advice in Ireland.
First-Year Undergraduate International Students
- For new undergraduate students starting year 1 of a degree programme, First-Year Orientation activities will take place during the week of Monday, 20th September and teaching will commence on Monday 27th September.
- When planning your travel, please ensure that you have read the information about Quarantine Regulations in the section above. Depending on the country you travel from or through and your vaccination status, you may be required to undertake a minimum of 5 days of self-quarantine up to a maximum of 14 days of self-quarantine or hotel quarantine.
- If you book on-campus accommodation, your licence agreement commences on Sunday, 12th September. We recommend that you arrive on this date or soon after this date to ensure that you have enough time to complete any quarantine-related formalities before classes start.
All Other International Students
- For returning undergraduate students (year 2 and above), new postgraduate students and any new exchange/Erasmus/Study Abroad students, teaching will commence on Monday 20th September.
- International Student Orientation will take place during the week of Monday 13th September - information sessions will be offered virtually and, if public-health guidelines allow it, we will also offer campus tours and other in-person activities.
- When planning your travel, please ensure that you have read the information about Quarantine Regulations in the section above. Depending on the country you travel from or through and your vaccination status, you may be required to undertake a minimum of 5 days of self-quarantine up to a maximum of 14 days of self-quarantine or hotel quarantine.
- If you book on-campus accommodation, your licence agreement commences on Sunday, 12th September. If you need to arrive earlier than this date, the Residence Office will offer early arrivals for Quarantine and Academic purposes.
The Government has introduced a number of measures for travellers into the country. Summary information is provided below, but please consult the following page for official information from
all Irish Higher Education Institutions: Also please note the following:
- Before you travel, you must complete a Passenger Locator Form.
- If you are travelling without a European Union Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC) or other proof of vaccination, you must also have a negative/‘not detected’ result from a COVID-19 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test carried out no more than 72 hours prior to your arrival in Ireland. Antigen or other test types do not meet the requirements. Please note the EU DCC only applies for European Union and EEA residents.
- It is important to note that if you arrive without the pre-departure negative PCR test or proof of being vaccinated, you will be directed to mandatory hotel quarantine.
- Post-arrival quarantine regulations depend on which country you are arriving from.
- Please continue to monitor your health in the lead-up to your departure. Should you display any COVID-19 symptoms prior to your departure, please seek medical advice as a matter of urgency and defer your travel plans.
- PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE BELOW INFOGRAPHIC IN GREATER DETAIL:
A national ‘Greet & Transfer’ service for international students run by our partners, Club Travel, will be operating at Dublin Airport from 1 August - 4 October 2021.
1. Before You Travel
- To support your arrival in Ireland, you must complete the Student Arrival Form as soon as your travel details are confirmed and no later than 7 days before your departure in order to confirm your arrival date and time, airline, flight number, accommodation and airport transport requirements. Supports can only be provided to those who have completed the arrival form.
- If any of your travel details change after you have submitted the Student Arrival Form, you can submit a Travel Data Change Form to update your arrival record.
- You must fill in a form electronically before you arrive in Ireland called a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form Failure to do so is an offence. The COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form is an online form. You can complete this form here
- Ensure that you have checked whether quarantine will apply to you depending on the country you are travelling from or through and whether you are fully vaccinated with an EMA approved vaccination.
2. When you arrive at Dublin Airport
You are advised to have the following documents in your hand luggage/on your person when you arrive in Ireland to present at border control:
- Passport (with valid entry visa if you require one)
- Maynooth University Offer Letter or Certificate of Attendance/Student ID card for returning students
- Evidence of Guardianship Letter (if applicable)
- Accommodation details (confirmation of booking or address you will be staying at when you arrive)
- Written confirmation of your COVID-19 test results (if required)
- Written or digital confirmation of COVID-19 vaccination (please check that your vaccination is recognised in Ireland).
- Completed Irish Government COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form electronically.
Once you have cleared Border Control and collected your luggage, please make your way through to the Arrivals Hall, where you will find a dedicated ‘Greet & Transfer desk’ (both terminals 1 & 2). Please follow the signage saying, ‘International Higher Education Greet & Transfer Service’ (see logo above). The Club Travel team will have your arrival details (if you completed the online form above) and will coordinate your onward transport from the airport.
This is a free* service and you are not required to make any payment for transport from the airport, on the basis that you complete the arrival form accurately and in full. If you do not complete the arrival form, you will need to arrange and pay for your own travel arrangements.
*Note: Free in majority of cases but certain rules apply.
Note: If you plan to arrive at another airport or ferry post, the International Office will contact you by email to explain what to do when you arrive.
3. Transfer from Dublin Airport to your accommodation
Depending on your arrival date and time, you may be transferred to your accommodation by bus or taxi. Given the volume of students due to arrive in Ireland for the new academic year, there may be a wait time at the airport for your transfer.
If you will be living in Dublin or in a town near Maynooth (e.g., Lucan, Celbridge, Leixlip, Enfield, etc.), you will be dropped as near as possible to your address by bus or directly to your address by taxi.
If you will be living in Maynooth itself, you will be dropped either by bus or by taxi. If you travel by taxi, you will be dropped directly at your address. If you travel by bus, the drop-off point will depend on the bus service and your accommodation address. Some buses will stop only at the bus terminus opposite the Glenroyal Hotel, while others will stop both at the bus terminus and the on-campus accommodation.
If you are dropped at the bus terminus opposite the Glenroyal Hotel, we will facilitate transport from the bus terminus to your accommodation (on or off campus). If this is your case, please follow the following steps:
- Take note and save the phone number of the taxi company, “Taxy" Maynooth (+353 1 628 9999)
- Once you arrive at the bus terminus, please call the above phone number and identify yourself as Maynooth University International Student and give your name.
- A pre-paid (free) taxi will come to pick you up and transport you to your indicated address in the Arrivals Survey. Please note that change of addresses at this point won't be permitted.
Greet and Transfer Service
1. Who can use the Greet and Transfer service and what is not covered?
All incoming students from Maynooth University who have registered for the service in advance can avail of the Greet and Transfer service. For capacity reasons, the transport service can only accommodate individual students and not those accompanying them, except in cases where a student is a minor and accompanied by their parent/guardian or a disability personal assistant. In cases where a student is over 18 and accompanied by family members or friends, they are advised to take their own transportation to their accommodation at their own expense due to capacity issues in the Greet and Transfer service. In cases where a student is accompanied by an animal or pet which is not a service animal, they will be directed to take their own transportation at their own expense.
2. Can I use the Greet and Transfer Service with my pet?
Our Greet and Transfer service is only available to students who are accompanied by an animal which is a service or support animal. If you are travelling with a pet (i.e. not a service or support animal), you must make alternative transport arrangements to your accommodation. If you have selected in your arrival form that you require transport to your accommodation but prefer to make alternative transport arrangements to your accommodation, please note you are required to submit a Change Form.
3. Can my family / friend use the Greet and Transfer Service with me?
Our Greet and Transfer service is only available to students*. If you are travelling with a family member / friend please note that while you can avail of this service, your family member / friend must make alternative transport arrangements to your accommodation. If you have selected in your arrival form that you require transport to your accommodation but prefer to make alternative transport arrangements to your accommodation, please note you are required to submit a Change Form.
*For capacity reasons, the transport service can only accommodate individual students and not those accompanying them except in cases where a student is a minor and accompanied by their parent/guardian or in the case of students who are travelling with a disability personal assistant. In cases where a student is over 18 and accompanied by family members or friends, they are advised to take their own transportation to their accommodation at their own expense due to capacity issues in the Greet and Transfer service.
4. After I finish my Mandatory Hotel Quarantine, can I use the Greet and Transfer Service?
Yes, but please read below carefully: When completing the Arrivals Form, please indicate “Transport not Required” on the day you arrive. Once in Mandatory Hotel Quarantine, please email [email protected] to confirm that you have arrived. When you receive confirmation that you may leave Mandatory Hotel Quarantine, please email us again and we will arrange a transfer from your hotel to your accommodation.
Health-related queries
5. If I am in quarantine, can I take part in orientation online?
Yes, our Orientation sessions will be offered virtually. Many of them will also be recorded and uploaded to the International Office website.
Orientation for Postgraduate, Erasmus and Study Abroad students will take place from 13th- 17th September 2021. Please see here.
First year Undergraduate Orientation will take place from 20th- 24th September 2021. More details are available here.
6. Where can I get a RT-PCR test after arriving in Ireland?
This test is free of charge and is available at testing centres operated at locations around the country by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The test should be booked in advance of arrival in Ireland and must be booked for a date at least 5 days after arrival. You may book a test by visiting the HSE Test Booking website. You can use this service to book a free COVID-19 test for after you arrive in Ireland. You can book online from 2 days before you arrive and up to 4 days after you arrive.
7. As an international student, can I get vaccinated in Ireland and what are the requirements?
Yes, international students can get vaccinated in Ireland. See here for further details.
Those who do not yet have a PPSN (Personal Public Service number) can still access vaccination but will need to register via phone rather than online. The HSE has advised that the best time to call the phone line is between 1pm and 6pm (IST). The process is outlined under the ‘Do not have a PPS number’ section on the above website.
Students will be asked for their Eircode/address, an email and mobile phone number to complete registration, though they can still register if they do not have all of this information to hand.
Please also contact the HSE for information on vaccine if you are partly vaccinated with an EMA approved vaccine or have received a vaccination which is not approved by the EMA.
Registration at Maynooth University is managed by the Student Records and Registration Office.
- Registration will take place online. You will receive an email from the Student Records and Registration Office to inform you of the stages required to become a fully registered student of our University.
- Please check your inbox and junk folder regularly. The email will contain significant detail about the online registration process, and it is your responsibility to complete the necessary steps to become a fully registered student.
- You will be required to upload a headshot photo for your student ID card, so you could prepare this now. The email will also contain your MU email address and password (or this may arrive in a separate email for security purposes). You will receive your MU student card when you arrive on-campus if you are living in on-campus housing. If you will live off-campus, then your student card will be mailed to you. It is therefore very important that you enter an accurate ‘Study Address’ when completing the online registration.
• Erasmus and Study Abroad students ONLY: you will select the modules you wish to take in late August/early September through a system we call IMAS (International Module Approval System). We will send you the instructions and unique login information beforehand. The system will be open for a few days and you must login during this period. Your modules will then be approved, or not approved, by our International Coordinators in each Department. Please make sure you are allowing emails from "[email protected]" and "[email protected]" into your inbox.
• The Accommodation Office is responsible for all on-campus housing and information related to this can be found on their website. There is also information in relation to off-campus housing which is managed through the Home finder service. Please consult the Accommodation Office webpage and read the information carefully.
If you are staying on on-campus accommodation please check that you have installed the following app:
JustIN Mobile APP.
JustIN Mobile - Android
JustIN Mobile - iOS
How to Download the Salto JustIN Mobile APP
Once you have downloaded the form please complete the mobile phone details form with the phone number that you wish to use to access your accommodation.
Please enter the phone number in the format + followed by at least 6 digits with no spaces i.e. +353876586250
• There will be multiple info sessions about tips on how to find accommodation. Please check your contact emails for information on how to join and the session recordings.
For the latest guidance regarding Covid19 precautions at Maynooth University please click here
HSE Health Advice
Please visit the website of the HSE for the latest public-health guidelines:
HSE
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is the provider of health and personal social services for everyone living in Ireland.
DFA and Government Travel Advice
Please visit the COVID-19 Travel Advice from the Gov. of Ireland if you plan to travel from or to Ireland.
Also, check the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website
Re-Open European Union web
Re-Open EU
This interactive tool provides you with the information that you need to confidently plan your European travel and holidays while staying healthy and safe. The information is frequently updated and available in 24 languages for your convenience.
