South East Technological University for Kenyan Students
Entry Requirements by Level
Academic Requirements
Foundation Year required via SETU Foundation Programme. KCSE accepted as O-level equivalent. Campuses in Waterford and Carlow. Waterford is the larger campus.
English Language
IELTS: 6.5+ overall, 6+ per component. TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic also accepted — contact admissions for equivalencies.
Fees & Deadline
Annual tuition: €12,000–€16,000. Application deadline: Rolling.
Academic Requirements
Minimum GPA: 2.5/4 (2:2 UK equivalent). Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required.
English Language
IELTS: 6.5+ overall, 6+ per component. TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic also accepted — contact admissions for equivalencies.
Fees & Deadline
Annual tuition: €14,000–€15,000. Application deadline: Rolling. Decision time: 2–5 weeks.
Academic Requirements
Minimum GPA: 2.75/4. Master's degree required (or Bachelor's with First Class Honours for some programmes).
Specific Requirements
Research proposal required. Identify and contact a potential supervisor before applying. References from two academic supervisors.
Deadline
Rolling
Documents Required
Available Scholarships
Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships (GOI-IES)
by Irish Government (HEA) · Masters, Phd
Learn more →SETU Entry Awards
by South East Technological University · Masters
Learn more →Frequently Asked Questions
Does South East Technological University accept KCSE?
KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) is accepted as a secondary school qualification for undergraduate foundation entry at SETU. For Masters admission, a recognised Kenyan Bachelor's degree with 2:2 (GPA 2.5/4.0) is required — secondary school qualifications are not relevant at Masters level.
What GPA is needed for Masters at South East Technological University?
SETU accepts a minimum GPA of 2.5/4.0 (UK 2:2) for Masters programmes. With campuses in Waterford and Carlow — both affordable Irish cities — SETU offers one of the lowest total cost-of-study options for a Masters in Ireland.
Are there scholarships for Kenyan students at South East Technological University?
Yes. SETU offers Entry Awards of €1,000–€4,000 for qualifying international students. The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships (GOI-IES) also provides full tuition waiver plus €10,000 stipend for Masters and PhD students at SETU.
Tips for Applying to SETU
SETU represents one of the most cost-effective options for an Irish Masters degree — tuition of €14,000–€15,000/yr combined with Waterford's low living costs makes this significantly cheaper than Dublin-based programmes. The accessible 2:2 entry requirement means SETU is a realistic option for most Kenyan graduates. After graduation, the 24-month Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) provides two years to work in Ireland, with Waterford increasingly attracting technology and pharmaceutical employers.
Official source: South East Technological University ↗Cost of Living in Waterford
Waterford is one of Ireland's most affordable cities for students.