Can I cover my study expenses and living expenses through part-time jobs in Ireland?
Well I can't give you an accurate answer,but if you do have physics and computers (your not being specific) however I'd say you could. You may be eligible to grants approx 3k or more and student lodging (inexpensive) and with part time work in your subjects you'd earn decent money. The Dublin council has nearly finished several hundred student accommodation. Put it this way, you've a much better chance here than the UK which would cost 30k+ just for university. Good luck friend.
Between UCD and Trinity College Dublin, which university should I choose? How do they compare by subject, student life and international opportunities?
Honestly, all the Irish universities are as good as each other in terms of education. No Irish employer is going to favour someone from Trinity or UCD or anywhere for that matter on the sole reason that they went to that particular college. Ireland is not that the US or the UK where there are so many universities that inequalities in education are bound to exist. All Irish universities are funded by the government, and are funded according to their needs. This means that it is very difficult for one Irish university to really “race ahead” of another Irish university. An example of this is the political system that Ireland has. In the UK or the US, the top political leaders come from Oxford and Harvard. In Ireland, that is not the case.Having said that, Trinity College is better known around the world than all the other Irish universities, so in that respect, yes, Trinity would be better for an international student. That said, a lot of it does depend on the course/programme studied, and for practical subjects like engineering, UCD might be better. (The engineering facilities in UCD are by far the best in the country).At the end of the day it all comes down to the individual, and where they see themselves happiest. I know a lot of people who were miserable in Trinity and a lot of people who absolutely loved other colleges, so think that international reputation is the be all and end all! :D
Which are the cheapest universities in Ireland for undergraduate courses (international student)?
If you are a student from another EU state you'll have to pay the same fees as Irish students, usually ~€3,000 a year, this obviously excludes study materials. It can also depend on what you want to study and where. I have a friend in RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons Ireland) and they pay over €3,000 a year. I do think EU students can get a grant to help pay some of the fees. If you are from outside the EU it can be a lot more expensive. I was talking to a Chinese student who went to an IT (Institute of Technology) and they paid €10,000 a year and as far as I know, non-EU students aren't eligible for any grants.Your best bet would be to figure out what you want to study and see what colleges offer that course, or if you're already studying and you're looking to do a study year abroad, see what college offer the course you're currently doing!Once you've established that checkout the college's/university's website and get in contact with the student services/ international student department. They'd be able to tell you what to expect in regards the prices of fees and even down to how much money to expect on living costs in the area. Hope this helps