Students Rights in Ireland

You, as a student, you have rights here in Ireland, let’s meet your rights!

When you hold a Stamp 2 permission (Academic Year/English Language student), you are entitled to specific legal protections.

Employment Rights

Even as an international student, you have the same basic rights as an Irish citizen once you start working:

National Minimum Wage: As of January 1, 2026, the national minimum wage for:

Adults (aged 20+) is €14.15 per hour.
19 years old: €12.74 (90%)
18 years old: €11.32 (80%)

Working Hours: You can work a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time. You can work up to 40 hours per week during designated holiday periods:

Summer: June 1st to September 30th.
Winter: December 15th to January 15th.

Rest Breaks: You are entitled to a 15-minute break after 4.5 hours of work and a 30-minute break after 6 hours.

Payslips & Contracts: You have a right to a written statement of your terms of employment and a payslip every time you are paid.

Educational Rights

Right to Protection: Under the Learner Protection (PEL) policy, your tuition is legally protected if the school ceases to operate.

Quality Standards: You have the right to be taught by qualified teachers in a program listed on the ILEP (Interim List of Eligible Programmes).