HOW TO HIRE · LESSONS & TUTORING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a university tutor in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An university tutor in Ireland costs €35–€90 per hour, typically around €55. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a university tutor in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers university tutor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — flexible Scheduling — many university tutors offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate students' busy timetables.
- How does their experience change the price?Specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does subject matter change the price?Providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of sessions change the price?The clock starts when the provider arrives, not when the work does. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Academic Skills Development — in addition to subject knowledge, university tutors can help students develop essential academic skills like essay writing, research methodologies, and critical thinking — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a university tutor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Garda vetting, shown to you, with its date; A subject qualification, and how much of their work is this subject at this level; Whether lessons are one-to-one or shared, and where they happen; For online lessons, whether sessions are recorded and who holds the recording; Cancellation and payment terms in writing — block-paid lessons are the commonest dispute; Two references from current families.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. An individual working under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge VAT at all, and does not have a VAT number to give you.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers university tutor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — flexible Scheduling — many university tutors offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate students' busy timetables.
A good answer: Specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The clock starts when the provider arrives, not when the work does. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Academic Skills Development — in addition to subject knowledge, university tutors can help students develop essential academic skills like essay writing, research methodologies, and critical thinking — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a university tutor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy — exam Preparation — tutors assist students in preparing for crucial exams like finals or entrance tests.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the university tutor starts, and an itemised invoice after — subject-Specific Tutoring — university tutors often specialise in specific subjects such as mathematics, science, or humanities.
Booking by the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: their experience — specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe
- They will not talk about it: subject matter — providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day
- They will not talk about it: duration of sessions — the clock starts when the provider arrives, not when the work does
- A price for the university tutor before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the university tutor has begun
What a university tutor costs: €35–€90 per hour
Most university tutors quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Subject-specific tutoring and Exam preparation each carry their own band. University Tutor price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
University tutors near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstTheir experience — specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe — that is what the university tutor is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneSubject matter — providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of sessions — the clock starts when the provider arrives, not when the work does — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherExam Preparation — it affects the finish as much as it affects the price — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the university tutor is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, check the tutor's qualifications and experience in the specific subject area.
- Subject-Specific Tutoring
- University tutors often specialise in specific subjects such as mathematics, science, or humanities.
- Exam Preparation
- Tutors assist students in preparing for crucial exams like finals or entrance tests.
- Academic Skills Development
- In addition to subject knowledge, university tutors can help students develop essential academic skills like essay writing, research methodologies, and critical thinking.
- Flexible Scheduling
- Many university tutors offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate students' busy timetables.
- Assignment Assistance
- Guidance on completing assignments, including research, writing support, and editing feedback.
- Study Skills Coaching
- Training in effective study techniques, time management, and organisational skills to enhance academic performance.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a university tutor: questions people ask
The cost of hiring a university tutor can vary based on their experience, qualifications, and the subject matter. Tutors with specialised knowledge or advanced degrees may charge higher rates, while those with less experience might offer more affordable options.
A typical tutoring session usually lasts between one to two hours. The duration can be adjusted based on the student's needs and the complexity of the topics being covered.
Yes, many tutors offer packages for multiple sessions, which can be more cost-effective. This is especially useful for ongoing subjects or exam preparation where consistent support is beneficial.
University tutoring generally focuses on academic subjects and skills. Topics like personal development, career counselling, or non-academic hobbies may fall outside the typical scope of university tutoring services.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and put right if it is not. Say what is wrong in writing first.
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