RTÉ News has learned that more than 50 students in India, Nepal, Vietnam, Pakistan and the Philippines are owed tens of thousands of euro in fee refunds by a private college operating in Dublin.
Representatives for the students say they have been trying since last June to get the money refunded.
Shelbourne College has blamed a difficult financial situation and says the students will be taken care of.
The Irish student visa system obliges many non-EU citizens who may wish to come to Ireland to study to pay fees to one of a number of approved colleges first.
Only then can these prospective students apply for an entry visa.
But if that visa application is rejected applicants can find it difficult or even impossible to get their fees refunded.
RTÉ News has learned that 23 students in Nepal have been trying since June to have fees worth €4,000 each refunded from Shelbourne College on Dublin's Camden Street.
The average annual wage in Nepal is just over €3,000.
RTÉ understands that a similar number of students from India are also owed refunds, also worth tens of thousands of euro.
There are students too in Pakistan, Vietnam, and the Philippines also trying without success to get their money back.
The students had applied to come to Ireland to complete mostly business courses at Shelbourne College.
Agents for the students have told RTÉ News that the Irish embassies in India and in Vietnam are aware of the problem with Shelbourne College.
RTÉ News has seen an email sent to the Irish embassy in Vietnam in late September detailing the problem.
Other students say their families have phoned gardaí to complain about the college.
The Department of Justice has told RTÉ News that any breach of the requirements on refund of fees by colleges is regarded as a very serious violation.
It says in the past where such a violation has not been resolved, offending colleges have been removed from the register of approved colleges.
It says it will not hesitate with similar action against any college that commits similar violations.
In a statement, the Director of Shelbourne College says it has refunded in excess of €400,000 to other students.
It disputed a figure of €200,000 owed to students put to it by RTÉ News.
It said the correct figure was definitely less than €200,000.
Director Adnaan Wahla said the college was "not walking away on students fees".
He blamed a slight financial management issue for the problem but said the students would be taken care of.
