Third-level education in the

Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 Counties of Ireland, counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern ...

includes all education after second-level, encompassing

higher education Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after comple ...

in universities and colleges and further education on

Post Leaving Certificate Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses ( Irish: Cúrsa Iar Ard-Teistiméarachta) are a set of courses and qualifications run in Ireland for students who have finished their secondary education. The term refers to post-secondary education courses ...

(PLC) and other courses. The degree-awarding institutions which can grant awards at all academic levels are the University of Dublin, National University of Ireland ( Cork,

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...

Galway Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a city in the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay, and is the sixth most populous city on ...

and

Maynooth Maynooth (; ga, Maigh Nuad) is a university town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to Maynooth University (part of the National University of Ireland and also known as the National University of Ireland, Maynooth) and St Patrick's ...

University of Limerick The University of Limerick (UL) ( ga, Ollscoil Luimnigh) is a public research university institution in Limerick, Ireland. Founded in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick, it became a university in 1989 in accordance w ...

Dublin City University Dublin City University (abbreviated as DCU) ( ga, Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath) is a university based on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. Created as the ''National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin'' in 1975, it enrolled its ...

Technological University Dublin Technological University Dublin ( ga, Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath) or TU Dublin is Ireland's first technological university, established on 1 January 2019, and with a history stretching back to 1887 through the amalgamated Du ...

, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,

Munster Technological University Munster Technological University (MTU; ga, Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta na Mumhan) is a public technological university consisting of six campuses located in Cork and Kerry. The university was established in January 2021, the result of a merger ...

and Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, as well as St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (Pontifical University), and then a State agency,

Quality and Qualifications Ireland Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI; ga, Dearbhú Cáilíochta agus Cáilíochtaí Éireann) is the national agency responsible for qualifications in Ireland. It was established by the Oireachtas in 2012 following the amalgamation of the ...

, can grant awards in other institutions directly, or delegate the authority to do so. and

. The King's Inns of

has a limited role in education specialising in the preparation of candidates for the degree of

barrister-at-law A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and g ...

to practice as barristers. Medical schools in Ireland also have particular regulation. There were seven establishments of higher education within Ireland ranked among the top 500 universities worldwide by the ''

Times Higher Education Supplement ''Times Higher Education'' (''THE''), formerly ''The Times Higher Education Supplement'' (''The Thes''), is a British magazine reporting specifically on news and issues related to higher education. Ownership TPG Capital acquired TSL Education ...

'' in 2008.

Framework

Institutions

The Irish universities include the University of Dublin, better known by the name of its sole college,

Trinity College Dublin , name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin , motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin) , motto_lang = la , motto_English = It will last i ...

, the four constituent universities of the National University of Ireland, two universities established in 1989, three technological universities formed by the amalgamation of Institutes of Technology and a professional medical institution. Some

college A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offerin ...

s are

constituent colleges A collegiate university is a university in which functions are divided between a central administration and a number of constituent colleges. Historically, the first collegiate university was the University of Paris and its first college was the C ...

universities A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, ...

, while others are designated institutions of the State agency

(QQI), which succeeded the

Higher Education and Training Awards Council The Higher Education and Training Awards Council ( ga, Comhairle na nDámhachtainí Ardoideachais agus Oiliúna) (HETAC), the legal successor to the ''National Council for Educational Awards'' (NCEA), granted higher education awards in Ireland b ...

. The latter include the remaining

Institutes of Technology An institute of technology (also referred to as: technological university, technical university, university of technology, technological educational institute, technical college, polytechnic university or just polytechnic) is an institution of te ...

, Colleges of Education, and other independent colleges. Some colleges have "delegated authority" from QQI, this allows them to confer and validate awards in their own name. Some institutions such as the

(TU Dublin), and

(DCU) have completed a process of modularising their courses (others are still in a transition phase), mostly using the ECTS. The Bologna process and applied research are the current concerns of national educational policy, additional concerns include the structures of the National University of Ireland. Since the mid-2000s, a number of Institutes of Technology have or are in the process of applying for university designation, including IT Sligo, GMIT and LYIT, (known as th
Connacht Ulster Alliance
, and Waterford. In 2019 TU Dublin amalgamated three institutions in the Dublin region (

Dublin Institute of Technology Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT, ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath) was a major third-level institution in Dublin, Ireland. On 1 January 2019 DIT was dissolved and its functions were transferred to the Technological U ...

Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown (ITB) ( ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Baile Bhlainséir) established in 1999, was a third-level institution, now amalgamated into Technological University Dublin. It was the last-founded Institute of ...

, and

Institute of Technology, Tallaght The Institute of Technology Tallaght (also known as ITT or IT Tallaght) ( Irish: ''Institiúid Teicneolaíochta, Tamhlacht)'' was a third-level institution in Tallaght, the largest suburb of Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1992, IT Tallaght ...

), and in 2021

amalgamated two institutions in the Munster region (

Cork Institute of Technology Cork Institute of Technology (CIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Chorcaí) was an institute of technology, located in Cork, Ireland. Upon its dissolution, the institute had 17,000 students studying in art, business, engineering, music, dra ...

, and

Institute of Technology, Tralee The Institute of Technology, Tralee (IT Tralee; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Thrá Lí) was an institute of technology, located in Tralee, Ireland. It was established in 1977 as the Regional Technical College, Tralee. In January 2021, itse ...

), while the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest did the same further north. The ''Marks & Standards'' document, offered by most institutions, can be consulted for information on the range and criteria set down for awards, while programme specifications offer additional information. In contrast to practice in the rest of the education system, entry tends to be highly competitive for school leavers; the so-called "Points Race" administered by the

Central Applications Office The Central Applications Office (CAO) ( ga, An LárOifig Iontrála) is the organisation responsible for overseeing undergraduate applications to colleges and universities in the Republic of Ireland. The primary mission of the Central Application ...

(CAO). In 2001 the percentage of school leavers transferring to third level exceeded 50% for the first time, while as of 2005 it was in excess of 55% and expected to grow at approximately 1% per annum for the next decade. There are over 25 third-level courses at graduate and postgraduate level offered through the Irish language. ''

Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge (; English: "The Irish Language University Academy") is a third level educational and research institution headquartered in Galway, Ireland. It was established as part of the University of Galway in 2004, to fu ...

'' is the Irish language Department of the

University of Galway The University of Galway ( ga, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe) is a public research university located in the city of Galway, Ireland. A tertiary education and research institution, the university was awarded the full five QS stars for excellence in 201 ...

and it has different off-campus centres throughout the Gaeltacht regions. Dublin City University has an Irish language department called Fiontar.

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a member institution of the National University of Ireland. With 33,284 student ...

(UCD), TU Dublin, and

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology The Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT; ga, Institúid Teicneolaíochta na Gaillimhe-Maigh Eo) was an institute of technology, located in Galway, Ireland. In April 2022, it was formally dissolved, and its functions were transferred to ...

(GMIT) also offer similar courses. All but two of the seven universities in Ireland offer "open" (omnibus entry)

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four year ...

degrees through the

CAO Cao or CAO may refer to: Mythology *Cao (bull), a legendary bull in Meitei mythology Companies or organizations * Air China Cargo, ICAO airline designator CAO *CA Oradea, Romanian football club *CA Osasuna, Spanish football club *Canadian Assoc ...

where the student can choose their specialisation after their first year of study. The two universities that do not offer "open" (omnibus entry) arts degrees, Trinity College Dublin and DCU, do still offer Bachelor of Arts degrees in specific areas of study such as Drama Studies,

Journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the " news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (pro ...

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

, and

International Relations International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such a ...

. In one, Trinity College Dublin, the applicants wishing to read an Arts degree may apply to the college to read a combination of two subjects, such as French and Philosophy - which the student may continue to read jointly or with focus on one. DCU's de facto omnibus entry arts degree is offered by St. Patrick's College of Education (a college of DCU) and is titled " BA in Humanities".

All Hallows College All Hallows College was a college of higher education in Dublin. It was founded in 1842 and was run by the Vincentians from 1892 until 2016. On 23 May 2014, it was announced that it was closing down, due to decreasing student numbers. The sale ...

(a college of DCU) offer BA in Humanities, Theology Pastoral Care, and English. Entry into higher education institutions is normally done through the CAO. In this way, students wishing to enter university apply to the CAO rather than the individual university. Places in courses are usually awarded based on results in the Leaving Certificate Examination or any international equivalent. Each university has a minimum entry requirement, usually requiring a pass grade in either English or Irish, as well as maths. Some also require a pass grade in a modern continental European language (French, German, Spanish or Italian). Each individual course has further entry requirements, for example, science courses usually require a certain grade in one or two sciences. The student must also achieve the number of points required for the course under the points system. However, universities also have systems in place for accepting mature students, and students who have successfully completed a Post Leaving Certificate or Further Education course. Entry into third-level is generally very high in Ireland (as it also is in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

), and among young adults (those aged 25 to 34), 41.6% of them have attained third-level degrees—the second highest level in the EU after Cyprus, and substantially ahead of the average of 29.1%.Measuring Ireland's Progress - 2007
/ref> Broken down by gender, approximately 43% of women and 40% of men Ireland attend third level education.

Fees

Under the "Free Fees Initiative" the

Government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is ...

pays the

tuition Tuition payments, usually known as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in Commonwealth English, are fees charged by education institutions for instruction or other services. Besides public spending (by governments and other public bo ...

fees of students who meet relevant course, nationality and residence requirements as set down under the initiative. These requirements include: Student Finance.ie, information for Undergraduate students * Holding EU nationality, or are a national of member country of the

European Economic Area The European Economic Area (EEA) was established via the ''Agreement on the European Economic Area'', an international agreement which enables the extension of the European Union's single market to member states of the European Free Trade As ...

or Switzerland, or those who have been granted official refugee status. * Having been a resident in an EU Member State for at least three of the five years preceding entry to the course. * Are not undertaking a second undergraduate course. Students are required to pay a "registration fee" on entry to their courses. These charges cover costs such as equipment usage, administration fees and exam fees. Charges were €1,500 per student for the 2009/10 school year. University College Dublin, Administrative Services - Fees & Grants These charges have been labelled as "unofficial fees", and some university heads admitted that "student registration charges are fees by any other name". In 2011, after large annual increases, the registration fee was abolished and replaced with a "student contribution". For the school year 2019/2020 this fee stood at €3,000.

Further education

Further education is vocational and technical education and training in post-compulsory education. Awards are offered by a multitude of bodies, both ad-hoc and statutory. Typical areas included are craft and trade

apprenticeship Apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading). Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners to gain a ...

s, childcare, farming, retail, and tourism. These are typical areas of the economy that do not depend on multinational investment and recognition. There are many different types of further education awards, known as

s. The

Further Education and Training Awards Council The Further Education and Training Awards Council ( ga, Comhairle na nDámhachtainí Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna) or FETAC was a statutory qualification-awarding body for further education in Ireland. It was established on 11 June 2001 under t ...

conferred awards in the extra-university system. Further education has expanded immensely in recent years helped by the institutions, and because of this the type and range of these awards have been formalized to restore confidence. There were two separate schemes enabling progression for holders of FETAC awards to universities and institutes of technology. FETAC awards carried points that could be used to access higher education. FETAC was dissolved and its functions were passed to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on 6 November 2012, and the progression schemes continued.

Grade inflation

Ireland has a higher proportion of third-level graduates than any other EU country, although many university students are better suited to further education and training, including PLC, apprenticeship and traineeship courses. At the same time, the proportion of graduates with first-class honours has reached record levels, particularly in institutes of technology. There is disagreement about whether this increase is due to improved methods of instructing increasingly motivated students, or simple

grade inflation Grade inflation (also known as grading leniency) is the awarding of higher grades than students deserve, which yields a higher average grade given to students. The term is also used to describe the tendency to award progressively higher academic ...

. President

Michael D. Higgins Michael Daniel Higgins ( ga, Mícheál Dónal Ó hUigínn; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, and broadcaster, who has served as the ninth president of Ireland since November 2011. Entering national politics throug ...

believes that it is due to grade inflation, and has expressed concern about the continued quality and value of university degrees. Whatever the reason might be, employers increasingly examine graduates'

extracurricular activities An extracurricular activity (ECA) or extra academic activity (EAA) or cultural activities is an activity, performed by students, that falls outside the realm of the normal curriculum of school, college or university education. Such activities a ...

, work experiences, and

soft skills Soft skills, also known as power skills, common skills or core skills, are skills applicable to all professions. These include critical thinking, problem solving, public speaking, professional writing, teamwork, digital literacy, leadership, pr ...

as they search for the most able applicants.

List of higher education establishments

These are lists of colleges and universities within Ireland; some colleges are constituent colleges of universities.

Universities

Recognised as Universities under the Universities Act, 1997 as amended: *

* National University of Ireland **

Maynooth University The National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM; ga, Ollscoil na hÉireann Mhá Nuad), commonly known as Maynooth University (MU), is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. It w ...

University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one ...

* Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland *

* University of Dublin **

Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...

Technological Universities

Technological Universities have been formed by the merger of former Institutes of Technology. *

Atlantic Technological University Atlantic Technological University (also known as Atlantic TU or ATU; ga, Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh; OTA) is a technological university in the west and north-west of Ireland. It was formally established on 1 April 2022 as a merg ...

South East Technological University South East Technological University (SETU; ga, Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Oirdheiscirt) is a public technological university located in the South East region of Ireland. It was formed from the amalgamation of two existing institutes of tec ...

* Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest

Institutes of technology

Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology ( ga, Institiúid Ealaíona, Dearadh agus Teicneolaíochta Dhún Laoghaire), more commonly known as IADT Dún Laoghaire or simply IADT is an institute of technology with a focus on art and ...

Dundalk Institute of Technology Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Dhún Dealgan) is an institute of technology, located in Dundalk, Ireland. Established as the Dundalk Regional Technical College, students were first enrolled in the coll ...

Pontifical University

St Patrick's College, Maynooth St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth ( ga, Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig, Maigh Nuad), is the "National Seminary for Ireland" (a Roman Catholic college), and a pontifical university, located in the town of Maynooth, from Dublin, Ireland. ...

(also known as Maynooth College or the Pontifical University at Maynooth)

Colleges of education

* St Angela's College of Education, Sligo *

Marino Institute of Education Marino Institute of Education (Irish: ) is an Irish College of Education, an associated College of Trinity College Dublin. It is located on Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. Marino Institute of Education is focused on providing education courses. Its ...

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick Mary Immaculate College (Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál), also known as MIC and Mary I, is a College of Education and Liberal Arts. Founded in 1898, the university level College of Education and the Liberal Arts is academically linked with the Univ ...

* St. Patrick's College, Thurles

Recognised, associated or constituent colleges of Irish universities

* Institute of Public Administration *

Irish School of Ecumenics The Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE) is an institute of Trinity College Dublin, dedicated to the study and promotion of peace and reconciliation in Ireland and throughout the world. The school is located in Dublin and Belfast, and consists of eight ...

National College of Art and Design The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) is Ireland's oldest art institution, offering the largest range of art and design degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the country. Originating as a drawing school in 1746, many of th ...

* National Maritime College of Ireland * Shannon College of Hotel Management

National institutions

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) ( ga, Institiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath) is a statutory independent research institute in Ireland. It was established in 1940 on the initiative of the Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera, in Dub ...

Garda Síochána College Garda Síochána College is the education and training college of the Garda Síochána (Irish police service). It is located at McCan Barracks, Templemore, County Tipperary in Ireland. The college has been in Templemore since 1964. History Th ...

Military College, Curragh Camp The Curragh Camp ( ga, Campa an Churraigh) is an army base and military college in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main training centre for the Irish Defence Forces and is home to 2,000 military personnel. History Longstandin ...

National Ambulance Service College The National Ambulance Service ( ga, An tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Otharchairr) is the statutory public ambulance service in Ireland. The service is operated by the National Hospitals Office of the Health Service Executive, the Irish national heal ...

State-aided and chartered institutions

Honorable Society of King's Inns The Honorable Society of King's Inns ( ir, Cumann Onórach Óstaí an Rí) is the "Inn of Court" for the Bar of Ireland. Established in 1541, King's Inns is Ireland's oldest school of law and one of Ireland's significant historical environment ...

National College of Ireland National College of Ireland (NCI) or ''Coláiste Náisiúnta na hÉireann'' (''CNÉ'') in Irish is a not-for-profit, state-aided third-level education institution in Dublin. It was founded in 1951 as a joint venture between Irish Jesuits and ...

(formerly National College of Industrial Relations) *

Royal Irish Academy of Music The Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) in Dublin, Ireland, is one of Europe's oldest music conservatoires, specialising in classical music and the Irish harp. It is located in a Georgian building on Westland Row in Dublin. An institution whic ...

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), ( ga, Coláiste Ríoga Lianna na hÉireann) is an Irish professional body dedicated to improving the practice of general medicine and related medical specialities, chiefly through the accredit ...

(postgraduate medical qualifications)

Other institutions

American College Dublin American College Dublin, a constituent college of Irish American University, is a private not-for-profit liberal arts institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Established in 1993 in Dublin Ireland, ...

Burren College of Art Burren College of Art is an Irish non-profit independent art college specialising in undergraduate and graduate Fine Art education, located in Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland. The Master of Fine Art programme is accredited by the University ...

* Carmelite Institute of Britain and Ireland, theology programmes validated by St. Patrick's College, Maynooth * Cavan Institute *

Christian Leadership in Education Office (CLEO) Christian Leadership in Education Office (CLEO), provides postgraduate training in education in Cork, Ireland. Originally founded in 1991 as the ''Christian Formation Resource Centre (CFRC)'' by a number of Catholic religious orders, in 1997 it cam ...

, postgraduate education programmes validated by the

University of Hull , mottoeng = Bearing the Torch f learning, established = 1927 – University College Hull1954 – university status , type = Public , endowment = £18.8 million (2016) , budget = £190 million ...

Church of Ireland Theological Institute ) , image_name = , image_size = , caption = , latin_name = , motto = "Growth, Unity and Service" , tagline = , established = 2007 , type = ...

(partly in cooperation with Trinity College Dublin) *

City Colleges City Colleges is an Irish provider of professional and academic education, based in Dublin. The institution runs degree and diploma courses in various professional fields such as in accounting (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), b ...

Coláiste na hÉireann Coláiste na hÉireann (; English: "College of Ireland") is a third-level college in Dublin, Ireland offering qualifications in the study of translation and the Irish language. History Gaelchultúr was founded in 2004 with the aim of promotin ...

* Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa *College of Progressive Education * Cork College of Commerce * Digital Skills Academy (historically validated by

and Boston College) *

Dorset College Dorset College is a private college, located in Dublin city centre. Founded in 1983, it provides training in Computing, Business, English Language, University Foundation Programmes and Healthcare. A number of its programmes are accredited by t ...

Dublin Business School Dublin Business School (DBS), incorporating Portobello College, is a private college in Ireland. With over 9,000 students, DBS provides full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in business, law, accounting, event mana ...

* Dublin Institute of Design *

Gaiety School of Acting The Gaiety School of Acting (GSA) is a drama school located on Essex Street West in Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland. It was founded by theatre director Joe Dowling in 1986. Organisation and location The Gaiety School of Acting was founded in 198 ...

Galway Business School Galway Business School is a private business school in Galway, Ireland. Opened in 2000, the college initially provided further education business courses, and now provides QQI-validated degree courses. Galway Business School (GBS) was set up by ...

* The Grafton Academy of Fashion Design *

Griffith College Cork Griffith College Cork is an independent, third-level, higher education institution which merged with Skerry's College Cork in 2005. Griffith College Cork runs degree and diploma programmes in Business, Law, Computing, Media & Journalism, Pha ...

Griffith College Dublin Griffith College ( ga, Coláiste Uí Ghríofa) is one of the two largest, and one of the longest-established private, third level (higher education) colleges in Ireland. Overview Established in 1974, with four campuses in Dublin, Cork and Li ...

Griffith College Limerick Griffith College Limerick (GCL) ( ga, Coláiste Uí Ghríofa, IPA: �kɔlaːʃtʲəˈiːˈʝɾʲiːfˠə is a private college in Limerick city, Ireland. The college was established in 2006 when the Mid West Business Institute was acquired by ...

* Hibernia College * IBAT College Dublin *ICD Business School * Independent College Dublin *

Irish Bible Institute The Irish Bible Institute (IBI) is an evangelical Bible institute located in Dublin, Ireland. Although it is unaccredited by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, it's Honors Bachelors and Masters level courses in Applied Theology an ...

(a component of the

University of Wales , latin_name = , image = , caption = Coat of Arms , motto = cy, Goreu Awen Gwirionedd , mottoeng = The Best Inspiration is Truth , established = , , type = Confederal, non-member ...

(2005-2013),

York St John University , mottoeng = They may have life and have it more abundantly , established = , type = Public , administrative_staff = 618 , chancellor = Reeta Chakrabarti , vice_chancellor = Professor Karen Bryan , student ...

since 2014.) *

Irish Management Institute The Irish Management Institute (IMI) is an educational institute in Dublin, Ireland that offers postgraduate diplomas, master's degrees, executive education programs and short courses in Business and Management. In its role as a membership or ...

* Kimmage Development Studies Centre (merged into

) *

Mallow College of Further Education Mallow College of Further Education is a regional further education college campus of the Cork Education and Training Board, based in Mallow, County Cork Mallow (; ) is a town in County Cork, Ireland, approximately thirty-five kilometres nor ...

* Newman College Ireland * Pitman Training Ireland * Portobello Institute *

The Priory Institute The Priory Institute, is part of the St. Mary's Dominican Priory on the grounds of the old Tallaght Castle, Dublin 24, Ireland and provides, certificate, diploma, and degree programmes in theology and philosophy. Course accreditation In 2011 ...

(validated by

) *

Spirituality Institute for Research and Education The Spirituality Institute for Research and Education (SpIRE) was established in 2016 to raise awareness of spirituality as an applied academic discipline. Starting in August 2016, SpIRE in conjunction with the Waterford Institute of Technology d ...

(Masters validated by

Waterford Institute of Technology The Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Phort Láirge) was an institute of technology, located in Waterford, Ireland. The institute had six constituent schools and offered programmes in business, engineerin ...

) * St. John's Central College, Cork * St. Nicholas Montessori College *

St. Patrick's, Carlow College St Patrick's, Carlow College, is a liberal arts college located in Carlow, Ireland. The college is the second oldest third level institution in Ireland and was founded in 1782 by James Keefe, then Roman Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, an ...

Setanta College Setanta College is a distance learning college, with a focus on sports courses. It offers internationally accredited qualifications, ranging from Higher Certificate to Master's degree level. The college is primarily web-based but also offers ca ...

*Turning Point

Foreign institutions with a presence in Ireland

As well as "Study Abroad" programmes from US universities, a UK institution, a French business school and a number of US universities have presences in Ireland: * Boston College Ireland – delivers "Study Abroad" and summer programmes on St. Stephens Green, central Dublin * Champlain College Ireland - delivers "Study Abroad" programmes to US students at a campus on Leeson Street, central Dublin *

Duquesne University Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit ( or ; Duquesne University or Duquesne) is a private Catholic research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit , image = Holy Gh ...

– students study in UCD and stay at Duquesne University's St. Michael's House facility *

École de management de Normandie The École de Management de Normandie (also known as EM Normandie Business School) is a business school created in 1871. Incorporated as a Higher Education & Research non-profit association (under the 1901 Act) and operating under private law, i ...

- A Dublin campus opened in 2017 *

Georgia Southern University Georgia Southern University (GS or Georgia Southern) is a public research university in the U.S. state of Georgia. The flagship campus is in Statesboro, and other locations include the Armstrong Campus in Savannah and the Liberty Campus in Hi ...

- Opened in 2019, Georgia Southern University has a campus in Wexford Town *

University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame ( ) or ND, is a private Catholic university, Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, outside the city of South Bend, Indiana, South Bend. French priest Edward Sorin fo ...

– have two centres in Ireland, the new Notre Dame Center at Kylemore Abbey in Connemara and O'Connell House in Dublin wfrom where students study at Trinity or UCD *

Open University The Open University (OU) is a British public research university and the largest university in the United Kingdom by number of students. The majority of the OU's undergraduate students are based in the United Kingdom and principally study off- ...

– the UK based Open University has an Irish office in Dublin *

Sacred Heart University Sacred Heart University (SHU) is a private, Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was founded in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sacred Heart was the first Catholic uni ...

– has an Irish studies base in Dingle, County Kerry

Foreign institutions who validate programmes in Ireland

Historically a number of institutions, including seminaries such as

, St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny, St. Patrick's College, Thurles, and Tullabeg College, would have prepared students from examinations with the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

. In recent years a number of mainly private colleges have had programmes accredited by UK universities. *

University of Chester , mottoeng = "He that teacheth, on teaching" , former_names = , established = (gained university status in 2005) , type = Public , endowment = £395,000 (2018) , budget = £118.3 million , chancellor = Gyles Brandreth , vice_chancell ...

- National Training Centre, Dublin *

University of Dundee , mottoeng = "My soul doth magnify the Lord" , established = 1967 – gained independent university status by Royal Charter1897 – Constituent college of the University of St Andrews1881 – University College , ...

- in partnership with Ballyfermot College of Further Education since 2004 *

University of East London , mottoeng = Knowledge and the fulfilment of vows , established = 1898 – West Ham Technical Institute1952 – West Ham College of Technology1970 – North East London Polytechnic1989 – Polytechnic of East London ...

- Institute of Child Education Psychology Europe, Dublin and Chevron Training and Recruitment * Heriot-Watt University - Griffith College, Limerick *

- Christian Leadership in Education Office, Cork, since 1993 *

- validated programmes at the

(1972-1982) * Liverpool John Moores University - validated programmes for DBS *

London Metropolitan University London Metropolitan University, commonly known as London Met, is a public research university in London, England. The University of North London (formerly the Polytechnic of North London) and London Guildhall University (formerly the City ...

- Portobello Institute * Middlesex University - PCI College, Dublin *

University of Northumbria , mottoeng = A lifetime of learning , established = 1877 - Rutherford College of Technology1969 - Newcastle Polytechnic1992 - gained university status , type = Public , budget = � ...

- Law Society of Ireland * Nottingham Trent University - validated degrees for Griffith College *

University of Reading The University of Reading is a public university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as University College, Reading, a University of Oxford extension college. The institution received the power to grant its own degrees in 192 ...

- Irish Management Institute *

University of Ulster sco, Ulstèr Universitie , image = Ulster University coat of arms.png , caption = , motto_lang = , mottoeng = , latin_name = Universitas Ulidiae , established = 1865 – Magee College 1953 - Magee Un ...

- Irish Times Training and Marino Institute of Education *

- validated degrees for Portobello College,

and

University of Wales Trinity Saint David , image = Crest of TSD.png , image_size = 200px , caption = Coat of armsUniversity of Wales Trinity Saint David , established = 2010 (Saint David's College, Lampeter founded 1822 and opened 1827; royal charter 1828) , ...

- validates MBA programme at IBAT College, Dublin *

University of West London The University of West London (UWL) is a public research university in the United Kingdom with campuses in Ealing, Brentford, and in Reading, Berkshire. The university has roots in 1860, when the Lady Byron School was founded, later Ealing C ...

- British/Irish Modern Music Institute, Dublin * University of the West of Scotland - Filmbase, Dublin *

University of Wolverhampton The University of Wolverhampton is a public university located on four campuses across the West Midlands, Shropshire and Staffordshire in England. The roots of the university lie in the Wolverhampton Tradesmen's and Mechanics' Institute founde ...

- Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education, Coolock and Edenmore *

since 2014 *

- validated the Carmelite Institute of Britain and Ireland Masters programme from 2012-2016 *

Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas A pontifical ( la, pontificale) is a Christian liturgical book containing the liturgies that only a bishop may perform. Among the liturgies are those of the ordinal for the ordination and consecration of deacons, priests, and bishops to Holy ...

- award degrees at the Domician Studium *

St John's College, Nottingham St John's College, Nottingham, founded as the London College of Divinity, was an Anglican and interdenominational theological college situated in Bramcote, Nottingham, England. The college stood in the open evangelical tradition and stated that i ...

- has validated programmes with the

Church of Ireland Theological Institute ) , image_name = , image_size = , caption = , latin_name = , motto = "Growth, Unity and Service" , tagline = , established = 2007 , type = ...

Defunct institutions

The following are defunct institutions, due to closure or merger. This list does not include institutions that were renamed. * Albert Agricultural College (1838–1979), part of UCD from 1926-1979, NIHE Dublin (now DCU) was built on Albert College *

(1842–2016), now part of Dublin City University * Apothecaries' Hall, Dublin (1791–1971) * Bandon University, Bandon, Co. Cork (? - Reformation of King Henry VIII) Considered a University by the Papacy *

Catholic University of Ireland The Catholic University of Ireland (CUI; ga, Ollscoil Chaitliceach na hÉireann) was a private Catholic university in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1851 following the Synod of Thurles in 1850, and in response to the Queen's University o ...

(1854–1908), evolved into

Church of Ireland College of Education The Church of Ireland College of Education or C.I.C.E. as it was more commonly known ( ga, Coláiste Oideachais Eaglais na hÉireann) was one of five Irish Colleges of Education which provided a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree, the qualific ...

(1816-2016), previously linked to University of Dublin, now part of DCU *

, merged with IT Tralee in 2021 to form

Froebel College of Education Froebel College of Education was one of five colleges in Ireland which was recognised by the Department of Education (Ireland), Department of Education for the training and education of national school teachers. It was located at Sion Hill, Cr ...

(1943–2013), now part of Maynooth University * HSI College * IT Tralee, merged with CIT in 2021 to form

Irish Academy for the Performing Arts Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

(2002–2004) *

Kimmage Mission Institute Kimmage Mission Institute (KMI) was an educational institute of theology and cultures, founded 1991, by the Holy Ghost Fathers, at their Missionary College, in Kimmage Manor, Dublin. The Holy Ghost Fathers had a long history of teaching Theolog ...

(1991-2005) moved to Milltown and merged with Milltown Institute *

Mater Dei Institute of Education Mater Dei Institute of Education ( ga, Institiúid Oideachais Mater Dei) was a linked college of Dublin City University from 1999 until its closure in 2016, located in Drumcondra, Dublin City, Ireland, near Croke Park, on the site of what was ...

(1966–2016), now part of Dublin City University *

Media Lab Europe Media Lab Europe (MLE) was a research institute in Dublin, Ireland, based on the MIT Media Lab concept. Created in 2000, it went into voluntary liquidation early in 2005. MLE was one of two such projects, the other of which, Media Lab Asia, s ...

(2000–05) * Mid West Business Institute, now part of Griffith College Limerick *

Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy Milltown may refer to: * Mill town, a settlement that developed around one or more mills Places Canada * Milltown, New Brunswick * Milltown, Newfoundland and Labrador * Milltown, Ontario Ireland * Milltown, Ballymore, a townland in Ballymore civ ...

(1968–2015) * Newman College, Dublin, merged into Griffith College *

Our Lady of Mercy College, Carysfort Our Lady of Mercy College, Carysfort (commonly known as Carysfort College) was a ''College of Education'' in Dublin, Ireland from its foundation in 1877 until its closure in 1988. Educating primary school teachers, and located in a parkland cam ...

(1877–1988) *

Portobello College Dublin Portobello, Porto Bello, Porto Belo, Portabello, or Portabella may refer to: Places Brazil * Porto Belo Ireland * Portobello, Dublin * Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin formerly ''Portobello Barracks'' New Zealand * Portobello, New Zealand, on ...

, acquired by Dublin Business School in 2007 * Queen's University of Ireland (1850–82) *

Royal University of Ireland The Royal University of Ireland was founded in accordance with the ''University Education (Ireland) Act 1879'' as an examining and degree-awarding university based on the model of the University of London. A Royal Charter was issued on 27 Apri ...

(1880–1909), succeeded by the National University of Ireland *

St Catherine's College of Education for Home Economics St. Catherine’s College of Education for Home Economics, was set up by the Dominican Order in 1929 for the training of secondary school teachers of Domestic Science. The college was known more colloquially as either ‘St Catherine’s’ or ...

St Patrick's College of Education St Patrick's College ( ga, Coláiste Phádraig), often known as St Pat's, was a third level institution in Ireland, the leading function of which was as the country's largest primary teacher training college, which had at one time up to 2,000 s ...

(1875–2016), now part of Dublin City University *

Tipperary Institute The Technological University of the Shannon: Thurles Campus (TUS Thurles; established as the Tipperary Institute and later as LIT Tipperary ga, ITL Thiobráid Arann) is a constituent institute of the Technological University of the Shannon, lo ...

(1999-2011), now part of

Limerick Institute of Technology The Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Luimnigh) was an institute of technology, located in Limerick, Ireland. The institute had five campuses that were located in Limerick, Thurles, Clonmel, as well as a r ...

Thomond College of Education, Limerick Thomond College of Education, Limerick (''Coláiste Oideachais Thuamhurnhan, Luimneach'' in Irish) was established in 1973 in Limerick, Ireland as the ''National College of Physical Education'' to train physical education teachers. The college ...

(1973–1991), became part of

* Tourism College Killybegs (? - 2001), now part of

Letterkenny Institute of Technology The Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Leitir Ceanainn) was a institute of technology, located in Letterkenny, Ireland. Based at Letterkenny in County Donegal, it was one of the smaller places of thi ...

* University of Dublin (medieval) (operated intermittently 1320–1534) *

, merged with

AIT An ait (, like ''eight'') or eyot () is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England. Aits are typically formed by the deposit of sediment in the water, which accumu ...

in 2021 to form the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). *

Athlone Institute of Technology The Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Luain) was an institute of technology, located in Athlone, Ireland. Established in 1970, the institute's campus was located on University Road. A cons ...

, merged with LIT in 2021 to form the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS).

Professional Bodies

Chartered Accountants Ireland Chartered Accountants Ireland was established by Royal Charter on 14 May 1888, and is Ireland's largest accountancy body. According to its website, it represents over 30,000 members globally. Chartered Accountants Ireland is part of the Con ...

- Accounting professional body *

Institution of Engineers of Ireland The Institution of Engineers of Ireland ( ga, Cumann na nInnealtóirí) or the IEI, is the second oldest Engineering Society on the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, and was established in 1835. The institution primarily represents mem ...

(Engineers Ireland) - Engineers professional body *

Law Society of Ireland The Law Society of Ireland ( ga, Dlí-Chumann na hÉireann) is a professional body established on 24 June 1830 and is the educational, representative and regulatory body of the solicitors' profession in Ireland. As of 2020, the Law Society had ...

- Solicitor professional body * The Honorable Society of King's Inns - Barrister professional body * Association of Chartered Certified Accountants - Accounting professional body *

Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland ( ga, Institiúid Ríoga Ailtirí na hÉireann) founded in 1839, is the "competent authority for architects and professional body for Architecture in the Republic of Ireland." The RIAI's purpose ...

- the professional body for Architects in Ireland

Footnotes

* College is linked to University of Dublin. * College is linked to

* College is linked to National University of Ireland. * College is linked to

. * College is linked to

References

External links

* *
Department of Education and Science list of higher education providers in Ireland, updated regularly
{{Europe topic, Higher education in

Universities A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

Ireland education-related lists Higher education by country

Framework

Institutions

Fees

Further education

Grade inflation

List of higher education establishments

Universities

Technological Universities

Institutes of technology

Pontifical University

Colleges of education

Recognised, associated or constituent colleges of Irish universities

National institutions

State-aided and chartered institutions

Other institutions

Foreign institutions with a presence in Ireland

Foreign institutions who validate programmes in Ireland

Defunct institutions

Professional Bodies

Footnotes

See also

References

External links