Ireland is becoming the destination of choice for many international students, whether they are motivated by the study of a new language, such as English, or in the wide range of academic subjects available from quality universities that are highly rated in international rankings.
While Ireland has renowned universities in the island’s major cities, today we will focus on the universities in Dublin, its capital.
Dublin, or ‘The Big Smoke’ as it is sometimes called by locals, has become increasingly attractive to students from across Europe and beyond in recent years, not only because of the quality of its academic institutions, but also because of the quality of life it offers. The Irish capital is indeed an attractive city because of its vibrant cultural scene, its nightlife and of course the legendary friendliness of the Irish! A victim of its own success, finding student accommodation in Dublin is becoming increasingly complicated.
Dublin has four universities: University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University and Dublin Institute of Technology, all of which feature in the QS World University Rankings 2019.
Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
The oldest and considered by many to be the best university in Dublin, Trinity College Dublin was founded in 1592 in the heart of the capital and has had the likes of Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, Samuel Beckett and Jonathan Swift, among others, as students!
Ranked first in Ireland and 98th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023), Trinity College Dublin offers 5 undergraduate and 17 postgraduate programmes to over 18,000 students in three faculties – Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Engineering, Mathematics and Science; and Health Sciences.
Trinity is ranked the 8th most international university in the world (Times Higher Education Rankings 2021) and has students and staff from over 120 countries, making it a truly diverse and international campus.
University College Dublin (UCD)
UCD’s main campus is based on a 130 hectare parkland estate called Belfield in the southern part of the City.
Whether it is a short course of study or a full Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme, UCD is a choice of excellence.
According to the QS World University Rankings, University College Dublin is in the top 1% of higher education institutions in the world. In the 2021 edition of the QS World University Subject Rankings, UCD has been named among the world’s top universities in the study of 38 subjects.
According to the university’s website, its best performance was in veterinary science, which was Ireland’s highest ranked programme in this year’s lists.
In addition, the University had eight areas ranked in the QS top 100. These were: agriculture and forestry, archaeology, English language and literature, history, nursing, law, politics, philosophy and international studies.
Dublin City University (DCU)
The youngest of Dublin’s universities, Dublin City University has a strong focus on business, communication and journalism studies.
With around 20% international students, DCU offers excellent value for money and its campus offers great facilities with numerous cafes, restaurants and bars, providing even more opportunities to socialise!
Founded in 1989, DCU has an enrolment of approximately 11,500 students. Dublin City University offers an international scholarship programme for international undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The university has developed its own research specialisms and has established a number of national centres of excellence. The campus is home to leading research centres in areas such as cell biotechnology, neurotherapy, chemical sensors and biosensors and plasma technology.
Technological University Dublin (TUD)
Technological University Dublin or TU Dublin is Ireland’s first technological university, founded in 2019, and with a history that begins in 1887 through the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT).
With 29,000 students across its three Dublin campuses, TU Dublin is the university where arts, science, business and technology converge.
Extra: Maynooth University (Co. Kildare)
Another university near Dublin not to be forgotten is Maynooth University. Approximately 30km from Dublin, Maynooth University in County Kildare is part of the National University Ireland network and was officially established as a university in 1997.
Maynooth University has its origins in the founding of St Patrick’s Royal College in 1795, building on a legacy that includes over 200 years of education.
The humanities, social sciences and natural sciences form the academic and intellectual core of the University, complemented by strong departments and programmes in teacher education, computer science and electronic engineering, business and law.
Alex
