Republic of Ireland

Country in Europe

Capital: Dublin
Dialing code: +353
Currency: Euro
Population: 4.595 million (2013) World Bank
Colleges and Universities: Trinity College, Dublin, more

The Republic of Ireland occupies most of the island of Ireland, off the coast of England and Wales. Its capital, Dublin, is the birthplace of writers like Oscar Wilde, and home of Guinness beer. The 9th-century Book of Kells and other illustrated manuscripts are on show in Dublin’s Trinity College Library. Dubbed the "Emerald Isle” for its lush landscape, the country is dotted with castles like medieval Cahir Castle.
Ireland's worldwide reputation for high quality education is built on the solid foundation of commitment to excellence. Ireland is a beautiful island, combining contemporary modern cities with an unspoilt countryside, cityscapes steeped in history and a rich natural habitat. Renowned for friendliness, our safe, English speaking country offers the warmest of welcomes to students from all over the world.

Higher Education System

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The higher education system (third level) in Ireland is broad in scope and encompasses the university sector, the technological sector, education colleges and private, independent colleges. The institutions which fall within the first three groupings are autonomous and self governing, but substantially state-funded. Admission requirements for overseas students are determined individually by each institution and are generally based on national examination performance and English language aptitude. The academic year typically runs from September to June and is divided into either two or three semesters with holidays in December (Christmas) and April (Easter). The following academic awards can be acquired at Irish third level institutions:

• Higher Certificate: two-year full-time course.
• Ordinary Bachelor’s Degree: three-year full-time course.
• Honours Bachelor’s Degree: normally a three- or four-year course.
• Graduate Diploma: designed for graduates seeking vocational reorientation – usually a one-year course.
• Master’s Degree: either by research or through a taught programme. Normally one-two year(s) in duration.
• Doctorate (PhD): usually takes a minimum of three years of original research.

Trinity College Dublin

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Established back in 1592, Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s oldest higher education institution and one of the seven “ancient universities” in the territory of the UK and Ireland. It is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin, and was modelled after the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge. Today, Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s most prestigious university, ranked joint 98th in the world. Over 17,000 students are currently enrolled across the university’s three faculties: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Engineering, Mathematics and Sciences; or Health Sciences.

University College Dublin

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Also based in the lively Irish capital, University College Dublin has its roots in the Catholic University of Ireland, which was founded in 1854. Ireland’s second representative in the international rankings, it ranks 176th in the QS World University Rankings 2016/17. Approximately 33,400 students are currently enrolled, and the university consists of five colleges, 34 schools and 18 research institutes and centers. It is associated with many notable alumni, including the famous Irish writer James Joyce, actor Gabriel Byrne, and Oscar-winning director and producer Neil Jordan.

National University of Ireland, Galway

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The National University of Ireland, Galway made an impressive leap from joint 271st to joint 249th in the 2016 edition of the QS World University Rankings, and also has a five-star rating in the QS Stars assessment system. More than 17,000 students are enrolled at the university, which is based in the city of Galway, on the western coast of Ireland, and the campus is currently undergoing a €400 million redevelopment program. The university prides itself on offering a number of less-typical courses, including a BSc in Podiatry and BE/MEng in Sport and Exercise Engineering.

University College Cork

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The next highest-ranked Irish higher education institute at joint 283rd in the world is University College Cork. In 1998 it was officially renamed University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork, but it’s still widely known as University College Cork, or UCC. University College Cork was the world’s first university to receive the international Green Flag for environmental sustainability, in 2010, and has received five QS Stars for its overall performance. It’s based in the city of Cork, in the southern part of Ireland.

Dublin City University

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A much younger institution compared to the three historic universities listed above, Dublin City University was established in 1975, and gained university status in 1989. Nonetheless, it’s gained a strong position in a short space of time, ranked joint 380th in the world. About 16,000 students are currently enrolled, including around 1,000 enrolled in distance education courses. Based in the northern part of the city of Dublin, the university boasts an impressive selection of on-campus facilities, including The Helix – a large arts venue, complete with several different-sized performance spaces.

The University of Limerick, Dublin Institute of Technology and the National University of Ireland Maynooth also feature in the QS World University Rankings 2016/17, all among the world’s top 700 higher education institutions. In addition, Ireland’s largest medical school, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), is ranked among the world’s top 400 medical schools in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.