Universities in Ireland

Sitting to the east of Great Britain in north west Europe lies Ireland, an EU nation with outstanding natural beauty, a rich history and culture that can be found around the world. Visitors can expect a warm, welcoming spirit and international students will find it a place of great opportunity, with a world class education system.

The types of University

Universities and colleges in Ireland can be divided into the following groups:

Universities – There are 8 public universities with a focus on research output in Ireland. These include University of Dublin (Trinity College Dublin), University of Limerick and National University of Ireland.

Technological universities & Institutes of technology – Historically Ireland has had several Institutes of Technology. Since 2018, many of these have merged to form what are now referred to as Technological universities. There are now 5 Technological universities in Ireland, these include Munster Technological University, South East Technological University and Technological University Dublin.

There are 2 remaining Institutes of technology in Ireland, Institute of Art Design and Technology in Dublin and Dundalk Institute of Technology.

Colleges & Schools – There are many third-level education institutions in Ireland, often referred to as colleges or schools. These include the private Griffith College Dublin, Mary Immaculate College and Cork College of Commerce.

Foreign institutions – There are several foreign universities who offer their degrees through native institutions of Ireland, such as Heriot-Watt University and the University of Reading.

In addition to this, there are many foreign universities who have established satellite campuses in Ireland, including Sacred Heart University, Boston College and the University of Notre Dame.

Language of instruction

The most widely spoken language in the Republic of Ireland is English, whilst Irish (also known as Gaelic) is also an official language of Ireland. Most universities in Ireland offer their courses taught in the English language.

If you have an interest in studying Gaelic, there are many options available to you, such as the Irish 4 years Bachelors course at Trinity College Dublin, which is taught entirely in Irish.

Popular cities in Ireland for International students

• Cork – Based on the southern coast of the Republic of Ireland, the city of Cork is one the biggest cities on the island, and offers visitors the chance to indulge in thriving arts, pub and food culture, with excellent museums and galleries to visit. There is also wonderful nature on your doorstep, and a long coastline to explore. Cork is a great location for students, and has several universities and colleges, including University College Cork, Griffith College Cork and Cork College of Commerce.
• Dublin – The capital of the Republic or Ireland, Dublin is located on the east coast of the country and is Ireland’s largest city. Famous for its pubs and food, culture, history and museums, Dublin is a bustling city that always welcomes visitors. It is also a popular destination for international students, with fantastic employment opportunities and world class education on offer. Education institutions in Dublin include University College Dublin, Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin.
• Galway – On the opposite side of the country from Dublin, on the west coast of Ireland, lies Galway. Offering spectacular natural scenery and hosting over 100 festivals and events every year, there is lots to see and do in this harbour city. International students will be attracted to the University of Galway, a public university that ranks as one of the best in Ireland.
• Limerick – In the west of Ireland, the city of Limerick is one of the largest cities in Ireland. It has many historic buildings and landmarks to visit, and offers a vibrant cultural scene for visitors. There are several universities and colleges around the city for international students to consider, such as the University of Limerick, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and Griffith College Limerick.

Table of the top ranked universities in Ireland

We have compiled a list of some of the top universities and higher education providers in Ireland to browse below. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see what courses are available for international students.

For more information about universities in Northern Ireland, please visit our Study in the UK directory.