Ireland is known for its high standards in education. The best universities in Ireland provide educational opportunities for international students. According to this OECD report, 9 percent of international students were enrolled in tertiary education in 2019. This is 3 percent higher than the OECD average. This data indicates that Ireland is one of the countries you should consider if you want to study abroad.
Numerous Ireland schools ranked on the Times Higher Education world rankings and the education system in this historically significant country has a lot to offer. This article will provide you with a comprehensive list of the best schools in Ireland. You will also learn about some of the programs offered by the top universities in Ireland that accept students from different countries.
What Attracts Students to Universities in Ireland?
Ireland has become an attractive destination for students because of its high standard of education and career opportunities. Students will also appreciate the city’s rich history and culture, which provides a wonderful setting in which to study the arts, tech, and social sciences. Some of the best universities in Ireland offer affordable tuition fees and scholarships for eligible international students.
Ireland Schools Ranked: An Overview
| Ireland Rank | World Rank on Times Higher Education | World Rank on US News | Institution |
| 1 | 146th | 222 | Trinity College Dublin |
| 2 | 201–250th | 244 | University College Dublin |
| 3 | 201–250th | 1045 | Royal College of Surgeons – Ireland (RCSI) |
| 4 | 251–300th | 392 | University College Cork |
| 5 | 351–400th | 548 | National University of Ireland, Galway |
| 6 | 501–600th | 861 | Dublin City University |
| 7 | 501–600th | 1198 | Maynooth University |
| 8 | 601–800th | 861 | University of Limerick |
| 9 | 801–1000th | N/A | Waterford Institute of Technology |
| 10 | 1001–1200th | N/A | Technological University Dublin |
The Best Universities in Ireland, Explained
In the following section, we will go through the universities listed in the table above in detail, based on information we gathered from the universities’ official websites. Read on and discover why these colleges are a top choice for international students looking to study in Europe.
1. Trinity College Dublin
- Campus Location: Dublin 2
- Acceptance Rate: 34%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- US News Country Rank: #222
Trinity College Dublin was established in March 1592 and is an elite European university. International students attending this university also have the chance to participate in cultural events and be part of the international community. Trinity provides several scholarships for foreign and European students. This school holds 50 sports clubs for athletes as well as 120 societies where students get involved in arts, culture, and politics.
2. University College Dublin
- Campus Location: Dublin 4
- Acceptance Rate: 25%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: #244
University College Dublin, or UCD, is a prestigious university in Ireland. It is a public research university and is considered the biggest university in Ireland, with 35,286 students, including about 8,000 international students.
This school offers a wide range of academic programs in different fields such as engineering, business, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. UCD also offers several international scholarships to make its programs more accessible to students from abroad.
3. Royal College of Surgeons – Ireland (RCSI)
- Campus Location: Dublin 2
- Acceptance Rate: 46%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: #1045
Founded in February 1800, RCSI is a private university in Ireland. It has more than 4,000 students and 60 percent of them are from over 90 countries around the world. It offers an extensive range of courses related to health and sciences. RCSI provides world-class medical education and training for healthcare professionals.
4. University College Cork
- Campus Location: Cork
- Acceptance Rate: 41%
- Graduation Rate: 88.99% for bachelor’s degrees, 80.61% for master’s degrees
- US News Country Rank: #392
University College Cork, or UCC, is a popular university in Ireland and offers plenty of college courses and research facilities in areas like food and nutrition, sustainability, finance, and health. UCC also allows international students to participate in its various activities and organizations such as the student body organization, in which 3,000 members are international students. UCC has international students from over 100 countries worldwide.
5. National University of Ireland, Galway
- Campus Location: Galway
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- US News Country Rank: #548
NUI Galway is a public university founded in 1845. It provides different undergraduate and graduate programs for students from abroad. It has several exchange programs for international students and conducts online and in-person events for them. Visiting students are allowed to study in the school for one semester or a whole academic year.
6. Dublin City University
- Campus Location: Dublin 9
- Acceptance Rate: 44%
- Graduation Rate: 92.66% for bachelor’s degrees, 91.14% for master’s degrees
- US News Country Rank: #861
Founded in 1975, Dublin City University is a public university in Ireland with a student population of 17,000. This education institution offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses for both Irish and international students. DCU accepts students from all over the world. Students from Europe should have a European Health Insurance Card, while non-EU students are required to get private insurance before they leave their country.
7. Maynooth University
- Campus Location: Maynooth
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: #1198
Maynooth University, also known as the National University of Ireland, was established in 1997. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees as well as certifications and short courses. Maynooth University also provides financial aid for prospective students from the US. Moreover, it features the CampusConnect mobile app where the international student population can connect with their peers.
8. University of Limerick
- Campus Location: Limerick
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Graduation Rate: 97.11% for bachelor’s degrees, 93.96% for master’s degrees
- US News Country Rank: #861
At the University of Limerick (UL), you can enroll in postgraduate, graduate, and undergraduate courses in several fields such as education, engineering, science, humanities, arts, and more. This education institute also offers village communities for students from all over the world where they can meet other international and Irish students. Summer programs are also available for the student community at UL.
9. Waterford Institute of Technology
- Campus Location: Waterford
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Graduation Rate: 85.85% for bachelor’s degrees, 48.13% for master’s degrees
- US News Country Rank: N/A
Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) offers several degree programs in engineering, humanities, computer science, and business. WIT accepts exchange students from its 100 partner universities. It also provides scholarships for eligible international students who meet the standard average grade and other requirements.
10. Technological University Dublin
- Campus Location: Dublin 7
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 90.72% for master’s degrees
- US News Country Rank: N/A
TU Dublin is the first technological university in Ireland with over five campuses in Dublin. It was founded in January 2019 and offers several programs for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Non-EU students must pay international fees, which include tuition fees, examination, and registration fees.
How We Created Our List of the Best Schools in Ireland
In order to create our list, we followed the Times Higher Education 2022 World University Rankings. This ranking was created by evaluating teaching, research, citations, international outlook, and industry outcomes of over 1,600 institutions from around the world. Complementary information was retrieved from the US News Best National University Rankings.
Is a Top University in Ireland Right for You?
A top university in Ireland is right for you if you want to learn about Irish heritage, Irish history, and work in a European country. Studying at one of the best universities in Ireland will give you an excellent opportunity to experience Irish culture and the country’s excellent education system. You will get to socialize with other European students, expand your language skills, and become familiar with Irish customs.
However, if you have no interest in foreign educational institutions you can enroll at affordable universities in your country. If you want to enter the tech industry, coding bootcamps are an excellent way to gain in-demand tech skills through hands-on experiences and comprehensive training in a short time.
Best Universities in Ireland FAQ
The average cost of living in Ireland for international students for one academic year is €7,000 to €12,000 (approx. $7,700-$13,200). This includes accommodation, food, and transportation. Most Irish schools provide an estimated cost of living for international applicants.
You need to have a student visa to be able to study in Ireland. You may also need to provide English proficiency test scores and a certificate of secondary education for undergraduate programs. Moreover, most schools will require a GPA of at least 3.0 and a diploma of undergraduate studies if you aim to pursue a postgraduate degree.
University College Dublin is the best university for engineering and technology, according to the US News & World Report. The next best schools for engineering and tech education are NUI Galway and Trinity College Dublin.
Some of the cheapest universities in Ireland for international students are Trinity College Dublin, the University of Limerick, the Dublin Business School, and the Cork Institute of Technology. You can also apply for scholarships and financial aid offered by many universities in Ireland.
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