An Cosán Competitors

University College Dublin is one of Europe's leading research-intensive universities; an environment where undergraduate education, masters and PhD training, research, innovation and community engagement form a dynamic spectrum of activity. With over 38,000 students from 152 countries, including over 5,000 students based on overseas campuses, UCD is not only Ireland's largest university but also its most globally engaged. Our 343,000 alumni across 184 nations lead in literature, arts, business, science and sport. The University is ranked 100 in the world, according to the QS World University Rankings UCD is one of Europe's leading research-intensive universities, with an environment where masters and PhD training, research, innovation and community engagement form a dynamic spectrum of activity. No.1 nationally and ranked among the top 20 universities in Europe for Horizon Europe funding, across seven research institutes and a wide range of interdisciplinary centres, UCD drives innovation by bringing together STEM, the arts, humanities and social sciences. The University's main Dublin campus occupies an extensive parkland estate of 133 hectares. It offers world-leading facilities, including the UCD O'Brien Centre for Science, UCD Sutherland School of Law, UCD Lochlan Quinn School of Business, and the UCD Student Centre. As Ireland's largest university, with its great strength and diversity of disciplines, UCD embraces its role to contribute to the flourishing of Ireland, Europe and the wider world. Updated - September 2026

DCU is a young, dynamic and ambitious university with a distinctive mission to transform lives and societies through education, research and innovation. Since admitting its first students in 1980, DCU has grown in both student numbers and size and is now a multi campus environment Glasnevin, located just north of Dublin city. In the last nine years, DCU has twice been named Sunday Times ‘University of the Year’. DCU is recognised nationally and internationally as a centre of academic excellence with over 16000 students. Over 50,000 students have graduated from DCU and are now playing significant roles in enterprise and business globally. DCU is Ireland’s most innovative university, and in 2016 will deliver more than 200 programmes to over 16,000 students across its five faculties – Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Health, Engineering and Computing, DCU Business School and the DCU Institute of Education. DCU’s excellence is recognised internationally and it is regularly featured among the world’s top young universities. In the 2016 QS Top 50 Under 50 league table of the top young universities in the world, DCU’s ranking moved up two places to 44th in the world. It is the only Irish university to feature in these rankings which are designed to emphasise the potential and excellence of universities without decades or centuries of established reputation.

Trinity College Dublin is recognised internationally as Ireland's premier university and is ranked joint 75th in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2024). In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Trinity is ranked 134th globally.