For students in Ireland and around the world, the universities in Ireland offer some excellent courses and programs. There are fewer than a dozen universities in Ireland, but that doesn't necessarily make the choice for students any easier. After all, while rankings are all well and good, you have to remember that the experience and education offered at some of the highest-ranked institutions won't necessarily be well-suited to every single student. With every student being different and a broad range of subjects and degrees to study, it's worth examining each university individually, as well as considering its rankings.
| University | QS World Rank 2026 | City | Students | Founded | Notable Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity College Dublin | #75 | Dublin | 19,000+ | 1592 | Humanities, Law, Medicine, Engineering |
| University College Dublin | #118 | Dublin | 39,954 | 1854 | Business, Agriculture, Engineering, Computer Science |
| University College Cork | #246 | Cork | 21,000+ | 1845 | Science, Food Science, Medicine, Celtic Studies |
| University of Galway | #284 | Galway | 19,000+ | 1845 | Environmental Science, Performing Arts, Medicine |
| University of Limerick | ~#401 | Limerick | 16,000+ | 1989 | Sports Science, Engineering, Education, Law |
| Dublin City University | ~#410 | Dublin | 16,000+ | 1989 | Communication, Finance, Computing, Politics |
| Maynooth University | #771–780 | Maynooth, Co. Kildare | 15,000 | 1997 (roots 1795) | English, Geography, Education, Humanities |
| Technological University Dublin | #781–790 | Dublin | 30,000 | 2019 (roots 1887) | Engineering, Design, Creative Arts, Business |
| RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences | Top 150 (Medicine) | Dublin | Not specified | 1784 | Medicine, Surgery, Pharmacy, Health Sciences |
Technological University Dublin – QS World Rank #781–790
Technological University Dublin, or TU Dublin, may be one of the newer universities in Ireland, having been founded in 2019; however, its roots date back to 1887. It was previously known as the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown (ITB), and the Institute of Technology, Tallaght (ITT), before all three were merged.
It now teaches nearly 30,000 students across Dublin City and County Dublin in areas such as architecture, business, maths, creative arts, engineering, law, music and drama, science, sports and leisure, and languages. It mightn't be the best-ranking university in Ireland. However, it remains highly ranked globally, ranking #781–790 in the QS 2026 worldwide rankings, out of the over 6,000 universities featured in the QS World University Rankings. To clarify, we're not clairvoyant; it's just that QS seems to name its rankings for the upcoming year rather than the year they are released. The QS 2026 worldwide rankings are available in 2025.
For subjects such as engineering, electrical and electronic, it is ranked in the top 400 globally and within the top 150 in Europe. Again, for the right student and the right subject, Technological University Dublin could be an excellent choice.
The QS World University Rankings evaluate thousands of institutions based on academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, and international student ratio.
In 2026, over 1,500 universities were ranked globally. Irish institutions regularly excel in areas such as international outlook and subject specialisation.
Maynooth University – QS World Rank #771–780
Maynooth University ranks #771–780 in the QS 2026, placing it in the top #200 and highly regarded for geography, English language and literature, education and training, and arts and humanities. Officially known as the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, it's one of the newer universities in Ireland and was one of the younger universities in the country until the establishment of TU Dublin.
That said, it traces its history back to the late 16th century. From the 18th century, it was St Patrick's College, Maynooth. The college was recognised as a college of the National University of Ireland in the early 20th century and would finally become a university in its own right in 1997. In terms of student population, it's approximately half the size of TU Dublin, with around 15,000 students, comprising over 11,000 undergraduates and nearly 3,000 postgraduates and doctoral students.
The university is split across North and South Campuses (or new and old campuses) between Maynooth and Kilkock in County Kildare.
University of Limerick – QS World Rank ~#401
The University of Limerick is highly ranked in many subjects, including sports, nursing, education, English language and literature, chemical engineering, law, psychology, mechanical engineering, linguistics, modern languages, and materials science. It was the National Institute for Higher Education, Limeric,k until it was granted university status in 1989.
It's one of Europe's top universities, according to the QS Rankings and is also one of the world's top 500 universities. Over the last decade, it has consistently ranked within the top 500 or 600 universities globally and has made an impressive move up the rankings. It ranked ~#401 in QS 2026. Its student population is similar to that of Maynooth University, and it's highly ranked for employability, research, facilities, and inclusiveness.
Dublin City University – QS World Rank ~#410
Dublin City University was also granted its university status in 1989, like the University of Limerick. Before that, it was the National Institute of Higher Education, Dublin. It's located on the Northside of Dublin and also includes around 16,000 student,s like both the University of Limerick and Maynooth University.
Its rankings have dipped, and while it was mainly among the top 400 universities in the world, it reached its lowest ranking (still within the top 500 globally) in 2022 before rebounding to its current position of #410 worldwide. It's ranked in the top 120-130 in Europe as well as very highly for subject areas such as communication and media studies, sports, modern languages, English language and literature, politics, accounting and finance, sociology, and computer science.
Admission to Irish universities can vary widely:
- Trinity College Dublin: ~17% acceptance rate
- University College Dublin (UCD): ~20%
- Maynooth, UL, TU Dublin: 60–73%
Selectivity depends heavily on the course. Medicine, law, and tech tend to be the most competitive.
University College Cork – QS World Rank #246
This is our first Irish university to be placed within the global top 300 by the QS University Rankings (Ranked #246 in QS 2026). While not its highest recent ranking (it was #190 in 2012), this research-led university ranks within the top 2% of all universities worldwide.
It also ranked highly in the Times Higher Education guide as one of Europe's top 50 universities, too, and is particularly proud of its green initiatives. This university is divided into four colleges: the College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences, the College of Business and Law, the College of Science, Engineering, and Food Science, and the College of Medicine and Health.
Even though the university is often referred to as University College Cork, its complete and official name, as per the Ministerial Order of 1998, is University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork. This is likely why the other name is used far more frequently.
The University of Galway – QS World Rank #284
The University of Galway is one of Ireland's oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education. It was founded in 1845 as Queen's College, Galway. It's one of two Irish universities (along with Trinity College Dublin) to be part of the prestigious Coimbra Group of European universities.
Much like University College Cork, the University of Galway is also within the top 300 universities in the world and one of the top 100 universities in Europe. It can also boast being named The Sunday Times University of the Year 2022 and one of the finest research universities in Ireland and internationally. It ranks highly in subjects such as performing arts, nursing, law, hospitality, archaeology, medicine, environmental sciences, modern languages, computer science, and agriculture.
With over 19,000 students and numerous international students and staff members, it's slightly larger than some of the Irish universities we've previously covered.
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences – QS Medicine Subject Rank: Top 150
This is Ireland's only specialist health sciences university, so it's somewhat of an outlier in our list, but it's still worth mentioning, especially for those considering a career in medicine. The QS Rankings place it within the top 150 for medicine, the top 200 for pharmacy and pharmacology, #328 for life sciences and medicine, and the top 650 for biological sciences.
The university was founded in 1784 and offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications, particularly in medicine and related fields. Its health science research focuses on areas such as biomaterials and regenerative medicine, cancer, neurological and psychiatric disorders, population health and health services, surgical science and practice, and vascular biology. RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is located in Dublin.
Trinity College Dublin – #75
University College Dublin (UCD) – #118
University College Cork (UCC) – #246
University of Galway – #284
University of Limerick (UL) – ~#401
University College Dublin – QS World Rank #118
University College Dublin is Ireland's largest university. With nearly 40,000 students, it's far bigger than the other constituent universities of the National University of Ireland (University College Cork, University of Galway, and Maynooth University). It ranks within the top 200 globally, #118 in QS 2026 (was #126 in 2025), and excels in several subject areas.
The campus is located at Belfield, to the south of Dublin city centre. Initially, the institution was located at St. Stephen's Green in Dublin, but it moved in the early 1990s. If you need financial help or support to study at any university in Ireland, consider looking for scholarships.
students enrolled at University College Dublin.
Trinity College Dublin – QS World Rank #75
Last but certainly not least, we have Ireland's best-ranking university, Trinity College Dublin. Its history dates back to the 16th century, and it's one of the ancient universities, an exclusive group of some of Britain and Ireland's oldest universities.
Trinity College Dublin and the University of Dublin are the same thing. The University of Dublin is a collegiate university comprising a single constituent college, Trinity College. Often referred to simply as Trinity or TCD, the full legal name of the academic institution is Trinity College, the University of Dublin (TCD).
Have a look at Trinity College Dublin.
Either way, it's Ireland's top university in terms of rankings, ranked #87 in the world, and highly regarded for its excellence in a multitude of subjects. High-performing students in Ireland will likely be vying for a place at Trinity. However, it's not just for Irish students; the university boasts one of the most international student bodies in the world, ranking 16th globally in terms of international students and staff, with representatives from 120 different countries.
of students are international.
Don't forget that you can also look into studying abroad. The University of Dublin is situated in the heart of the city. It is a popular destination for both students seeking a fine education and the many tourists who visit every year to admire the predominantly neoclassical architecture of the campus. Of course, you should always choose the university that's right for you and not just the one that ranks highest.
Get Into Ireland's Best Universities with the Help of a Superprof Tutor
Earning a place in Ireland's top universities, such as Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, or the University of Galway, is highly competitive. To stand out, especially for high-demand programmes like medicine, law, engineering, and computer science, you'll need excellent academic results.
With a private tutor from the Superprof website, you can get tailored tuition in any of the subjects or skills you need help with. You can find subject-specific tutors or generalists who help with revision, study skills, or other transferable skills.
You can find tutors in Ireland who are familiar with the Leaving Cert exam formats or international specialists who know their subject inside out. You just have to search on the website and start browsing the tutors' profiles. You can see what kind of tutoring they offer, how much they charge, where they're based (and if they offer online tutoring), and the hourly rate.
With most offering the first session for free, you can try several potential tutors before choosing the perfect match for you, your budget, your learning style, and your objectives. They'll tailor their sessions to you, so you can be sure to get the most out of every minute spent with them and work towards a place at the university of your dreams.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
