Dublin is an attractive city for international students and there are a ton of reasons why. Before you decide to study in Dublin though, here’s an introduction to some practical information about what you can expect from city’s tertiary education system.
Dublin has four world-ranking universities
For such a small city, Dublin offers excellent educational opportunities. The city has four universities: Trinity College Dublin, DCU, UCD and TU Dublin. All four of them feature in the QS World University Rankings. Three even rank among the top 500 in the world.
Just across the border in Kildare, there is also the university town of Maynooth which is home to another world-ranking institution called NUI Maynooth.
Through public and private colleges, Dublin offers a ton of other third-level options for students to take advantage of too.
The city is home to 35,000 international students
If you decide to study in Dublin, you won’t be alone. The city is home to thousands of students from all over the world.
Around a fifth of students at DCU hail from abroad while a quarter of UCD’s student body is international. According to the Higher Education Authority, more than 35,000 international students currently study in Ireland.
A record number of applications were seen back in 2021 and, since then, numbers have continued to be driven by overseas students looking to Ireland for college places post-Brexit.
Graduates who study in Dublin can kickstart their careers here
Dublin is home to a ton of globally recognised multinationals, particularly in the areas of finance, tech, life sciences and business services. Despite international uncertainly surrounding the tech sector, Ireland’s tech industry and economy continue to grow.
The Irish Government recognises that innovation and diversity go hand in hand and aims to make Ireland the first choice for international researchers, innovators and students. This means you’ll be working with a system that’s designed to support your growth – first as a student, then as a graduate.
So, once you’ve finished your studies, you may have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience here in Dublin. EU and UK citizens are free to take up employment without the need for a visa. While international students from non-EEA countries who study in Ireland can also apply for special student visas once they graduate.
Below, you’ll find out more about what you can expect from studying in Dublin. From student life and stories, to student visas and planning your move, we’ve got all the most important details covered.