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Top Universities in Ireland

Trinity College Dublin tops our list of 29 universities in Ireland at #75 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is followed by University of Dublin, Trinity College (QS World #75) and University College Dublin (QS World #118). Across the whole list there are 268 courses to choose from.

29 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
25Ranked
LC LSB College logo
Ireland

LSB College

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

—Tuition (indicative)
—Founded
—Students
—International
Admissions open
Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found
26Ranked
RC Royal College of Surgeons logo
Ireland

Royal College of Surgeons

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

—Tuition (indicative)
—Founded
—Students
—International
Admissions open
Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found

By university type

How these universities are ranked

7 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #75 (Trinity College Dublin) to #410 (Dublin City University); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. Trinity College Dublin has the largest research record in this group, with 8,069,949 citations and an h-index of 864. 14 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

The split is 29 public to 0 private institutions. By location, Leinster (3), Munster (1) and Connacht (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is Trinity College Dublin, founded in 1592. University College Dublin is the largest, with 33,000 students.

What the courses look like

By level: 149 bachelor's, 65 master's, 20 diploma and 5 foundation. The most common subjects are Business & Management (61), Medicine & Health Sciences (37), Education (23) and Computer Science & IT (20). The usual length is 4 years and 4 Years. 92% are full-time and 4 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (90% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (38% of courses with a stated intake). University of Galway offers the widest choice, with 63 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 5 of these universities. Dublin City University is the least expensive at USD 20,000 a year and Trinity College Dublin the most at USD 27,000; the middle of the range is about USD 23,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities in Ireland?

Trinity College Dublin (QS World #75), University of Dublin, Trinity College (QS World #75) and University College Dublin (QS World #118) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university in Ireland?

Of those with published fees, Dublin City University is the least expensive at about USD 20,000 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many universities in Ireland are public?

29 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a course take in Ireland?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 4 Years the next most common.

When do courses start in Ireland?

Fall is the main intake — 90% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Which university has the most courses in Ireland?

University of Galway, with 63, ahead of Dublin City University (51).

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