Dublin is a vibrant, young university city with much to choose from for an incoming student. In recent years, with the rapid growth in the economy and multinational investment in industry, the third level education sector has grown increasingly technology-oriented. Additionally, with EU programs such as Socrates, funding for third level students to visit Ireland for a semester or academic year has brought a healthy flow of foreign students into Irish lecture theatres.

For a general introduction to Education in Ireland for the foreign student see www.iebi.ie

Students for outside the EU should bear in mind that a visa may be required in order to pursue study in Ireland (see www.iebi.ie/htm/how_to_apply/visas.htm) - students should in the first instance consult their own academic office charged with dealing with foreign student programs. Finding accommodation in Dublin is also not an easy task and it is best to consult our host institution regarding (at least) temporary accommodation on your arrival. Courses are generally only given in English, so a reasonable fluency in English is really a necessity.

There are far too many third level educational facilities to name them all, so the major universities and colleges in Dublin are listed here.

• American College Dublin
• DCU Dublin City University
• DIAS Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies
• DIT Dublin Institute of Technology
• The Royal College of Surgeons
• TCD Trinity College Dublin
• UCD University College Dublin

American College Dublin (www.amcd.ie) was established in 1993, and is located in Merrion Square, Dublin. The college provides many excellent facilities which include a large library, an extensive computer system which has enough facilities to teach computer applications for modern careers, language learning facilities.

Dublin City University (www.dcu.ie) was establised in 1980. The university can be found in the nothern suburbs of Dublin. DCU has several faculties comprising Business School, Computing & Mathematics (Computer Applications, Mathematical Science), Humanities (Communications, Applied Languages & Intercultural Studies), Engineering & Design (Electronic Engineering, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering), Science & Paramedical Studies (Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences)

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (www.dias.ie) was established under the Institute of Advanced Studies Act of 1940, in that same year. It comprises of three constituent schools, namely The School of Celtic Studies, The School of Theoretical Physics (both at 10 Burlington, Dublin 4) and The School of Cosmic Physics (at 5 Merion Square, Dublin 2). Dunsink Observatory, located a few miles outside of the city centre, to the north-west, is also affiliated. Since its inception, the Institute has been able to attract emminent scientists from around the world to work in Dublin, and many more to visit and attend seminars and workshops. While the majority of the academic staff are Irish there is still a significant number of foreign experts work there. The School of Theoretical Physics in particular boasts Erwin Schrödinger, the founder of wave mechanics, as its former head.

The Dublin Institute of Technology (www.dit.ie) is the largest third-level institute in the state and originated in the late nineteenth century with a technical school on the site of the present college in Kevin Street. Begining at the start of the twnetieth century, other colleges (Aungier Street, Rathmines, Bolton Street, Cathal Brugha Street, Mountjoy Square) were established and in recent years these independent technical colleges were amalgamated into a single institute. DIT has specialisms in architecture, electrical engineering, optometry, physics, photography, digital multimedia and the institute devotes a lot of time and resources to growing research and development activities. The Institute is situated on a number of different sites thorughout Dublin City but is set to establish a single cohesive campus at GrangeGorman in the north centre city in the coming years.

The Royal College of Surgeons (www.rcsi.ie) is situated on St. Stephen's Green West. It was founded in 1784. The Medical School dates back to the 19th century, but various postgraduate facilities were added in the 20th century. It has quite a few academic departments such as Anaesthesia, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry & Physics, Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Neurological Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology, Epidemiology & Prev. Med., Forensic Med. & Toxicology, General Practice, The History of Medicine, Intl. Health/Tropical Med, Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otorhinolaryncology, Paediatrics, Paediatric Surgery, Pathology, Physiology, Psychiatry, Psychology, Radiology, Surgery, Centre for Healthcare.

Trinity College Dublin (www.tcd.ie) is the only constituent college of the oldest university in Dublin, The University of Dublin, founded in 1592. The college campus is situated in the heart of Dublin city centre, and at the moment there are over 10,000 students and 1,200 staff members working in the college. Trinity faculties include: Arts (Humanities), Arts (Letters), Business Economics and Social Studies, Engineering and System Science, Health Science, Science. TCD is a popular tourist attraction, being the location of the Book of Kells in the superb Long Room Library, The Dublin Experience, and walking tours of the campus.

University College Dublin (www.ucd.ie), or National University of Ireland, Dublin (NUID) dates its origin from the foundation in 1851 of the Catholic University of Ireland. The "Catholic University" was set up as an alternative to the non-denominational Queen’s Colleges established by the Government in 1845, located in Belfast, Cork and Galway. The Catholic University of Ireland opened officially in 1854 at no. 86 St. Stephen’s Green with Cardinal John Henry Newman as Rector. This Building, and no. 85, which became part of the University in 1865, are now collectively known as Newman House, which still belongs to UCD and is used for various functions relating to the University. Some of the more celebrated literary figures associated with the early days of the University are Gerard Manley Hopkins, James Joyce and Austin Clarke. In 1934 University College Dublin bought Belfield House and added a group of adjoining properties during the years 1949 to 1958. In 1960, the Government recommended that University College should move from the City centre to Belfield. The first buildings to be built on the campus were those of the Faculty of Science in 1964. The most recent building is the Daedalus Building (1997) which houses the microcomputer and language centres. Under the provisions of the Universities Act 1997, University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Dublin has been established as an autonomous university within the National University of Ireland.