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Founded in 1854, University College Dublin (UCD) is Ireland’s largest and most globally engaged university. It is ranked within the top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide and is positioned 126th in the QS 2025 World University Rankings. UCD is the only Irish university that is a member of Universitas 21.

UCD plays a central role in Ireland’s dynamic economy, culture, and society, with a diverse community of over 39,000 students and a global alumni network exceeding 300,000. Our university actively promotes university life as a journey of academic and personal discovery through innovative, flexible teaching and learning strategies. UCD is Ireland’s leader in postgraduate education, with approximately 11,700 graduate students and more than 2,000 PhD students.

UCD is also Ireland’s most international university, with 11,100 international students from more than 150 countries. Over 5,000 students are based at overseas campuses.

Research and innovation

Our university delivers research and innovation at scale and in areas of national and global significance by prioritising excellence and impact, developing leadership and fostering an enabling research and innovation ecosystem. Over the past five years, UCD faculty have collaborated with almost 7,000 institutions worldwide, contributing to almost 18,000 research publications. The research community at UCD has generated unprecedented success in the Horizon Europe research and innovation framework, with UCD ranked number one in Ireland for EU-funded research and number 18 among all higher education institutions across the EU.

The university’s hub for innovation and start-ups, NovaUCD, was established in 2003 to nurture and support high-tech start-ups with global potential. NovaUCD is one of only five start-up hubs in Ireland to be included in the Financial Times’ list of top 150 start-up hubs in Europe, and the only Irish university-based hub included in the ranking. To date, the university has supported over 550 companies and early-stage ventures, and the NovaUCD entrepreneurial community has raised over €1.3 billion in equity funding over the last 20 years.

Global university

UCD aspires to the development of global skills and competences within its entire community. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, integrated multicultural environment, and enabling students, faculty and staff to gain a deeper understanding of the world, through study or through experiences in Ireland and abroad.

With a network of over 400 partner universities, UCD offers extensive global study opportunities while actively collaborating in international partnerships and networks to drive impact in research, teaching, and innovation. In 2022, UCD joined Una Europa, a European University Alliance bringing together 11 research-intensive institutions to drive innovative collaboration. UCD also participates in university networks such as UNICA, CESAER, and the EUA.

Strategy

Our new ‘UCD Strategy 2030’ is a roadmap to break traditional boundaries in research, scholarship, and innovation. By fostering creative, interdisciplinary collaboration and forging strong partnerships, UCD aims to deliver transformative insights into the critical issues of our time. Our mission is to achieve breakthroughs that drive measurable impact at scale — addressing challenges such as advancements in artificial intelligence and One Health, and pivotal societal transformations such as energy decarbonisation.

History & culture

UCD has produced graduates who have made a global impact across literature, film, sport, and the arts. Among them is James Joyce, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Other distinguished alumni include bestselling authors Maeve Binchy, Emma Donoghue and Roddy Doyle; Oscar-winning filmmakers Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan; and celebrated actors such as Gabriel Byrne and Brendan Gleeson. UCD is also home to world-class athletes, including Olympic gold medallist Paul O’Donovan; rugby stars Brian O’Driscoll, Jonny Sexton, Dan Sheehan and Caelan Doris; rugby, GAA and soccer star Hannah Tyrrell; among a long tradition of elite competitors across multiple sports. UCD alumni continue to shape culture, business, and society worldwide.

UCD has been a major contributor to the making of modern Ireland. Many UCD students and staff participated in the struggle for Irish independence and the university has produced numerous Irish Presidents and Taoisigh (Prime Ministers) in addition to generations of Irish business, professional, cultural and sporting leaders.