What's your idea of a university?
In 1873 John Henry Newman published a series of lectures and essays in which he proposed how a university should foster knowledge and learning.
Discover how UCD has developed and built upon The Idea of a University for a new global era.
Developing John Henry Newman's ‘The Idea of a University’ in a global era
Originally delivered by the great 19th century educationalist, John Henry Newman, in Dublin as Discourses on University Education, in 1852, The Idea of a University, published in 1873, is today a world classic.
Building on the tradition of its founding rector, University College Dublin seeks to deliver on his Idea of a University through how it fosters young minds.
UCD is the most popular university in Ireland, attracting the highest number of first preference applications from Irish students. Its national reach is deeper than any other Irish university as students are drawn from all corners of the country.
Today, UCD is Ireland’s largest and most international university with almost 25,000 students, drawn from over 120 countries.
UCD is very much part of the fabric of Dublin. Living and working in a vibrant English-speaking capital city adds to its cosmopolitan atmosphere and while the Irish have a very strong sense of national culture, the city has a truly European feel. It is no surprise then that Dublin was recently ranked 8th in the QS Best Student Cities in the World 2012 report.
UCD is at the forefront of discourse on International Education in 2012
UCD became the Official University Partner of the European Association for International Education's (EAIE) 24th Annual Conference, held in Dublin, with the theme of ‘Rethinking education – reshaping economies'. Attracting more than 4000 professionals involved in international higher education, it is the largest conference of its kind in Europe. The EAIE is a non-profit, member-led organisation serving individuals actively involved in the internationalisation of their institutions.
- Please click through to find out more about the EAIE
Graduate Studies
UCD offers a unique international masters degree in forensic computing for law enforcement agencies such as Interpol, that could be the stuff of television.
It’s just one among a diverse range of graduate courses available at UCD.
>> Learn more about Cybercrime and Graduate studies opportunities at UCD
Research at UCD
UCD’s Professor Walter Kolch uses research to understand the networks of the human body, ultimately opening the door to personalised medicines. It’s all part of UCD’s aim to use research to address the challenges that will shape our futures.
Innovation and Commercialisation
Ireland is at the heart of the world’s racehorse breeding industry. So where else would you expect to find the university that fostered a spin-out company, Equinome, that uses genomics technologies to test for speed and performance in the bloodstock industry across the world.
Learn how UCD’s focus on Innovation is bringing research ideas to life in Ireland and worldwide.