Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Why UCD?

UCD President

Welcome from the President

Choosing the right university for your postgraduate study is an important decision and I hope that as you learn more about UCD you will see how you can build your future at this great university.

At UCD, you will find a dynamic, diverse and welcoming community, where you are supported to achieve your full potential. Our educational environment is designed to stimulate you with state-of-the-art, flexible teaching and learning practices across a wide range of subjects. Our world leading lecturers bring their research and their scholarship into the classroom so that you can engage with the most up-to-date knowledge. Recognising the pace of change in the world in which we live, we update our curriculum content and structure regularly so that you will enjoy the best educational experience possible.

We are one of Europe’s leading research-intensive universities and Ireland’s leader in graduate studies with over 12,000 graduate students. Our student population of over 38,000 includes 10,000 international students from 144 countries and ensures that you will be part of a diverse and cosmopolitan campus We match your ambition to succeed and develop over the course of your journey with us. This year, the QS World University Subject Rankings ranked UCD in the top 50 globally in four subjects. This achievement is a reflection on the quality of our faculty and staff and means that you will take with you an internationally recognised badge of quality when you graduate. Our strong industry partnerships and well developed career networks ensure that you will have every opportunity to thrive in your chosen careers, whether that is here in Ireland or globally.

Our campus experience gives you the opportunity to explore sports, societies and social aspects of college life alongside your lectures and study, recognising that critical life skills are gained through interaction with your peers and personal exploration.

To address the challenges facing our rapidly changing world, we need critical and engaged students with the skills and confidence to see opportunities in those challenges. A postgraduate degree from UCD will empower you to embrace, shape and address the challenges of these disruptive times.

As a proud alumna myself, I know that coming to UCD is one of the best decisions you will make, and I look forward to welcoming you into our vibrant and embracing community.

Professor Orla Feely
UCD President

With over 12,000 graduate students, almost 17% of whom are graduate research students. Over 1,841 PhD students benefit from a structured PhD programme as well as the research-led education culture at UCD.

For five years from 2018 up until its final issue in 2022, University College Dublin is ranked number one in Ireland for graduate employability by QS World University Rankings. QS used five indicators: Employer Reputation, Alumni Outcomes, Partnerships with Employers, Employer-Student Connections and Graduate Employment Rate.

UCD Careers Network joins the dots between your time at university and your future career. Whatever stage you are in your career planning, our experienced team of Career & Skills Consultants are here to help you make the most of your talents and to get ahead in life.

UCD has the highest volume of publications across all Irish universities. These papers are cited by other researchers at a rate that is 75% above the world average (2015-2019).

UCD is the most connected and networked university with government, industry and society in Ireland. UCD is an active member of many international education networks such as Una Europa, Universitas 21 (U21) and UNICA. UCD is number one in Ireland for the highest volume of research publications per year.

As the number one university of destination for international students coming to Ireland, international students make up 31% of the student body. International academics make up 36% of UCD’s faculty and over 50% of UCD research-funded staff is international. The UCD alumni network is also an active, influential and truly international body with 300,000 alumni living in 184 countries across the globe.

UCD has a huge range of facilities including: restaurants, cafés, a bookshop, a bike shop, a barber shop, a bar, a grocery store, a large student centre and outstanding sports facilities.

With over 12,000 graduate students, almost 17% of whom are graduate research students. Over 1,841 PhD students benefit from a structured PhD programme as well as the research-led education culture at UCD.

UCD Careers Network joins the dots between your time at university and your future career. Whatever stage you are in your career planning, our experienced team of Career & Skills Consultants are here to help you make the most of your talents and to get ahead in life.

UCD has the highest volume of publications across all Irish universities. These papers are cited by other researchers at a rate that is 75% above the world average (2015-2019).

UCD is the most connected and networked university with government, industry and society in Ireland. UCD is an active member of many international education networks such as Una Europa, Universitas 21 (U21) and UNICA. UCD is number one in Ireland for the highest volume of research publications per year.

As the number one university of destination for international students coming to Ireland, international students make up 31% of the student body. International academics make up 36% of UCD’s faculty and over 50% of UCD research-funded staff is international. The UCD alumni network is also an active, influential and truly international body with 300,000 alumni living in 184 countries across the globe.

UCD has a huge range of facilities including: restaurants, cafés, a bookshop, a bike shop, a barber shop, a bar, a grocery store, a large student centre and outstanding sports facilities.

With over 12,000 graduate students, almost 17% of whom are graduate research students. Over 1,841 PhD students benefit from a structured PhD programme as well as the research-led education culture at UCD.

For five years from 2018 in the QS World Rankings up until its final issue in 2022, University College Dublin is ranked number one in Ireland for graduate employability by QS World University Rankings. QS used five indicators: Employer Reputation, Alumni Outcomes, Partnerships with Employers, Employer-Student Connections and Graduate Employment Rate.

UCD Careers Network joins the dots between your time at university and your future career. Whatever stage you are in your career planning, our experienced team of Career & Skills Consultants are here to help you make the most of your talents and to get ahead in life.

UCD has the highest volume of publications across all Irish universities. These papers are cited by other researchers at a rate that is 75% above the world average (2015-2019).

UCD is the most connected and networked university with government, industry and society in Ireland. UCD is an active member of many international education networks such as Una Europa, Universitas 21 (U21), UNICA and the World University Network, and is a collaborator on research papers with all universities in the Top 100 Times Higher Education 2020 rankings.

As the number one university of destination for international students coming to Ireland, international students make up 31% of the student body. International academics make up 36% of UCD’s faculty and over 50% of UCD research-funded staff is international. The UCD alumni network is also an active, influential and truly international body with 300,000 alumni living in 184 countries across the globe.

UCD has a huge range of facilities including: restaurants, cafés, a bookshop, a bike shop, a barber shop, a bar, a grocery store, a large student centre and outstanding sports facilities.

UCD Graduate Admissions

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
(If you are an international student please visit UCD Global)
T: +353 1 716 7777