University College Dublin (UCD) is one of Europe’s leading research-intensive universities and it has an environment where undergraduate education, masters and PhD training, research, innovation and community engagement form a dynamic spectrum of activity. UCD first opened its doors in 1854.

James Joyce, the author of Ulysses, completed his BA at the university in 1902. Today, UCD is the ‘university of destination’ for international students coming to Ireland. It is currently ranked within the top 1% of higher education institutions world-wide. With over 33,000 students drawn from 144 countries study at the university, including almost 4,000 students based on overseas campuses, UCD is not only Ireland’s largest university and leader in graduate education but also its most globally engaged.

Other well-known graduates include the author Flann O’Brien, the actors Gabriel Byrne and Brendan Gleeson, film directors Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan, and former Irish rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll.