Top Public Universities in Ireland
2026 Irish Public University Ranking New
What are the top public Universities in Ireland? uniRank answers this question by publishing a complete list of 18 public Irish higher education institutions ranked by the 2026 uniRank University Ranking and meeting uniRank's selection criteria:
- Official Recognition: institutions must be officialy chartered, licensed or accredited by the appropriate higher education-related organization in Ireland.
- Degree Authority: they must be authorised to grant bachelor's degrees of at least three years' duration and/or postgraduate master's or doctoral degrees.
- Delivery Mode: they must deliver courses predominantly in a traditional, face-to-face, non-distance education format.
Top Public Universities in Ireland
sort by: ranking a-z town oldest
filter by: public private non-profit for-profit
| #Rank | University | Town/City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin | Dublin |
| 2 | University College Dublin | Dublin |
| 3 | University College Cork | Cork |
| 4 | University of Galway | Galway |
| 5 | Dublin City University | Dublin |
| 6 | University of Limerick | Limerick |
| 7 | Technological University Dublin | Dublin |
| 8 | Maynooth University | Maynooth |
| 9 | Technological University of the Shannon | Athlone |
| 10 | South East Technological University | Waterford |
| 11 | Atlantic Technological University | Letterkenny |
| 12 | Munster Technological University | Bishopstown |
| 13 | Dundalk Institute of Technology | Dundalk |
| 14 | National College of Ireland | Dublin |
| 15 | National College of Art and Design | Dublin |
| 16 | Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology | Dún Laoghaire |
| 17 | National University of Ireland, System | Dublin |
| 20 | Institute of Public Administration | Dublin |
| Legend: Un Unranked | + Add University | |
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Irish University Sector Breakdown
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many public universities are there in Ireland?
There are 18 officially chartered, licensed or accredited public Irish higher-education institutions that meet uniRank's selection criteria.
Related Irish University Lists
Since 2005, uniRank has provided original research, valuable information and useful resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about the best public Irish universities and their online presence. Check out these additional resources:
- Oldest Universities in Ireland
Explore the most traditional and long-established Irish post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research. - A-Z Universities in Ireland
Search for Irish higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z. - Irish Universities by Town/City
Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Irish town or city. - Top Public Universities in Ireland
Discover Irish public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees. - Top Private Universities in Ireland
Find out about Irish private higher education institutions. - Top Non-Profit Universities in Ireland
Explore Irish not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees. - Top For-Profit Universities in Ireland
Look for Irish for-profit higher education institutions. - Most popular Irish Universities on Facebook
See which tertiary institutions in Ireland have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research. - Most popular Irish Universities on Twitter
Discover the Universities in Ireland that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research. - Most popular Irish Universities on Instagram
Find out which post-secondary institutions in Ireland are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research. - Most popular Irish Universities on YouTube
Explore the Universities in Ireland with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.