Policy information
Higher education
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
Higher education in Ireland is provided by universities, technological universities, institutes of technology and colleges of education. In addition, a number of other third level institutions provide specialist education in fields such as art and design, medicine, business studies, rural development, theology, music and law. See here for a full list of publicly funded third level institutions.
The majority of applications for entry to higher education are processed by the Central Applications Office (CAO). The aim of the system is to process applications centrally and in a fair and efficient manner with participating institutions retaining the function of making decisions on admissions.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is the statutory planning and development body for higher education and research in Ireland. The Authority has wide advisory powers across the third-level education sector. In addition, it is the funding authority for the universities, institutes of technology and other designated higher education institutions.
Certification in the higher education sector is usually in alignment with the National Framework of Qualifications – an awards framework of 10 levels, which is aligned to the European Framework of Qualifications.
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) quality assures institutions of higher education, validates educational programmes and makes awards to learners.
The Universities Act, 1997 sets out the objects and functions of a university, the structure and role of governing bodies, staffing arrangements, composition and role of academic councils and sections relating to property, finance and reporting. University governing authorities are required to ensure that strategic development plans and procedures for evaluating teaching and research are in place. The Higher Education Authority has an overseeing role on such plans and procedures. The legislative framework preserves the academic freedom of the universities and respects the diverse traditions and institutional autonomy of each university.
The Technological Universities Act 2018 provides an analogous legislative framework for technological universities (TUs) and the eligibility criteria and processes for the establishment of this new type of higher education institution.
Find out more about the technological university agenda and the TUs that have been established.
The Institutes of Technology Act 2006 provides for a similar relationship between the institutes of technology and the Higher Education Authority as that between the authority and universities, as well as greater institutional autonomy, improved governance and a statutory guarantee of academic freedom for the institutes.
Read about the Government's approach to future funding of higher education