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Posted on 26 Jun '23
Top 5 Most International Universities in Ireland
Ireland is a popular study abroad destination, welcoming over 24,000 students each year from overseas. But which Irish universities take the most global approach? We’ve listed the top five most international universities in Ireland, according to the 2026 Times Higher Education World Rankings.
The universities on this list scored most highly in terms of ‘international outlook’, which takes into account numbers of international students, staff and research collaborations.
#1 RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Founded in 1784, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is a specialist university delivering courses in health science subjects including Medicine, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy.
#2 University College Dublin
University College Dublin is Ireland’s largest university, educating over 33,000 students across its 37 schools. It is also one of the country’s most international universities with almost a third of its student population coming from overseas!
UCD offers over 460 postgraduate taught and research programmes. It boasts many connections and partnerships with Irish government and industries, offering unique networking opportunities for students.
#3 Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin is the oldest university in Ireland, dating back to 1592. It has a long-standing reputation as one of Europe’s most prestigious universities and boasts Ireland’s largest research library and beautiful campus grounds in the heart of Dublin. It has a thriving international community of students from over 120 countries.
Graduates will join an esteemed group of alumni including Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett and Johnathon Swift!
#4 University College Cork
With a beautiful campus on the banks of the River Lee and over 200 postgraduate courses, University College Cork is a fantastic choice for Masters and PhD students!
UCC is home to almost 4,000 international students from over 100 countries, and has links to over 7,000 institutions worldwide. It also has representative offices in India, the USA and China.
#5 University of Limerick
The University of Limerick has a strong postgraduate focus (in fact it offers more postgraduate than undergraduate programmes!) and an outstanding reputation with international mobility, with 20% of students hailing from abroad and 30% taking part in overseas placements.
Here’s how the international ranking for each of the universities above compares with their international outlook score:
| University | Overall world ranking | International outlook score |
|---|---|---|
| RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences | 251-300 | 91.4 |
| Trinity College Dublin | 173 | 91 |
| University College Dublin | 201-250 | 89.4 |
| University College Cork | 351-400 | 79 |
| University of Limerick | 501-600 | 75 |
Decided that Ireland is your desired study abroad destination?
Find a programme from the 100 + listings on our website and know more about applications, visas and the student experience in our comprehensive Study In Ireland guides.
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Last Updated: 05 November 2025
