The Best Universities for PhDs in Chemistry in Ireland (2024) | FindAPhD.com
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The Best Universities for PhDs in Chemistry in Ireland (2024)

Written by Vincent Hedman

Why Study Chemistry in Ireland

There are many reasons why someone might want to study Chemistry at a university in Ireland. Here are just a few:

  • Irish universities are internationally recognised for their high standards in education and research, which means that a PhD in Chemistry from Ireland is a qualification well-respected on a global scale.
  • Chemistry students in Ireland can utilise state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with the latest instruments and technologies necessary for advanced chemical research. Ireland's commitment to supporting science makes it home to some of the most modern facilities in Europe.
  • Many Irish PhD programmes encourage an interdisciplinary approach, combining chemistry with fields such as pharmaceuticals, environmental science, or materials engineering – reflecting the complex nature of current scientific challenges.
  • As an international student in Ireland, experience a warm educational culture known for its friendliness towards foreign nationals as well as rich historical and cultural traditions alongside your academic pursuits.

The Best Universities for Chemistry in Ireland

The following tables give the 5 top universities in Ireland for Chemistry, according to global and local university rankings. It can show you which Irish universities are amongst the best in the world - and help you compare institutions on an international level.

This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education, QS and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

Each ranking system uses its own methodology, with different factors having more or less influence on a university's result.

Our guide has more information on how to use international rankings to decide on the best research universities for PhD study.


Top 5 Universities in Ireland for Chemistry (Times Higher Education)
University Ireland Rank Global Rank
University College Dublin 1 201-250
Trinity College Dublin 2 176-200
Maynooth University 3 501-600
University of Galway 4 401-500
University of Limerick 5 401-500
This information is based on the research score from the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education. Visit their website for more information.

What should I know about the Times Higher Education rankings?

The Times Higher Education rankings are strong in academic focus and diverse teaching metrics, but do not include employer-specific metrics. Additionally, the rankings may not include all specialist institutions.


Top 5 Universities in Ireland for Chemistry (QS)
University Ireland Rank Global Rank
Trinity College Dublin 1 86
University College Dublin 2 201-250
University of Limerick 3 301-350
University of Galway 4 401-450
University College Cork 5 301-350
This information is based on the citations per paper score from the latest rankings tables, researched and published by QS World University Rankings. Visit their website for more information.

What should I know about the QS rankings?

The QS World University Rankings are designed to meet the needs of prospective students, with more weight given to student-centric metrics such as staff/student ratio, international recruitment and employer opinion. The rankings are balanced between qualitative and quantitative data, but give less weight to research than some other rankings.


Top 3 Universities in the Ireland for Chemistry (ARWU)
University Ireland Rank Global Rank
Trinity College Dublin 1 401-500
University College Dublin 2 401-500
University of Limerick 3 301-400
This information is based on the number of papers published by an institution in an academic subject in journals, this is from the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Academic Ranking of World Universities. Visit their website for more information.

What should I know about the ARWU rankings?

The ARWU rankings reflect the presence of elite academics and the future academic success of graduates. However, they do not directly assess the quality of education at a university or take into account other aspects of university performance.


Last Updated: 11 October 2024