The Best Universities for PhDs in Physics in Ireland (2023) | FindAMasters.com

The Best Universities for PhDs in Physics in Ireland (2023)

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This article was written with the assistance of generative AI. All AI content on our site is guided and vetted for accuracy by humans, and data referenced is collected from reliable, authoritative sources.

Why Study Physics in Ireland

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

  • Irish universities are renowned for their high-quality education and rigorous academic standards, especially in the field of physics. These universities continuously rank amongst the top global universities.
  • A Physics PhD from Ireland is widely recognised by employers worldwide due to its comprehensive course structure and intensive research component, which provides students with an expert understanding of core physics concepts.
  • Physics Departments at Irish universities have highly experienced faculty members specialising across various sub-fields within physics, ensuring that students learn from experts who can provide them with rich insights.
  • There are several fully-funded scholarships available exclusively for students planning to study a Physics PhD in Ireland, significantly reducing financial burdens and allowing students to focus solely on their studies.

The Best Universities for Physics in Ireland

The following tables give the 5 top universities in Ireland for Physics, 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 Physics (Times Higher Education)
University Ireland Rank Global Rank
Trinity College Dublin 1 151-175
University College Dublin 2 176-200
University College Cork 3 501-600
Dublin City University 4 301-400
University of Galway 5 301-400
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 Physics (QS)
University Ireland Rank Global Rank
Trinity College Dublin 1 122
University College Dublin 2 251-300
University College Cork 3 401-450
University of Limerick 4 501-550
Dublin City University 5 501-550
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 2 Universities in the Ireland for Physics (ARWU)
University Ireland Rank Global Rank
University College Dublin 1 101-150
Trinity College Dublin 2 401-500
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: 02 August 2023