University College Dublin

Routinely ranked among the world’s Top 200 universities, UCD (estb. 1854) hosts more than 5,000 international students from 124 countries

Founded in 1854, the University College Dublin (UCD) is Ireland’s biggest varsity with an aggregate enrolment of 30,000 students and 1,300 faculty. A research-intensive institution, UCD is one of the two Irish universities (the other is Trinity College, Dublin) to be ranked among the world’s Top 200 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2013. Its seven colleges — agriculture, food science and veterinary medicine; arts and Celtic studies; business and law; engineering and architecture; health sciences; human sciences and science — offer 70 undergraduate programmes and a wide range of postgrad and doctoral studies. UCD also hosts 7,000 graduate and 2,000 Ph D students — the largest cohort of doctoral students in Ireland.

“In recent years UCD has established itself as Ireland’s global university, with operations around the world, and more than 5,000 international students on our Dublin campus from 124 different countries. This allows us to give all students an international education that will prepare them to take their place in today and tomorrow’s global society,” says Prof. Andrew J. Deeks, president University College Dublin.

UCD traces its origins to the Catholic University of Ireland founded in 1854 by Cardinal John Henry Newman, author of the celebrated Idea of a University, in the heart of Dublin. In 1933 UCD moved to a 132-hectare campus in the suburb of Belfield, which offers state-of-the-art academic, research, sports and leisure facilities.

Dublin. With its numerous parks, museums and historic sites, Dublin (pop. 1.7 million) — the admin capital of the Irish Republic (minus Northern Ireland) — has much to offer students. Among the historic landmarks in the city are Dublin Castle (1230 AD), Spire of Dublin, Anna Liva monument and Christ Church Cathedral. Moreover, Dublin has more green spaces per sq. km than any other European capital, with 97 percent of residents within 300 metres of a park area. The city boasts an eclectic mix of museums, art galleries, theatres and musical venues offering rich cultural education, and is replete with pubs, restaurants and shops.

Ireland is famous for the favour of rain gods, Dublin not excluded. Therefore umbrellas, jumpers, jackets and woollens are standard issue. In winter, temperatures fluctuate between freezing, cold and bearable — ranging between -5o-15oC. In summer, they rise to 15o-25oC.

Campus facilities. Sited in Belfield, 4 km south of Dublin’s central business district, UCD’s deep green campus hosts landscaped gardens, modern and heritage buildings accommodating most colleges and schools, as well as student halls of residence and numerous leisure and sporting facilities. A second campus at Blackrock, two miles from Belfield, houses the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, Drama Studies Centre and more student residences. Other university buildings include the Lyons Estate in County Kildare which houses the research farm of the school of agriculture, food science and veterinary medicine.

UCD’s network of five libraries offers access to 1 million print volumes, with substantial collections of around a million non-print formats, including 650,000 e-books. Sports infrastructure is extensive — there are 17 natural grass pitches on campus, five floodlit tennis courts, seven synthetic grass floodlit pitches including the National Hockey Stadium, six 5-a-side pitches and a large indoor Sports Centre which boasts two sports halls, four squash courts, a handball/racquetball alley, a climbing wall, 50 m swimming pool, gym, dance and spinning studios. Moreover the Student Centre, which is the hub of student life, offers a 3D cinema, a 600-seat auditorium, meeting rooms, a TV studio, Radio Pod, seminar room, a medical centre, pharmacy, barbers, newsagents, bars and restaurants.

The wealth of sports facilities apart, students can benefit from over 70 clubs and societies which organise social and cultural events through the year.

Admission. For admission into undergraduate programmes, UCD requires a minimum average of 75 percent in the class XII exam conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and state exam boards of Delhi, Maharashtra, Chennai, Kolkata and Karnataka. English language proficiency is also essential with students required to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores. Foreign students who don’t meet the eligibility criteria have the option of enrolling in UCD’s International Foundation Year programme. For admission into postgraduate programmes, a bachelor’s degree and proof of English language proficiency are mandatory.

Admission applications can be made online (http://www.ucd.ie/registry/admissions/apply.html) or through UCD’s network of education agents in India (35 cities including Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Bhopal, Cochin, Vijayawada, etc). The application deadline is July 1 for the year 2015.

For further information contact Lorraine Woods, regional manager (India), UCD International, Gerard Manley Hopkins Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Tel: +353 1 716 8485; email: lorraine.woods@ucd.ie; website: www.ucd.ie/international.

Accommodation. UCD offers on-campus accommodation to over 2,500 students. Housing options vary from halls of residence comprising a single room, shared kitchen and bathroom facilities, to apartment living with three-four single rooms, a shared kitchen and bathroom and shower room, to ensuite apartments and catered accommodation with breakfast and dinner provided.

Degree programmes. UCD’s seven colleges offer over 70 undergraduate programmes, and Masters, doctoral, graduate diploma and certificate programmes and higher diplomas in more than 290 areas of study (see box).

SUMMIYA YASMEEN