As far back as 500 AD, Ireland, and its monks and monasteries, were at the center of learning in Europe, earning Ireland the title Land of Saints and Scholars. In 1592, Trinity College Dublin received its charter and university status. The National University of Ireland Maynooth dates back to 1795, and the universities in Galway and Cork were both founded in 1845.
Ireland’s history has engendered a deep appreciation and respect for learning, and, today, educational attainment rates are among the highest in the world. Over 85 percent of young people complete secondary level education and over two-thirds of those go on to higher-level education. Ireland is ranked first in Europe in terms of graduates per 1,000 inhabitants.
Government investment in world-class facilities builds on a lengthy tradition of academic excellence. Today, there are seven universities, 14 Institutes of Technology and many other world-leading education and research centers, housed in state-of-the-art facilities on beautiful campuses
Irish research ranks within the top one percent globally in 18 research fields and all of the country’s universities are in the top 3 percent worldwide. Students from 160 countries study in Ireland and makeup 12 percent of the student population.