National College of Ireland
Dublin, Ireland • Founded 1951
Overview
Established in 1951, the National College of Ireland is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Dublin (population range of 500,000-1,000,000 inhabitants), County Dublin.
This institution also has a branch campus in 40 other locations nationwide. Officially recognized by the Department of Education and Skills of Ireland, National College of Ireland (NCI) is a small-sized coeducational Irish higher education institution.
National College of Ireland (NCI) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor's degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation), bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in several areas of study. This 73-year-old Irish higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic records and grades.
International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.
NCI also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
For visits or applications to National College of Ireland, location and primary contact details are below. Open days are typically announced via social channels — follow them to receive event notifications.
Academic Details
National College of Ireland's student body, faculty composition, and recognition framework are summarised below. Use this section to gauge institutional weight before drilling into specific programmes.
Academic Structures
Each constituent academic unit at National College of Ireland is captured below — including research centres alongside teaching faculties. Research centres often signal the institution's strategic priorities.
Unit 5 items
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Learning and Teaching
- Cloud Competency Centre
- Psychology Department
- School of Business
- School of Computing
Degrees
The degrees on offer at National College of Ireland, sorted by level. Awarding-versus-validating distinctions affect long-term recognition of the qualification beyond National College of Ireland.
Master's 9 programs
Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.
- Business Administration
- Computer Engineering
- Data Processing
- Education
- Finance
- Human Resources
- International Business
- Management
- Marketing
Doctoral 2 programs
Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.
- Business Administration
- Computer Science
Diploma & Certificate 4 programs
Diploma and certificate routes deliver focused, applied training for fast entry into skilled occupations.
- Computer Engineering
- Data Processing
- Finance
- Human Resources
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Department of Education and Skills of Ireland.
Psychology (Department/Division) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Psychology
Common Career Paths
- Psychologist
- Counsellor
- Clinical Researcher
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Business (School) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Accountancy
- Advertising and Publicity
- Business Administration
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Labour and Industrial Relations
- Labour Law
- Management
- Marketing
- Public Relations
- Technology
Common Career Paths
- Business Analyst
- Operations Manager
- Strategy Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Computing (School) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business Computing
- Computer Science
- E-Business/Commerce
- Educational Technology
- Information Sciences
- Information Technology
- Software Engineering
- Teacher Training
Programs Offered
Every programme National College of Ireland offers, searchable by name and grouped by level. Pathway programmes leading from foundation to bachelor entry are sometimes listed separately from full degree programmes.
Master's Degree
17 programmes
National College of Ireland's 17 programmes at this tier lead to a master's qualification, valued for the focused, research-informed depth they add beyond undergraduate study.
MSc in Finance 1 year
MSc in Accounting 1 year
MSc in Artificial Intelligence 1 year
MSc in Artificial Intelligence for Business 1 year
MSc in Banking and International Finance 1 year
MSc in Business Analytics for Decision Makers 1 year
MSc in Cloud Computing 1 year
MSc in Cybersecurity 1 year
MSc in Data Analytics 1 year
MSc in Entrepreneurship 1 year
MA in Human Resource Management 1 year
MSc in Fintech 1 year
MSc in International Business 1 year
MSc in Management 1 year
MSc in Marketing 1 year
MSc in Open Data Practice 1 year
Master of Business Administration (MBA) 2 years
No programmes match your filter in this level.
Associate, Certificate & Other Qualifications
21 programmes
These 21 programmes group National College of Ireland's shorter and preparatory qualifications together: associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, and foundation courses that suit focused or transitional study.
Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Artificial Intelligence 1 year
Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Cybersecurity 1 year
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Human Resource Management 1 year
Higher Certificate in Business 2 years
BA (Honours) in Accounting and Finance with Work Placement 4 years 240 credits
BA (Honours) in Business 3 years 180 credits
BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care 4 years
BA (Honours) in Human Resource Management 3 years 180 credits
BA (Honours) in Marketing Practice 3 years
BA (Honours) in Psychology 4 years
BA (Honours) in Human Resource Management Strategy and Practice 2 years
BSc (Honours) in Computing 4 years
BSc (Honours) in Data Science 4 years
BA (Honours) in Accounting and Finance 3 years 180 credits
Higher Certificate in Computing 2 years
Higher Certificate in Data Science 2 years
Higher Diploma in Science in Computing 1 year
Higher Diploma in Science in Computing (Cybersecurity) 1 year
Higher Diploma in Science in Computing (International) 1 year
Higher Diploma in Science in Computing (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning) 1 year
Higher Diploma in Science in Data Analytics with AI 1 year
No programmes match your filter in this level.
How to apply to National College of Ireland
Step-by-step guidance for applying to National College of Ireland, covering the typical sequence from programme selection to admissions follow-up.
- 1 Find a programme that fits your goals
Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. National College of Ireland offers 38 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.
- 2 Confirm you meet the requirements
Each programme at National College of Ireland has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.
- 3 Assemble your application package
Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.
- 4 Submit your application
Apply directly via National College of Ireland's online portal at www.ncirl.ie. Complete the application form, upload supporting documents, and pay any application fee. Confirmation emails typically arrive within a few business days.
- 5 Contact admissions and follow up
After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +353 (1) 449 8500. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions about National College of Ireland
Concise answers to the most-searched questions about National College of Ireland, useful as a quick orientation before exploring the rest of the profile.
When was National College of Ireland founded?
National College of Ireland was established in 1951 (approximately 75 years ago).
Where is National College of Ireland located?
National College of Ireland is located in Dublin, Ireland.
Is National College of Ireland a public or private institution?
National College of Ireland is a public institution.
What is the student enrolment at National College of Ireland?
Student enrolment at National College of Ireland is around 5,000-5,999.
What degrees does National College of Ireland offer?
National College of Ireland delivers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes across its academic units.
What is National College of Ireland's academic structure?
National College of Ireland has 5 academic units.
Who recognises National College of Ireland?
Yes, National College of Ireland is recognised by Quality and Qualifications Ireland - QQI (Dearbhú Cáilíochta agus Cáilíochtaí Éireann).
Where can I learn more about National College of Ireland?
You can find National College of Ireland online at www.ncirl.ie.
Top-Ranked Universities in Ireland
The leading universities in Ireland are listed below — useful for sizing National College of Ireland against the country's top tier. Top-tier institutions in Ireland typically set admissions standards that downstream universities track.
Faculties at Nearby Universities
Alumni networks within a region often outlast individual institutional choice. Universities near National College of Ireland share post-grad employer connections that benefit students from any of them.
Universities Often Compared with National College of Ireland
The institutions below sit at a comparable academic standing to National College of Ireland, often shortlisted together. Same-tier comparison helps when you have a target level but want to weigh non-ranking factors like culture or specialism.
