There were 278,880 students enrolled in Ireland's publicly funded higher education institutions in 2024/25, across all modes of study (HEA Key Facts and Figures 2024/25). The table below breaks that down by institution, so you can see where students are before you plan a campaign.
Key figures for 2024/25
- Total enrolments: 278,880, up 4.9% from 265,905 in 2023/24.
- Undergraduates: 212,345. Postgraduates: 66,535.
- Full time: 77.3% of all students.
- New entrants: 48,485. TU Dublin had the most new entrants, at 5,315.
- Aged 23 or under: 177,710. Median age: 23.
- Female: 152,245 (54.6%). Male: 124,945 (44.8%).
- From outside Ireland: 44,535, with India, the US and China the most common home countries.
- Largest institution: UCD, with 34,715 students.
Students by institution
| Institution | County or city | Main campuses | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| University College Dublin (UCD) | Dublin | Belfield | 34,715 |
| Atlantic Technological University (ATU) | Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Mayo | Several campuses | 27,340 |
| University College Cork (UCC) | Cork | Main campus | 25,100 |
| TU Dublin | Dublin | Grangegorman, Aungier St, Bolton St, Tallaght, Blanchardstown | 25,025 |
| Trinity College Dublin | Dublin | College Green | 21,085 |
| University of Galway | Galway | Main campus | 20,095 |
| Dublin City University (DCU) | Dublin | Glasnevin, St Patrick's, All Hallows | 19,890 |
| University of Limerick (UL) | Limerick | Plassey | 19,065 |
| Maynooth University | Kildare | Maynooth | 15,560 |
| South East Technological University (SETU) | Waterford, Carlow and others | Several campuses | 15,445 |
| Munster Technological University (MTU) | Cork, Kerry | Bishopstown, Kerry and others | 15,245 |
| Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) | Limerick, Athlone and others | Several campuses | 12,875 |
| National College of Ireland (NCI) | Dublin | IFSC | 6,205 |
| RCSI | Dublin | St Stephen's Green | 5,670 |
| Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) | Louth | Dundalk | 5,240 |
| Mary Immaculate College (MIC) | Limerick | Limerick | 4,890 |
| IADT | Dublin | Dún Laoghaire | 2,410 |
| NCAD | Dublin | Thomas St | 1,520 |
| St Angela's College | Sligo | Sligo | 1,490 |
| Total of the institutions listed | 278,865 | ||
HEA 2024/25 enrolments, all modes, rounded to the nearest 5 by the HEA, so the rows add to 278,865 against the published total of 278,880. Institution figures as republished from HEA data by CollegeMatcher; the UCD figure is quoted by the HEA directly. Multi campus universities such as ATU, MTU, SETU and TUS do not publish a split by campus in this data. Private colleges such as Griffith College and Dublin Business School are not included in HEA figures.
Students by city
- Dublin: 116,520 students at UCD, TU Dublin, Trinity, DCU, NCI, RCSI, IADT and NCAD, before private colleges.
- Cork: 25,100 at UCC, plus MTU's 15,245 across Cork and Kerry.
- Galway: 20,095 at University of Galway, plus ATU, whose 27,340 students are spread across the west and north west.
- Limerick: 19,065 at UL and 4,890 at MIC, plus TUS, whose 12,875 students include the Moylish and Athlone campuses.
What this means for a campaign
Dublin alone holds more than 116,000 students in the institutions above, at campuses a short distance apart, which makes it the natural place to start a student campaign. A national campaign adds Cork, Galway and Limerick, which together hold most of the remaining university students. Read how to reach Irish college students for timing and channels.
Planning a student campaign? Call or WhatsApp Philip on 087 054 9971, or email hello@studentlink.ie. See our services for brands.
Sources
More guides: How to reach Irish college students in 2026 · Campus postering vs social ads: what a student costs to reach