Third Level

News and advice covering the third level education system.

College applications up strongly for physiotherapy, dentistry and pharmacy, CAO figures show

Finding comes from office’s ‘change of mind’ data, which details students’ third level course choices as of July 1st deadline

Are universities an obstacle to climate action by reinforcing the status quo?

Research has found universities play a key role in perpetuating unsustainability and are increasingly being run as businesses

Leaving Cert class divide of 138 points linked with students’ family backgrounds

Children of professionals get average of 464 points compared with 326 for those born to lowest-skilled parents

Universities say they face shortage of funds to pay existing staff this year

€92m hole in college finances due to unfunded pay awards for thousands of staff agreed by Government, says association

Prof Hugh Brady: ‘Quality of Irish university experience is slipping, and going to get worse over time’

Prof Hugh Brady, who helped establish Imperial College London as the UK’s highest ranking university, warns that Irish colleges are suffering

What next in the Philip Nolan saga?

Science Foundation Ireland will in the High Court attempt to justify its decision to dismiss Nolan as director general of the State agency

Trinity is highest-ranked Irish university despite slipping in world standings

UCD narrows gap by jumping 45 places to 126th in latest QS World University Rankings

My son wants to drop out of his college course. What should he do next?

There are lots of options available, but there is a financial cost to repeating or starting a new degree course

Gardaí called to UCD after students who occupied building were removed by staff

Protesters from pro-Palestine encampment occupied University Club before being removed

Too many college students are working long hours and try to get by with online notes

We have a problem with low class attendance, poor engagement and declining student mental health

TU Dublin ‘pauses’ student intake for 15 college courses to help tackle deficit of almost €9m

University review finds ‘considerable number’ of programmes with low student numbers

My 19-year-old college-going son is depressed and anxious

Ask the Expert: Do you think my son needs to go to see a psychiatrist?

Change of mind: A selection of courses for school-leavers to consider

A selection of familiar and less familiar courses outlining some of the many options open to school-leavers this year

Lecturers ‘under pressure’ to pass foreign students due to financial concerns

Irish universities have become increasingly reliant on lucrative international students to plug holes in their finances despite concerns about their English language proficiency

‘The sacrifice is worth it’: Students continue pro-Palestine encampment on grounds of UCD

Organisers issue list of demands to university, including the end of all academic ties with Israel and removal of Israeli goods from campus

Am I entitled to a college grant due to changes in eligibility rules?

Grants are now available for undergraduate students where household income is under €100,000

Family withdraws Trinity bursary in protest over college becoming ‘no-go zone for Jews’

College says all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism, have ‘absolutely no place’ on campus

Trinity students to end protest after college agrees plans to divest from Israeli companies

Protest led to shutdown of city centre campus, including Book of Kells, since last Friday

How did the Book of Kells end up in Trinity College Dublin?

The 1,200 year-old manuscript is a significant tourist attraction which earns Trinity College about €350,000 a week

Trinity College Dublin defends decision to fine students’ union €214,000 for blocking access to Book of Kells

Critics describe university’s decision as attempt to suppress student protests

Sharp rise in first-class degrees may be linked to student expectations and competition among universities

50% jump in top degrees awarded by universities since 2015 prompts concern over grade inflation

Taoiseach announces €100m in funding to develop student accommodation

The funds will be used to part-finance three projects and 1,000 beds in UCD, DCU and Maynooth which will offer a proportion of beds at rents below market value

Irish universities risk undermining their autonomy through self-inflicted wounds

Universities are, in many respects, authors of their own misfortune – which threatens to become a misfortune for all of us.

‘I’d like to return to university, but worry about fitting in’

Third-level institutions welcome people at all stages of life; they add to the richness and diversity of the college experience

University changes gender identity policy that said refusal to use pronouns was ‘unlawful’

South East Technological University’s gender expression and identity policy sparked controversy last year

Trinity College Dublin bucks trends with surplus but warns of rising costs across third level

Government urged to honour pledge to boost core funding for higher education sector

I want to do a postgrad, but they’re hugely expensive. Are there grants available?

Grants for postgraduate courses were axed during the recession, but have been restored in recent years

‘Tackle funding crisis, plug skills gaps and boost pay’: the key challenges facing the new Minister for Higher Education

Simon Harris has left his successor Patrick O’Donovan with a series of complex challenges

Universities set to run deficits of €15m as some colleges struggle with rising costs

Higher Education Authority officials set to visit TU Dublin and UL amid concern over spending

New law set to limit student accommodation leases to academic year

Legislation will ensure leases are confined to the academic year of 41 weeks, following move by some student landlords to switch to 51-week leases

UL president takes sick leave as governing authority met to discuss report on €5.2m housing overpayment

Higher Education Authority has asked for a third review of the deal and UL’s ‘general culture and governance’ as deputy president Shane Kilcommins temporarily takes over running of institution

University of Limerick faces threat to funding after botched housing project

UL president Prof Kerstin Mey asked to consider position after project that overpaid €5.2 million for 20 homes

Why University of Limerick could face intervention by education authority

Overspending of more than €8 million raises question about internal controls

Low-paid PhD students: ‘I work three part-time jobs to make ends meet living in Dublin’

Despite their vital role in higher education, many survive on less than €10,000 a year

‘I became a role model’: Mother completes the third-level journey only 1.4% of her community makes

Pamela Cullotty left school early with no expectations. Now, she hopes to inspire others in the Traveller community to embrace education

Government is failing technological universities. Can they be saved?

Student numbers in newly created third-level institutions have dropped over the past two years. The sector now faces strong headwinds

‘Low tuition fees, transport is free’: Mastering further education abroad

An increasing number of Irish students are opting to apply to colleges abroad

Turning a new page: challenges and benefits of returning to education

Postgraduate courses and MBAs can not only boost self-confidence and self-esteem but often lead to higher earning potential

What skills are needed in the current economic climate?

Undertaking a postgraduate programme can help you enter the labour market or diversify in other areas

Furthering your education: What are the ‘degree-specific’ benefits offered by an MBA?

An MBA can be a route to a promotion, higher salary, building your professional reputation or managing your own business

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