Open days: A selection from Ireland’s technological universities

Technological University Dublin

When is the open day? Saturday, December 2nd.

Registration details: tudublin.ie/opendays

What makes us unique? TU Dublin is the second-largest university in Ireland and although we take a technology-focused approach to education, our students also learn to consider the human impact of new technology, from driverless haulage trucks to the depletion of natural resources required to produce the latest consumer technologies.

What’s new? The Grangegorman campus is only a couple of years old, so everything there is new. State-of-the-art facilities are available, from labs to concert halls, while a new sport and recreation building in Tallaght just opened. In terms of courses, we have some new programmes such as business, which can be split into four separate streams, giving greater flexibility.

Accommodation: TU Dublin has a dedicated accommodation team available to help students find housing suited to their needs and budget. Each year we book 600 places in various accommodation styles, with costs starting at €155 per week in a twin room and from €233 per week for a single en suite room.

What not to miss: The campus tour of Grangegorman. We’ll also have some fun events, including a DJ and Christmas choir to get you into the spirit of the time of year.

Atlantic Technological University

When are the open days? ATU Mountbellew, October 4th; ATU Mayo, October 19th; ATU Galway City, Wellpark Road, October 24th; ATU Donegal, November 9th; ATU Connemara, November 10th; ATU Sligo and St Angela’s, November 17th and 18th; ATU Galway City, Dublin Road, November 24th.

Registration details: atu.ie/openday

What makes us unique? Collaborative strength is one of the central features of ATU. It has a student population of more than 23,500 learners, spanning more than 600 academic programmes, from pre-degree to doctoral level. ATU’s strength lies in our collaborative ethos, realising our shared goals by elevating and championing success.

Accommodation: There are numerous options within easy access to ATU’s campuses, including private rentals and digs as well as purpose-built, privately run student accommodation in many of our locations.

What’s new? St Angela’s will be officially joining ATU as of November 1st. This is a great addition to Atlantic Technological University as St Angela’s has a long-standing and internationally recognised reputation in teacher education, particularly in the area of home economics, as well as schools of nursing and health sciences. There are also 19 new courses across the eight campuses including interior design, event operations and public relations, and outdoor and environmental education.

What not to miss: Students will be able to try out the specialised facilities as well as speak to academics and student ambassadors to find out more about university life.

South East Technological University (SETU)

When are the open days? Carlow Campus, October 26th, 10am to 2pm; Waterford campus, November 9th, 6pm to 8pm and November 10th, 10am to 2pm; Wexford campus, November 16th.

Registration details: setu.ie/events/setu-autumn-open-day-2023 and setu.ie/events/setu-autumn-open-evening

What makes us unique? Undergraduate students have the choice to study more than 140 courses in a wide range of disciplines, from technology, business and engineering to the arts, humanities and sciences.

Accommodation? SETU has university-run accommodation on its Waterford campus.

What’s new? SETU has new courses including content creation and social media (Level 8 and Level 7) and computer games programming (Level 7) at its Carlow campus. With a long history of excellence in sport, SETU has expanded its Bachelor of Arts in sports management and coaching that strategically combines these techniques with the principles of business and enterprise. This degree is available to study at levels 7 and 8, with options to choose from three specialities: Gaelic games, rugby and football.

Munster Technological University

When are the open days? MTU Kerry campus, October 13th; National Maritime College of Ireland, November 9th; Bishopstown campus, November 17th; Crawford College of Art and Design, November 17th and 18th; MTU Cork School of Music, November 18th.

Registration details: mtu.ie/opendays

What makes us unique? MTU is the first and only university in Co Kerry, and the first university to be established in Cork in almost 180 years.

Accommodation: While MTU does not have its own on-campus accommodation, there is privately owned accommodation available to students.

Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)

When is the open day? Limerick city campus, October 19th and 20th; Athlone campus, October 20th and 21st; Thurles campus, November 11th; Clonmel campus, November 1st.

Registration details: tus.ie/OPENDAYS

What makes us unique? The university opened three sensory lounges to support autistic students in managing stress and combating sensory overload.

Accommodation: While there is no on-campus accommodation, there are nearby purpose-built accommodation options for students.

What not to miss: There will be a wide range of demos throughout the open days so prospective students can get a feel for what the course would actually be like.

IADT

When is the open day? November 25th.

Registration details: iadt.ie/openday

What makes us unique? Home to the national film school, IADT is Ireland’s only institute of art, design and technology with a specific focus on the creative cultural and technological sectors.

Accommodation: There is no on-campus accommodation.

What not to miss: Tours of the national film school, which provides state-of-the-art facilities for education and training in film, television and radio production, design for stage and screen, and model making.

DkIT

When is the open day? November 15th

Registration details: dkit.ie/events/dkit-undergraduate-open-day-2023

What makes us unique? Positioned midway along the Dublin-Belfast corridor, the institute has unique characteristics due its geographical location.

Accommodation: The college does not have any of its own accommodation but the students’ union does assist students in sourcing options.

What’s new? A new 1,300sqm science facility has the latest state-of-the-art lab equipment for students. One of the most exciting parts of the building is the cell culture facility, which will give student direct experience with technologies and processes commonly used in current biotechnology settings.

What not to miss: The campus tours and opportunities to talk to academic staff about the college.

Mary Immaculate College

When is the open day? Limerick campus, October 19th and 20th; Thurles campus, November 11th.

Registration details: micopenday.ie/open-days-2023

Accommodation: MIC’s Courtbrack student accommodation is located less than five minutes from the Limerick campus, while MIC Thurles has 36 single en suite bedrooms located on-site for first-year undergraduate students.

What not to miss: The programme talks will provide an overview of the college’s undergraduate programmes. Lecturers will tell students all about the types of topics they’ll be studying, work placement, study-abroad opportunities and career options.

National College of Art and Design

When is the open day? Tuesday, November 21st

Registration details: No registration is required but further information is available at ncad.ie/study-at-ncad/visit-ncad-open-days

What makes us unique? NCAD entered the top 100 art and design colleges around the world in the QS World Ranking by subject 2023.

What not to miss: First-year students will be on campus to show prospective students their portfolios

National College of Ireland

When is the open day? Saturday, November 11th.

Registration details: ncirl.ie/Events/ArtMID/6569/ArticleID/920/CAO-Open-Day

What makes the college unique? There are smaller classes, allowing students to get to know their classmates better and have more direct contact with lecturers.

What not to miss: There are sample classes students can take on the open day in a variety of study areas, including psychology, accounting and finance and marketing, among others.

Pontifical University of Maynooth

When are the open days? November 24th and 25th.

What makes us unique: Established in 1795, St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth is a specialised university offering programmes in theology and philosophy at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Accommodation: There is on-campus accommodation in Maynooth. First-year students of the Baccalaureate in Theology and Arts are guaranteed on-campus accommodation.

What not to miss: Attending a St Patricks Pontifical University open day will be a chance for students to interact with student ambassadors and find out what life at university is like as well as meet university staff to talk through the nuts and bolts of the programme.

St Patrick’s College Carlow

When is the open day? Thursday, October 26th.

Registration details: carlowcollege.ie/cao/open-day

What makes us unique? Carlow College is the second-oldest third-level institution in Ireland.

What not to miss: Prospective students should attend a number of taster sessions to learn what the course will truly be like.

Royal Irish Academy of Music

When is the open day? Sunday, November 19th.

Registration details: riam.ie/degrees-programmes/open-days-degrees-and-programmes

What makes us unique? RIAM is Ireland’s oldest music conservatoire.

What’s new? RIAM opened its new six-storey campus extension earlier this year, doubling the amount of teaching and rehearsal spaces and providing students with unparalleled performance spaces.

What not to miss: Attendees will have the opportunity to hear students perform and hear from alumni who have had incredible careers.