Dublin City University (DCU)

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.

About Dublin City University

DCU was created in 1975 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin, enrolled its first students in 1980 and became a university in September 1989.^[7] In September 2016 it completed the incorporation of the Church of Ireland College of Education, All Hallows College, Mater Dei Institute of Education and St Patrick’s College.^[7]

As of September 2026 the university has three academic campuses with about 70 buildings, a research park (DCU Alpha) and two sports facilities.^[6] It has five faculties, 120,000 alumni and reports that 91% of undergraduate programmes include a work placement (called INTRA).^[1]

How is DCU ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, DCU is 408th. A national press report lists it at joint 410th in the previous edition.^[2] DCU’s own “DCU in Numbers” page gives the same QS position and adds 284th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 (up from the 301–350 band in 2026) and first in Ireland for research quality in that ranking, as DCU states it.^[1]

The same page reports sustainability results such as first in Ireland in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026. Rankings differ by publisher, year and subject, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at DCU?

The fee schedule groups undergraduate programmes into five areas:^[3]

• DCU Business School: Accounting and Finance, Aviation Management, Business Studies, Global Business, Digital Business and Innovation, Marketing, Innovation and Technology.
• Engineering and Computing: Computer Science, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and others.
• Humanities and Social Sciences: Arts joint honours, Law (BCL), Journalism, Communication Studies, International Relations, Multimedia and others.
• Science and Health: Biotechnology, Physics, Chemistry, Psychology, Nursing, Sport Science and Health and others.
• DCU Institute of Education: Bachelor of Education programmes for primary and post-primary teaching and early childhood.

Postgraduate programmes are listed by faculty on the university’s course pages.^[8]

How much does DCU cost?

Every DCU undergraduate programme has two fee rates, EU and non-EU. The “Free Fee Initiative” does not apply to students assessed at the non-EU rate, nor to postgraduate programmes.^[9] DCU states that all programme fees are per year and subject to an annual increase.^[3]

Non-EU students, new entrants

The undergraduate fee page we read is titled “Undergraduate Fees 2027-2028”, and the address that should show 2026/27 shows the same schedule. We could not read a separate non-EU schedule for 2026/27, so these are the 2027/28 rates, with an EU column for comparison.^[3]

Some programmes differ, for example the year-5 integrated master’s in several engineering programmes (€19,900) and Athletic Therapy (€17,200). A study-abroad year costs €14,500 for non-EU students and one semester €8,000.^[3] Continuing non-EU students in years 3 and 4 pay lower rates on a separate page: €16,400 to €20,300 for most programmes (page labelled 27/28).^[10]

EU students and the student contribution

For 2026/27 DCU lists a student contribution of €2,500 plus a €43 student centre fee, €2,543 in total, for Free Fees students without a grant; for students with an approved grant the contribution is paid by SUSI or the local authority and they pay only the €43.^[4] The 2027/28 schedule shows a student contribution of €2,393 for most full-time programmes.^[3] Students who are not entitled to free tuition pay the “EU status fee” in the table.^[9]

Postgraduate

Most postgraduate programmes have an EU and a non-EU rate that are published on each programme page.^[9] For rent and living costs in Dublin, see our Ireland guide.

How do you apply to DCU?

• Undergraduate, EU, EFTA and UK qualifications: through the Central Applications Office (CAO), the national application system for Irish higher education.^[8]
• Undergraduate, non-EU qualifications or visa required: directly through DCU’s student application portal. You upload your qualifications, English test and supporting documents; a missing English result can be covered by a “holding document”, which may lead to a conditional offer.^[11]
• Postgraduate: all applicants use the DCU Student Application Portal; the programme page gives the closing date and entry requirements.^[8]

We give no deadlines because they change every year. Admissions teams verify documents, and an application with falsified documents can be withdrawn at any stage.^[11]

Which language level do you need?

Applicants whose first language is not English need proof through a school-leaving exam or a recognised test, assessed from a single sitting. For undergraduate entry DCU accepts, among others:^[5]

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, no component below 6.0.
• TOEFL iBT: total score of 92.
• Pearson PTE Academic: 63 with at least 59 in all components.
• Duolingo: 120 overall and at least 110 in each subscore.

The certificate must be awarded within the two years before the programme starts, and individual programmes can require more. DCU notes that the page is being updated.^[5]

More about studying in Ireland

• Ireland: best universities
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

More university profiles in Ireland

• Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
• Maynooth University
• Munster Technological University (MTU)
• National College of Art and Design (NCAD)
• RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM)
• South East Technological University (SETU)
• Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
• Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)
• Trinity College Dublin
• University College Cork
• University College Dublin
• University of Galway
• University of Limerick (UL)