Other institutions: All you need to know about open days

Institutions around the country offer a diverse range of course options for prospective students

With campuses in Dublin, Cork and Limerick, Griffith College is our oldest private college

RCSI

When is open day?

January 4th, 2018

Students watch a real-life 3D operation using virtual reality at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland open day for some hands-on experience. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Located just off St Stephen's Green, in one of the busiest spots in Dublin, the faculty of medicine and health sciences of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is home to Ireland's largest undergraduate medical school.

READ MORE

RCSI has over 200 clinical consultants on their teaching staff, enabling our students to receive consultant-delivered clinical teaching in small groups which is based on individual clinical cases in hospitals.

RCSI graduates are held in high regard internationally.

An open day for those wishing to study graduate medicine has yet to be confirmed.

More information: rcsi.ie.NCAD

When is open day?

November 29th (9:30-3pm)

The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) offers a broad range of studio pathways that reflects the full spectrum of contemporary art and design practice. This spectrum runs from traditional techniques and crafts to digital art and digital design, and everything in-between. This year the College Open day will feature new programmes on offer in Illustration (drawing, image making and animation) and in Interaction Design (designing digital interactions for apps, websites and user experience – UX).

NCAD can trace its history back 250 years and counts many successful and significant artists and designers among its graduates, (Orla Kiely, Simone Rocha and Philip Tracey to name a few.)

More information: ncad.ie.

RIAM

When is open day?

As well as short music courses, the Royal Irish Academy of Music offers diplomas, bachelor's and master's degrees, and doctorates in teaching, performance and composition. The open day at the academy's Dublin base will give an introduction to full-time programmes in music performance and composition, along with presentations on its access, diploma, bachelor's, master's and doctorate programmes. There will also be Q&As with faculty heads, advice on the audition process, student performances and tours.

More information: riam.ie.

Mary Immaculate College

When is open day?

October 19th and 20th (9am-3pm), Tailteann Building, MIC Campus, Limerick

Known for its primary teaching courses, Mary Immaculate College, in Limerick, also offers arts programmes and a new contemporary and applied theatre studies course. The college is a small, vibrant community of 3,500 students with a friendly and supportive atmosphere. It received the Outstanding International Student Satisfaction Award 2016 from StudyPortals with Ireland being voted the second most popular country for international student satisfaction. Close to the city centre, it also has cultural and social amenities on its doorstep. The college has a long sporting tradition and more than 30 clubs and societies on campus. Since September, MIC now incorporates St Patrick's College in Thurles, which offers four degrees to prepare students for second-level teaching.

More information: ul.ie.

Marino Institute of Education

When is open day?

November 18th (10am-4pm)

With under 1,000 students, Marino Institute of Education is a relatively small college with all programmes accredited by Trinity College Dublin. Best known for its primary-teaching courses, the north Dublin institution also runs programmes in education studies and further study. There are 12 clubs and societies on campus; men and women's GAA, camogie and badminton are popular.

More information: mie.ie

Hibernia College

When is open day?

Ireland’s only QQI-accredited online college offers diplomas and master’s degrees in primary and post-primary teaching. More than 350 staff work at Hibernia College, which trains almost half of all student teachers in Ireland. Students study from home through a mix of online learning and traditional in-school practice. Hibernia also offers an MA in teaching and learning, a PHD in Education and continuing professional development for teachers.

More information: hiberniacollege.com.

NCI

When is open day?

November 29th (10am-3pm)

January 20th 2018 (10am-1pm)

The National College of Ireland offers a variety of business, marketing, psychology and computing courses. A BSc in technology management was launched this year, with a focus on data analytics and social media.

The purpose-built campus is compact but close to the heart of the city and with a student population of 5000, it’s easy to navigate and to get to know people and classes are small. NCI works with professional bodies to ensure courses closely aligned to industry needs.

More information: ncirl.ie.

DBS

When is open day?

December 5th (5-7pm) in the Aungier Street building

Dublin Business School, which says it is Ireland's largest independent college, offers programmes across a range of disciplines, such as business, arts, law, media and computing. It has four locations in the city centre and an active student services team.

There are social nights and weekend trips and a good range of clubs and societies to choose from.

It offers DBS Advantage; an initiative which gives students the opportunity to engage in a development programme run parallel to their academic studies that prepares students for the workplace.

Like the other fee-paying colleges, it has small classes and offers courses that reflect the needs of students and employers.

More information: dbs.ie.

Griffith College

When is open day?

November 17th (10am-2pm)

With campuses in Dublin, Cork and Limerick, Griffith College is Ireland's oldest and perhaps best established private college. It offers programmes in accountancy, business, computing, design, law, media, music and drama, training and education.

The college now has a five-acre campus in Cork city. The college has a good reputation nationally and internationally for the quality of its graduates. Courses are industry-focused, classes are small and teachers have hands-on industry experience. Students on all three campuses have the city to explore, and there are more than 25 clubs and societies. Griffith College has some strong sports teams – particularly in basketball, table tennis and cricket.

More information: griffith.ie.

Pulse College

When is open day?

November 21st

Pulse College, which has been offering professional training in audio and music for over 25 years, now also offers diplomas, BAs, MAs and higher-certificate courses in gaming, animation, film production, and scoring for film and visual media. They recently opened a new Dublin campus for games development and animation students. Its music programmes are delivered at Windmill Lane studios in Dublin, where the soundtracks to numerous film scores have been recorded. Classes are small – there are just over 350 full-time students – and courses are accredited by Griffith College and DIT.

More information: pulsecollege.eu/open