Dublin Institute of Technology - DIT vs University College Dublin - UCD vs EM Normandie - EM Normandie vs American College Dublin - ACD vs National College of Ireland - NCI
Side-by-side comparison from 120 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted
- +Practical, applied learning with real-world focus.
- +Accessible faculty and strong student support.
- +Central location and active academic atmosphere.
- +Strong academic programs with international focus and engaging courses.
- +Welcoming international community and vibrant campus life.
- +Kind and caring professors within beautiful and safe environments.
- +Industry-relevant courses for job readiness
- +Positive learning atmosphere and helpful, knowledgeable professors
- +Valuable international exposure and personal/professional development
- +Passionate and supportive faculty with personalized attention
- +Strong focus on student success and career development
- +Welcoming city environment and convenient accommodations
- +Diverse and welcoming atmosphere
- +Practical, industry-aligned programs
- +Excellent central Dublin location
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- -Outdated and poorly maintained facilities are a significant issue.
- -Administrative and management inefficiencies cause frequent frustration.
- -Lack of clear communication and support creates confusion and dissatisfaction.
- -Administrative and management issues, particularly for international students.
- -Large student population hinders social connection and a sense of belonging.
- -Inflexible and traditional teaching styles dominate the learning experience.
- -Poor quality education and value for money.
- -Administrative and financial mismanagement, including delayed refunds and staff turnover.
- -Concerns about academic stability and frequent changes in teaching staff.
- -Students are frustrated with administrative and management issues.
- -Outdated facilities and poor maintenance are recurring problems.
- -The quality of instruction and curriculum is a significant concern.
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This institution demonstrates notable strengths in student life and location, receiving the highest marks in these areas. Conversely, accommodation presents the lowest score. Professors and internationality are also positively rated, alongside a solid showing for value and facilities. Overall, the university offers a generally favorable experience, though areas for improvement, particularly in housing, are evident.
This institution scores exceptionally well in its academic offerings, with professors earning the highest marks at 4.49 and facilities also receiving strong praise at 4.31. Student life and internationality are similarly well-regarded. However, accommodation emerges as the weakest area, with a rating of 3.62, while location also scored moderately lower than other aspects.
This institution garners high marks in several key areas. Its Facilities, Professors, and Value are all rated consistently well at 3.83. Internationality stands out as a significant strength with a perfect score of 4. Conversely, Accomodation is a weaker point, rated at 3.2, with Location also receiving a comparatively lower score of 3.33. Student Life falls in the middle with a rating of 3.5.
This institution's strengths lie in its **Professors**, with a solid rating of 3.86, and its **Internationality** and **Value**, both scoring 3.71. Conversely, areas requiring improvement include **Facilities** and **Student Life**, each receiving a 2.87 rating. **Location** and **Accommodation** fall in the mid-range, with scores of 3.2 and 2.93 respectively.
This institution receives strong marks, particularly excelling in Accomodation and Internationality, both scoring a notable 3.9. Value is also a significant positive at 3.8. The weakest areas, while still respectable, are Professors and Student Life, each receiving a 3.4 rating. Facilities and Location also fall within a moderate range at 3.7 and 3.5 respectively, indicating a well-rounded but not perfect offering.
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With ~76% positive reviews and an average of 4.06/5, students highlight practical learning, helpful faculty, and strong community. No negative feedback was reported.
With a 4.29 average rating from 73 reviews, ~97% are positive, praising international focus, engaging campus life, and interesting academics. A small ~3% of feedback noted difficulties in making friends and a perceived lack of support for international students.
With a 3.67/5 average, most reviews are positive (~74%), highlighting personal growth, industry-relevant courses, and a good learning atmosphere. One negative review (~16.7%) criticizes the school as a money-making scheme with mediocre teaching.
Most (approximately 86%) of the 14 reviews are highly positive, praising knowledgeable and supportive faculty, small class sizes, and career development. A small percentage (~7%) of feedback mentioned financial issues and staff retention.
Nine out of ten reviews are positive, highlighting a vibrant atmosphere and good academic programs. With an average rating of 4/5, student feedback is overwhelmingly favorable, with no negative reviews.
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Large student population (~30k), difficult to make friends because of irregular lecture structure (at least in humanities dept.) and most Irish students having known others for some time—not to say they aren’t friendly or open to making new friends, just a bit harder to fit in. Professors know what they are talking about and want you to learn, however the overall teaching style at UCD (and most universities)—is composed of listening to someone talk for 45 minutes, taking notes, and then writing an essay worth over half your grade—can feel like pursuing an overwhelmingly exhausting and pointless daily routine. Because of it, I was put on antidepressants. Prepare to replace your identity with an eight-digit number. Unlikely that professors will recognize you due to large lectures, so if you are like me and need to connect with your teachers in order to be a more productive learner, avoid UCD. There are mixed opinions about this, but I personally think that the campus is ugly. Not only is it littered with awful 70s architecture, but they also keep building new things so it is constantly under construction, which is not the most pleasant sight to observe every day. Although, some of the newer buildings, like the science building (which is massive), are nice. The campus is about a one-hour bus ride from the city centre, located in a middle-of-nowhere suburban area of Dublin, so it feels somewhat dull and isolated. Dorm rooms/suites are fantastic except for the fact that most do not have ovens and the showers are as narrow as you are (but perhaps that is to be expected in a dorm). Otherwise, good balance between privacy and sociability, most students have their own rooms but share a common space. Although, rent and goods are expensive and keep getting worse. Student Union fails to fulfil its promises, holds non-competitive elections and prevents foreign students from running for positions, all while the school prides itself on its global diversity. It is a very diverse school, though, that much is true. People from all over the world come here to study, so you're bound to meet someone from a different culture/background. Absolutely dead on the weekends. There is a myriad of societies to join that are fun and free to be a part of, but it can be difficult to balance schoolwork and club activities. Relatively easy to change subjects, variety of modules and subjects to choose from (Archeology was my favourite). The food market every Thursday was the best part of being here. Kind of expensive, but totally worth it. Every year in February they celebrate the Chinese New Year with a small light festival, and it is... awesome. Good food, cool lantern setup near the lake, an art show, and they host amazing dance, singing, and musical performances. UCD is #1 for graduate employability in Ireland, so if you are a career-oriented student, this might be a good place for you. Lots of career options and help from the school. Dublin is truly an amazing city and Ireland is a beautiful country. I do not regret coming here at all and seeing the island, but University College Dublin was not a good fit for me, and if you are anything like me and these issues bother you, it probably would not be a good fit for you either.
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Ireland is a great destination for higher education, and its universities offer a high standard of education with excellent facilities. The universities in Ireland are ranked among the best in the world, and they offer a wide range of courses in various fields. One of the great things about studying in Ireland is that the cost of education is quite reasonable compared to other countries such as the UK or the US. Additionally, students in Ireland are allowed to work part-time while studying, which can help reduce the financial burden of studying abroad. Moreover, Ireland is a welcoming and friendly country, and the people are warm and hospitable. Studying in Ireland offers a unique opportunity to experience Irish culture and meet people from different parts of the world.
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