Trinity College Dublin - TCD vs University College Dublin - UCD vs EM Normandie - EM Normandie vs Dublin Business School - DBS vs American College Dublin - ACD

Side-by-side comparison from 164 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Dublin Business School - DBS (4.40)
Trinity College Dublin - TCD: wins 2/7 categories
University College Dublin - UCD: wins 3/7 categories
EM Normandie - EM Normandie: wins 0/7 categories
Dublin Business School - DBS: wins 2/7 categories
American College Dublin - ACD: wins 0/7 categories
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland: wins 0/7 categories
Independent College: wins 0/7 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Computer Science
Best programme: Computer Science
Best programme: MSc International Logistics and Port Management
Best programme: Business Management and Marketing
Best programme: International Business
Dublin, Ireland
Not rated
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Category ratings
Facilities
4.07
4.31
Win
3.83
4.15
2.87
Not rated
Not rated
Location
4.60
Win
3.99
3.33
4.51
3.20
Not rated
Not rated
Professors
4.26
4.50
Win
3.83
4.43
3.86
Not rated
Not rated
Internationality
4.23
4.29
4.00
4.51
Win
3.71
Not rated
Not rated
Student life
4.27
4.28
Win
3.50
4.15
2.87
Not rated
Not rated
Value
4.39
Win
4.22
3.83
4.15
3.71
Not rated
Not rated
Accommodation
3.36
3.63
3.20
3.74
Win
2.93
Not rated
Not rated
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +High-quality teaching and supportive lecturers
  • +Beautiful campus and convenient location
  • +Rich academic atmosphere and flexible course options
  • +Engaging academics and expert faculty
  • +Vibrant international campus and social life
  • +Attractive environment and welcoming community
  • +Industry-relevant courses for job readiness
  • +Positive learning atmosphere and helpful, knowledgeable professors
  • +Valuable international exposure and personal/professional development
  • +Central location and accessible campuses
  • +Supportive faculty and engaging learning environment
  • +Diverse student community and industry-relevant curriculum
  • +Passionate and supportive faculty with personalized attention
  • +Strong focus on student success and career development
  • +Welcoming city environment and convenient accommodations

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Cons
  • -Administrative and management issues caused frustration and inefficiency.
  • -Outdated facilities and resources hindered learning experiences.
  • -Lack of clear communication and support from faculty and staff was a recurring problem.
  • -Administrative and management issues, particularly regarding international student support.
  • -Difficulty in forming social connections due to large student numbers and established social circles.
  • -Teaching styles that are perceived as monotonous and unengaging.
  • -Poor quality education and value for money.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a significant source of frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of resources negatively impact the learning experience.
  • -Ineffective teaching and a disconnect with instructors are recurring complaints.
  • -Administrative and financial mismanagement, including delayed refunds and staff turnover.
  • -Concerns about academic stability and frequent changes in teaching staff.

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Rating summary
What students say

This university garners excellent scores, particularly excelling in **Location** (4.6) and **Student Life** (4.27). Professors are also highly regarded (4.26), with strong internationality (4.23) and value (4.39). The weakest area, however, is **Accomodation**, which received a significantly lower rating (3.36). Facilities also scored moderately well (4.07).

Analyzing the university's performance reveals a profile with notable strengths and areas for improvement. Professors receive the highest marks, indicating a strong academic core. Facilities and student life also score well, suggesting a positive overall campus experience. Accommodation, however, stands out as the weakest area, receiving a considerably lower rating. Internationality and value are also rated positively, contributing to a generally favorable assessment.

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 garners excellent scores in several key areas. Location and Internationality are particularly strong, both receiving a high rating of 4.51. Professors are also highly regarded, with a score of 4.43. Facilities, Student Life, and Value are all rated comparably at 4.15. The weakest area identified is Accomodation, which received the lowest score of 3.74.

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.

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Reviews summary
Highlights

The university receives strong positive feedback (~86%), with students praising excellent teacher resources, academic achievements, and teaching quality. Many also highlight a beautiful campus and convenient location, with lecturers being knowledgeable and supportive. No negative reviews were recorded.

Around 97% of reviews are positive, highlighting engaging academics, a vibrant international community, and a great campus environment. A small percentage noted difficulties with making friends or feeling marginalized as an international student.

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.

University reviews are overwhelmingly positive (~85%), with students praising the central location, engaging faculty, and practical, industry-relevant curriculum. A small amount of feedback (~0%) mentions limited outdoor space.

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.

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Rating distribution
5★
32%
39%
33%
54%
7%
0%
0%
4★
54%
54%
33%
31%
79%
0%
0%
3★
14%
4%
17%
15%
7%
0%
0%
2★
0%
3%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1★
0%
0%
17%
0%
7%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked

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Not for me

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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DBS: An Environment For Success

Dublin Business School (DBS) is more than just a place of learning; it's a place where academic excellence meets comfort and global connections. Let me tell you, my time at DBS was a whirlwind of challenges and growth, and I loved every minute of it. The coursework was demanding, no doubt about it, but it was in those moments of pushing my limits that I found my true potential. What really blew me away was how DBS takes care of its students. They understand that finding a cozy place to stay is crucial for focusing on your studies. That's why they offer a range of accommodation options that cater to different preferences and needs. I didn't have to worry about the hassle of finding a place to live – DBS had me covered, and that made settling into student life a breeze. So, if you're looking for a place where hard work meets cozy living and where you can connect with folks from all walks of life, DBS is the way to go.

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