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University College Dublin Rankings 2026
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Last updated on 3 Apr '26
- University College Dublin Ranking
- University College Dublin Course Ranking
- University College Dublin US News & World Report Rankings 2025
- UCD dublin FT (Financial Times) Ranking 2026
- University College Dublin QS Rankings 2026
- University College Dublin THE (Times Higher Education) Ranking 2026
- University College Dublin ARWU (Shanghai Rankings) 2026
- UCD dublin Student Reviews
UCD dublinUniversity College Dublin Ranking
University College Dublin located in Ireland. The university has been ranked by various ranking bodies globally for its academic excellence, student diversity, job outcomes, and teaching pedagogy.
The university is recognized by Shiksha Popularity Ranking in 2025, listing it at #127, among the top universities in the world. The Shiksha Popularity Ranking also ranks University College Dublin at #2 for the same year among universities in Ireland.
The global ranking of the university has showcased improved trend from 2025, moving from its previous rank of #138. In 2026, the University College Dublin also secured a rank of #118 from QS and a rank of #201 from THE (Times Higher Education).
Here are the three-year trends for University College Dublin rankings from many ranking bodies, take a look -
| Ranking Body | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QS | Not Ranked | 171 | 126 | 118 |
| THE | 201 | 201 | 201 | 201 |
| US News | 236 | 253 | 245 | Not Ranked |
#2
World rank by different ranking providers
Shiksha
#124QS Ranking
#38THE Ranking
#201US News Ranking
#245ARWU Ranking
#301
Commonly asked questions On University Evaluation
University College Dublin is among the top universities in Ireland. UCD is ranked by top ranking authorities all over the world. UCD rankings attract international students the most.
The university is ranked by major ranking agencies that are as follows, take a look -
Ranking Bodies | Rank |
|---|---|
U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025 | #245 |
QS World University Rankings 2026 | #118 |
THE World University Rankings 2026 | #201 |
Shanghai Rankings 2025 | #301 |
Financial Times 2025 | #73 |
University College Dublin and Dublin City University both are some of the most esteemed universities in Ireland. The University College Dublin is ranked #118 under “QS World University Rankings 2026”.
On the other hand, Dublin City University ranks at #410 under these rankings. So DCU ranks way far than University College Dublin.
Given below are the rankings for the above mentioned Irish universities, take a look -
University Name | QS World University Ranking 2024 | QS World University Ranking 2025 | QS World University Ranking 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
University College Dublin | #171 | #126 | #118 |
Dublin City University | #436 | #421 | #410 |
UCD dublinUniversity College Dublin Course Ranking
Now, let’s take a look at University College Dublin course rankings. Some of its courses in the field of Engineering, Business and Management Studies, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences and Science are ranked in 2025 by top ranking bodies such as Shiksha Popularity World Ranking and QS, exemplifying University College Dublin and its strengths.
The university’s ranking for Engineering courses are ranked at #147 in 2025 as per Shiksha Popularity Ranking. This ranking has declined from its 2024 rank of #132. Also, these courses are also ranked by QS. The 2025 QS Engineering and Technology rank stood at #207 in comparison to 2024 rank of #216.
Apart from these courses, Shiksha Popularity Ranking also ranks its Business & Management Studies courses globally. Holding firm, this course was positioned at #49 in 2025. Overall, most of the courses offered by this university are notably appealing to international students.
According to Shiksha Popularity Rankings for the year 2025, here’s a quick look at how Some popular courses rank, take a look -
| Course Category | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering | #112 | #132 | #147 |
| Business & Management Studies | #45 | #52 | #49 |
| Law | #112 | #99 | #122 |
| Medicine & Health Sciences | #109 | #128 | #146 |
| Science | #198 | #251 | #265 |
MS
Shiksha
THE
QS
ARWU
Specializations in MS Program
Shiksha
QS
Shiksha
ARWU
QS
MBA/PGDM
Shiksha
FT
QS
M.A.
Shiksha
QS
THE
ARWU
Specializations in M.A. Program
Shiksha
QS
Commonly asked questions On Course Ranking
Yes, University College Dublin is very well known as a tier one university and it is one of the best universities in Ireland and the world.
If we look at the QS rank for UCD Ireland, it ranks at #118 under its 'World University category and #38 in Europe.
The UCD rankings suggest that it is a tier one university.
University College Dublin and Maynooth University both are some of the most prominent universities in Ireland for continuing higher education. The University College Dublin is ranked #118 under “QS World University Rankings 2026”. Maynooth University is ranked at #771 under the category of “QS World University Rankings 2026”.
Also, check the QS ranking for both universities over the past 3 years:
Year | University College Dublin | Maynooth University |
|---|---|---|
2026 | 118 | 771 |
2025 | 126 | 801 |
2024 | 171 | 801 |
University College Dublin US News & World Report Rankings 2025
US News and World Report is among the world's most esteemed publications. It is renowned for offering university rankings to persuade students to enrol in schools in the Ireland. Subject-based, national, regional, and global rankings are available. Standardized tests, first-year retention rates, graduate rates, peer evaluation, and the student-faculty ratio are among the other variables that US News and World Report considers.
According to the US News Rankings 2025, UCD has earned top positions
US News and World Report is among the world's most esteemed publications. It is renowned for offering university rankings to persuade students to enrol in schools in the Ireland. Subject-based, national, regional, and global rankings are available. Standardized tests, first-year retention rates, graduate rates, peer evaluation, and the student-faculty ratio are among the other variables that US News and World Report considers.
According to the US News Rankings 2025, UCD has earned top positions under various categories such as Best Global Universities, Best Global Universities in Europe, Best Global Universities in Ireland, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, Engineering, Economics and Business, etc. If we compare ‘Global Universities Rankings’, UCD ranks #245 in 2025. There is an improvement in UCD rankings from the year 2024 as it stood at #253 that year.
| Ranked by | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Universities | 236 | 253 | 245 |
University College Dublin Vs Other Universities: US News & World Report Comparison
As per US News Ranking 2025, UCD ranked at #245 which means it stands at a lower rank than Trinity College Dublin which is at #207. The other two universities mentioned in the table rank really far from University College Dublin.
Check the table mentioned below.
|
University Name |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
University College Dublin |
#236 |
#253 |
#245 |
|
Dublin City University |
#917 |
#861 |
#856 |
|
Maynooth University |
#1254 |
#1114 |
#1093 |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
#215 |
#206 |
#207 |
University College Dublin US News & World Report 2025: Ranking Criteria
US News is one of the most reputed ranking bodies. US News considers a wide range of factors while determining the ranking of top universities. Moreover, some crucial factors include global research reputation, regional research reputation, total citations, international collaboration, publications, books, conferences, and more.
As per US News ranking criteria, the ranking agency gives more importance to number of publications that are among the 10% most cited and regional research reputation as compared to the rest factors.
Also, students can check the table listed below which includes US News ranking criteria along with the weightage they consider while deciding the rankings of University College Dublin -
|
Metric |
Score/Ranking |
|---|---|
|
Global Score |
62.5 |
|
Global Research Reputation |
348 |
|
Regional Research Reputation |
267 |
|
Publications |
284 |
|
Books |
108 |
|
Conferences |
291 |
|
Normalized Citation Impact |
368 |
|
Total Citations |
258 |
|
Number of Publications That Are Among the 10% Most Cited |
264 |
|
Percentage of Total Publications That Are Among the 10% Most Cited |
508 |
|
International Collaboration - Relative to Country |
789 |
|
International Collaboration |
243 |
|
Number of Highly Cited Papers That Are Among the Top 1% Most Cited |
246 |
|
Percentage of Highly Cited Papers That Are Among the Top 1% Most Cited |
421 |
Also check: US News Best College Rankings Methodology
Commonly asked questions On UCD dublin US News & World Report Ranking
As per U.S. News & World Report, the University College Dublin ranks at #245 under the category of Best Global Universities 2025.
In 2024, UCD was ranked at a worse position that was #253, under the same criteria. The ranking body check many factors while assessing the ranking such as Global Research Reputation, Global Score, Books, Conferences, Total Citations, and more.
Check the table listed below for UCD rankings by U.S. News & World Report:
Ranking Body | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
US News & World Report | 236 | 253 | 245 |
The University College Dublin and Dublin City University are some of the best universities in Ireland. According to U.S. News & World Report 2025, UCD ranks at #245 and DCU ranks at #856 under the Best Global Universities. So, University College Dublin ranks better the Dublin City University.
Check the ranking comparison listed below between UCD and DCU:
University | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
University College Dublin | 245 | 253 | 236 |
Dublin City University | 856 | 861 | 917 |
UCD dublinFT (Financial Times) Ranking 2026
| Ranked by | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA | 91 | 73 | 73 |
| Master in Finance | 53 | 59 | – / – |
| Master in Management | 28 | 33 | – / – |
University College Dublin QS Rankings 2026
QS World University Ranking 2025QS is among the top ranking authorities all over the world. QS is highly renowned for its “World University Rankings” and its annual report that demonstrate 1,418 institutions in 100 places. QS World University Rankings, are based on various parameters such as internationalization, academic reputation, employer reputation, research impact and more.
According to the University College Dublin QS Rankings, there has been a rise in the world university ranking of Dubl
QS World University Ranking 2025QS is among the top ranking authorities all over the world. QS is highly renowned for its “World University Rankings” and its annual report that demonstrate 1,418 institutions in 100 places. QS World University Rankings, are based on various parameters such as internationalization, academic reputation, employer reputation, research impact and more.
According to the University College Dublin QS Rankings, there has been a rise in the world university ranking of Dublin. In 2024, it was ranked at #171, which improved to #126 in 2025. And further improved and ranked at #118 in the year 2026.
This shows that the university has climbed 8 positions compared to last year’s ranking. Additionally, the university achieved top positions in a wide variety of subjects such as Business and Management, Engineering and Technology, MEng in Electronic and Computer Engineering, etc.
Check the table listed below for University College Dublin QS Rankings over the years under various parameters:
| Ranked by | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 71 | 51 | 38 |
| World University | 171 | 126 | 118 |
| Accounting and Finance | 101 | 101 | 101 |
| Architecture and Built Environment | 101 | 151 | 151 |
| Biological Sciences | 201 | 201 | 201 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 101 | 101 | 51 |
| Engineering and Technology | 216 | 207 | 191 |
| Global MBA | 111 | 121 | 141 |
| Law and Legal Studies | 92 | 101 | 98 |
| Masters in Business Analytics | 35 | 44 | 51 |
| Masters in Supply Chain Management | 12 | 14 | 19 |
| Mathematics | 251 | 251 | 201 |
| Mechanical Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering | 151 | 201 | 151 |
| Medicine | 167 | 172 | 143 |
| Nursing | 51 | 44 | 41 |
| Performing Arts | 51 | 51 | 51 |
| Pharmacy and Pharmacology | 151 | 201 | 201 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 251 | 251 | 251 |
| Politics | 51 | 101 | 100 |
| Sociology | 101 | 101 | 91 |
University College Dublin Vs Other Universities: QS Comparison
University College Dublin, Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin, and University College Dublin are some of the top universities.
The University College Dublin ranking has improved from #126 in 2026 to #118 in 2026. Maynooth University’s ranking has also improved, although still very far from UCD at #771 in 2026.
Students can compare the QS World University Rankings of these top universities using the table below -
|
University Name |
QS World University Ranking 2024 |
QS World University Ranking 2025 |
QS World University Ranking 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
University College Dublin |
#171 |
#126 |
#118 |
|
Maynooth University |
#801 |
#801 |
#771 |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
#81 |
#87 |
#75 |
|
Dublin City University |
#436 |
#421 |
#410 |
University College Dublin QS 2025: Ranking Criteria
The QS ranking releases its annual ranking for universities and their courses based on various parameters such as academic reputation, sustainability, overall, employer reputation, employment outcomes, among others. Of these, sustainability has the highest weightage followed by International faculty ratio and international research network. Here are some parameters that are considered by QS when evaluating rankings of top universities:
|
Dublin City University QS Ranking Criteria |
Weight out of 100 |
|---|---|
|
Overall |
28.3 |
|
Academic Reputation |
20.1 |
|
Citations per Faculty |
10.7 |
|
Employment Outcomes |
35.3 |
|
Employer Reputation |
26.0 |
|
Faculty Student Ratio |
25.8 |
|
International Faculty Ratio |
75.0 |
|
International Research Network |
75.4 |
|
International Student Ratio |
22.6 |
|
Sustainability |
82.5 |
Also Check: QS World University Ranking Methodology
Commonly asked questions On UCD dublin QS Ranking
The University College Dublin offers a lot of academic programs at UG and PG levels for its students.
When it comes to UCD rankings, it is one of the highest ranked universities all over the world. The University College Dublin ranking has improved from #126 in 2026 to #118 in 2026.
Also, as compared to last year's ranking, UCD has improved #46 positions. The University is constantly ranked among top 200 universities in the world.
According to QS rankings, Trinity College Dublin ranks better than University College Dublin. UCD is ranked #118 under the “World University Rankings 2026”.
Both universities have their own merits and demerits. Trinity College Dublin is constantly ranked among top 100 universities in the world. Whereas, University College Dublin comes under top 200 universities in the world. Check the ranking table listed below:
University Name | QS World University Ranking 2024 | QS World University Ranking 2025 | QS World University Ranking 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
University College Dublin | #171 | #126 | #118 |
Trinity College Dublin | #81 | #87 | #75 |
University College Dublin THE (Times Higher Education) Ranking 2026
THE (Times Higher Education is one of the most well known ranking bodies all over the world. Also, the world rankings, Asia university rankings, emerging economies university rankings, and more.
According to the University College Dublin THE world rankings, the position of the university is constantly standing at #201 for all three years.
University College Dublin also ranked top in categories such as Life Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, Computer Science, Clinical Health,
THE (Times Higher Education is one of the most well known ranking bodies all over the world. Also, the world rankings, Asia university rankings, emerging economies university rankings, and more.
According to the University College Dublin THE world rankings, the position of the university is constantly standing at #201 for all three years.
University College Dublin also ranked top in categories such as Life Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, Computer Science, Clinical Health, Engineering, Social Services, Physical Sciences, and more. Students can refer the table given below for University College Dublin THE rankings over the years:
| Ranked by | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University | 201 | 201 | 201 |
| Arts and Humanities | 176 | 176 | 151 |
| Engineering | 151 | 176 | 176 |
| Law | 101 | 126 | 101 |
| Life Sciences | 201 | 201 | 201 |
| Medicine and Health | 176 | 176 | 201 |
| PG Business and Economics | 126 | 176 | 201 |
| PG Computer Science | 126 | 101 | 126 |
| Psychology | 201 | 176 | 176 |
University College Dublin Vs Other Universities: THE (Times Higher Education) Comparison
According to Times Higher Education, University College Dublin ranking is same in both 2024 and 2025 that is #201 in 2026. Maynooth University is following the same trend where its ranking is also similar for the years, although it had dropped 100 positions, moving from #401 in 2024 to #501 in 2025.
Trinity College Dublin has also experienced a decline, dropping 34 spots from #139 in 2025 to #173 in 2026. Students can refer to the table below for a comparison of THE university rankings among the top universities -
|
University Name |
THE University Ranking 2024 |
THE University Ranking 2025 |
THE University Ranking 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
University College Dublin |
#201 |
#201 |
#201 |
|
Maynooth University |
#401 |
#501 |
#501 |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
#134 |
#139 |
#173 |
|
Dublin City University |
#401 |
#351 |
#301 |
University College Dublin THE (Times Higher Education) 2026: Ranking Criteria
Times Higher Education considers various parameters while determining the rankings of top unis. A few important factors that THE considers include the research environment, international outlook, teaching, research environment and industry.
The universities are actually ranked on these given parameters.
Read More about Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking Methodology
Commonly asked questions On UCD dublin THE (Times Higher Education) Ranking
The University College Dublin is among the top universities for higher education in Ireland. According to THE, University College Dublin is constantly ranked at #201 from past 3 years.
Check the ranking comparison between University College Dublin and Maynooth University by Times Higher Education:
University Name | THE University Ranking 2024 | THE University Ranking 2025 | THE University Ranking 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
University College Dublin | #201 | #201 | #201 |
Times Higher Education is among the top ranking publishers all over the world. They consider a large variety of factors when issuing rankings to top universities. Some important parameters are teaching, research environment, quality industry, international outlook and more.
According to THE, University College Dublin is ranked between #201 under the category of THE World University Rankings 2026.
University College Dublin ARWU (Shanghai Rankings) 2026
Academic Ranking of World University or Shanghai Ranking is one of the top publishers of world university rankings. It provides various rankings, such as world rankings, broad subject field rankings, and specific subject rankings.
As per the University College Dublin ARWU rankings the university is ranked at #201 which has been consistent since the year 2024.
Along with the university rankings, the UCD courses like Law, Mathematics, Physics and Political Sciences are also ranked by ARWU. They ar
Academic Ranking of World University or Shanghai Ranking is one of the top publishers of world university rankings. It provides various rankings, such as world rankings, broad subject field rankings, and specific subject rankings.
As per the University College Dublin ARWU rankings the university is ranked at #201 which has been consistent since the year 2024.
Along with the university rankings, the UCD courses like Law, Mathematics, Physics and Political Sciences are also ranked by ARWU. They are ranked between #101 and #201.
| Ranked by | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universities | 301 | 301 | 301 |
| Law | 201 | – / – | – / – |
| Nursing | 201 | 151 | 101 |
| Physics | 151 | 151 | 201 |
| Political Sciences | 101 | 151 | 151 |
| Sociology | – / – | – / – | 151 |
University College Dublin Vs Other Universities: ARWU (Shanghai Rankings) Comparison
As per the table given below, Indian students should go for Trinity College Dublin admissions as its ranking ar best out of all the universities ranked here.
One similarity is that the rankings for University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin are consistent over the last three years.
Look at the table of comparison given below -
|
University Name |
ARWU University Ranking 2023 |
ARWU University Ranking 2024 |
ARWU University Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
University College Dublin |
#301 |
#301 |
#301 |
|
Maynooth University |
- |
#801 |
- |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
#201 |
#201 |
#201 |
|
Dublin City University |
#901 |
#901 |
- |
University College Dublin ARWU (Shanghai Rankings) 2025: Ranking Criteria
ARWU rankings consider a lot of factors while deciding the rankings of top universities. Some very important factors considered by Shanghai are given below -
- Quality of education
- Quality of faculty
- Research output
- Per capita performance
Read More: Shanghai (ARWU) World University Ranking Methodology
Commonly asked questions On UCD dublin ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) Ranking
Yes, the University of British Columbia is ranked under the Shanghai rankings (ARWU). In the year 2025, this university ranks at #301 which is a constant from the last three years.
The subjects like Nursing, Political Science, Sociology, Physics and Law are ranked well under these rankings.
UCD dublinStudents Ratings & Reviews
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UCD dublin
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 hours ago
After you receive a conditional offer letter from UCD Ireland, this means that you have gotten a temporary spot and are under consideration for admission.
But that depends on you meeting the specific academic or language-related requirements.
After getting the final green signal from the university,
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 hours ago
Indian UG students who wish to apply for the University College Dublin admissions are generally required to apply directly via the UCD online application system and not the CAO portal.
The admission portal named CAO is mainly used by EU students. So the students can meet all the University College D
D
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
University College Dublin is a public research university located in Ireland. University College Dublin is home to 38,000+ students from all over the world. According to Shiksha Popularity Rankings, the University College Dublin ranks at #124 in World and #2 in Ireland.
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
Yes, Indian students are required to meet the University College Dublin admission requirements to be able to apply here. Look at the given requirements -
- A UG Degree with 60 to 70% scores
- English language proficiency with tests like IELTS
- Transcripts
- LORs
- Statement of purpose
- An updated CV
M
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 weeks ago
As per the official information, University College Dublin generally takes an average of 20 working days to send out an offer letter to the students.
Though the TCD process can still be extended to 6 to 8 weeks for some more popular programs.
Also, there are some courses available here which also ha
K
Contributor-Level 9
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UCD dublinLocation
| University City | Dublin, Other - Ireland, Ireland |
| Size of city | Medium |
| Population of City | 5,53,165 |
UCD dublinContact Information
Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Dublin ( Other - Ireland)
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