Institutions of Higher Learning and Fields of Study

Mitchell Scholars may study or conduct research at institutions of higher learning including the seven universities in Ireland and the two universities in Northern Ireland:

The following is provided to give students a general idea about the universities and the fields of study Mitchell Scholars may pursue. Applicants are responsible for obtaining additional information about the institutions and programs which interest them by contacting those institutions directly. Prior to applying, prospective applicants should study the academic system of the institutions in order to determine if their plan of study is feasible, and that they have the undergraduate background for the programs which they propose.

The Education System in Ireland

Ireland has a long and reputable tradition in education, dating back to the middle ages when it held the position of one of the principal education providers to the western world. Today education is held in very high regard in Ireland and this is reflected in the priority given to it by successive Governments and by the fact that it has one of the highest participation rates in the world. As well as Government and educators, parents take a keen interest in educational standard and considerable attention is paid to educational issues in the national media thereby ensuring its reputation for providing a very high quality system of education.

Overall responsibility for education in Ireland lies with the Minister for Education and Science who is a member of the Irish Government and responsible to the National Parliament.

While the Irish education system is provided by a combination of State and private institutions it is substantially State-funded and State-regulated. Primary and secondary education is largely free to Irish students and third level education is heavily subsidized.

The Academic Year

The university academic year runs from September to June, typically divided into three terms. (In recent years some institutions have introduced a two-semester system.)

Accommodations

Mitchell Scholars will be provided with living accommodation (meals are not included). Accommodation at the universities vary but, in general, accommodation will be in a shared apartment in a dedicated, on-campus development, or an individual room in a Hall of Residence.

Universities

There are seven universities in Ireland -- Dublin City University, Trinity College, and University of Limerick, and the four universities of the National University of Ireland (NUI). The NUI is organized on a federal basis but the constituent universities -- University College, Dublin; University College, Cork; National University of Ireland, Galway, and National University of Ireland, Maynooth -- enjoy a large measure of autonomy. The Royal College of Surgeons and St. Angela's College of Education for Home Economics are also recognized colleges of the NUI.

In addition to undertaking research in a wide range of disciplines, the universities offer degree programs at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level - in humanities fields, in scientific, technical, engineering and mathmatics disciplines, and in social and behavioral sciences. A range of undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas is offered.

Masters degrees are usually taken by course work, research work or some combination of both. Doctoral degrees are awarded on the basis of research. Universities award their own degrees using external examiners to ensure consistency of standards. There is also a national Higher Education Authority (HEA) which oversees the work of the universities on behalf of the Department of Education and Science.

Institutes of Technology & Other Institutions of Higher Learning

In addition to the universities, there are thirteen Institutes of Technology which form the other element of the Irish higher education system. Spread regionally, the Institutes offer a large number of sub-degree and undergraduate degree courses. With the exception of the Dublin Institute of Technology which awards its own degrees, the Institutes' awards are made by the National Council for Educational Awards. Further information concerning the accredited post-graduate courses conducted by the Institutes may be obtained by contacting the NCEA at Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1 or the DIT at Pembroke Street, Dublin 2. If a prospective Scholar is interested in attending an institution of higher learning not mentioned in these materials, they may make inquiries and seek direction from the Mitchell Scholars Program.

Areas of Particular Expertise

While each third level institution has detailed prospectuses available on specific courses and syllabi, Irish universities have developed areas of specialization, many of them of international renown.

Medicine:

In addition to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the Medical Schools at NUI Dublin, NUI Cork, NUI Galway and Trinity College are also well regarded.

Law:

The Irish legal system is part of the Common Law tradition and therefore relevant to the legal training needs of many countries. There are excellent law faculties in most of the universities.

Literature:

Many international students who visit Ireland, particularly from North America, are attracted by the renown of Irish writers such as Joyce, Beckett, Wilde and Yeats or contemporary writers such as the poet Seamus Heaney. In addition to providing widely accredited short-term programs in this area many Irish universities offer specialist Irish Studies, Anglo Irish Studies and Celtic Studies degrees.

Electronics and Computer Studies:

Ireland has increasingly developed very considerable specialization in computer studies and electronics as these industries have been extensively developed within Ireland through the attraction of leading multinational technology companies. Virtually all universities now offer degrees and diplomas in a variety of electronic engineering and computer studies areas. In addition, research capacity in new technologies is excellent.

Agriculture and Food:

Ireland still has a large agricultural sector. Food production, food processing and new technologies associated with the sector are strongly represented in Irish third level institutions.

Business and Accountancy:

In recent years there has been considerable expansion of the business, financial accountancy and marketing departments in most Irish universities, both at undergraduate and post-graduate level and a wide range of programs are now on offer throughout the system.

The Education System in Northern Ireland

A number of universities in the United Kingdom are among the oldest in the world. The UK also has one of the world's strongest systems for assuring quality in education as universities are subject to scrutiny by the Quality Assurance Agency, a national organization charged with auditing academic standards. The higher education system is in a process of growth and expansion with greater participation by both young school-leavers and those returning to education in later life. This period of growth is reflected in all parts of the UK. Northern Ireland's academic and other educational standards are acknowledged to be among the best in the UK, and for this reason overseas students are attracted to study there.

The Academic Year

The two-semester academic year in Northern Ireland runs from September to June.

Universities

The older of Northern Ireland's two universities, Queen's University of Belfast, was founded as a university college in 1845 and became a fully independent university of 1908. The University of Ulster was formed in 1984 by the merger of two earlier institutions -- New University of Ulster (founded in 1965) at Coleraine, which also incorporated the 19th century foundation of Magee University College of Londonderry, and Ulster College, a large technologically-oriented polytechnic at Jordanstown with a smaller campus specializing in Art and Design in Belfast.

At Master's level, universities award two basic types of degree: the taught master's and the research master's. The program for the taught master typically takes one year to complete and consists of coursework and a dissertation. The program for the research master may take up to two years to complete and is research-based. The PhD differs from its American counterpart in having a smaller coursework component and putting an emphasis on independent, self-directed research. It also offers students a flexible program allowing them to pursue their own interests and produce original research of a high standard. Typically, a PhD program can be completed in three to four years. Sometimes a student is registered for a Master's degree first with the study counting towards the PhD.

The right to award degrees in the United Kingdom is conferred by Royal Charter or Act of Parliament. Apart from its two universities, the only other degree awarding institution in Northern Ireland is the Presbyterian Theological Faculty.

Areas of Expertise

Until 1965, the Queen's University of Belfast was the only university in Northern Ireland. As a result, it developed an unusually wide range of faculties (including professional schools in medicine, law, engineering, and teaching). It has traditionally been involved in substantial interaction with industry and commerce, which continues today, and this has been enhanced by the establishment of the Northern Ireland Technology Centre, and QUBIS Ltd, the University's technology transfer company. The University also has a close relationship with the relevant departments of Government in such fields as agriculture, education, health and economic development.

The University of Ulster's main emphasis is in scientific, technical, and applied and vocational disciplines. However, it also provides courses in other subjects of particular relevance to present times, conflict studies for example. As in the case of Queen's, the University of Ulster works closely with commerce, industry, and the professions in both its teaching programs and its research.