About Us
Maynooth University is an internationally recognised institution located 25 kilometres outside of Dublin, Ireland.
One of four constituent universities of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth University in 2023 ranked # 1 in Ireland (85th in the world) in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Best Young University Rankings.
On 16 June 2022, Maynooth University celebrated its 25th birthday, having been formally established as an autonomous university in 1997. Yet, it traces its origins to the foundation of the Royal College of St. Patrick in 1795, drawing inspiration from a heritage that includes over 200 years of education and scholarship.
Today, Maynooth University is a place of lively contrasts–a modern institution, dynamic, rapidly-growing, research-led and engaged, yet grounded in historic academic strengths and scholarly traditions.
With over 16,000 students from more than 100 countries, Maynooth offers a range of programmes at undergraduate, Master’s and PhD level in the humanities, science and engineering, and social sciences, including business, law, and education. The University also offers a range of international programmes and partnerships.
Maynooth’s unique collegial culture fosters an interdisciplinary approach to research, which its world-class academics bring to bear in tackling some of the most fundamental challenges facing society today. The University’s research institutes and centres consolidate and deliver this impact as vibrant communities of learning, discovery and creation. Research at Maynooth also is very much central to its teaching, and the University prides itself on placing equal value on its research and teaching missions.
Maynooth University Strategic Plan 2023-2028
Campus
The campus spans extensive grounds with the older complex of fine nineteenth century buildings on the South Campus and a modern complex of teaching, research, accommodation and support facilities on the North Campus. Approximately 1,200 students live on campus. The main campus accommodation is situated just a short walk to all lecture, sports and recreational facilities on the North Campus.
Globally-Connected University
Most students have an opportunity to study abroad, either for a semester or a full academic year, graduating with an international degree. 1,300+ staff from over 40 countries.
An Ghaeilge san Ollscoil
Tá pobal gaeilge beomhar agus bríomhar anseo in ollscoil mhá nuad.
Young University Rankings
Maynooth University is named as one of the top three young universities in ireland, placing at 86th globally in 2024
times higher education (the) rankings.
CAO most popular first preference course
The Maynooth Bachelor of Arts Degree MH101 has been among the most popular top preference level 8 CAO degrees for a number of years, receiving most 1st preference applications.
CAO
4,880+ cao first preference applications in 2024 (+6% on 2023 applications)
Unique Flexible Curriculum
Many of our students enjoy flexibility and choice in their degree programme pathway.
Some of the companies hiring our graduates:
Accenture / AIB / Amazon / Apple / Aviva Ireland / Bank of America / Bank of Ireland / Central Bank of Ireland / Deloitte / Department of Education / EY / Google / Grant Thornton / HSE / IBM / Intel / Intercom / Irish distillers / Kerry Group / KPMG / Linkedin / Matheson llp / Meta / Microsoft / Paddy Power / Pfizer / PWC / RTE / Salesforce / TikTok / Workhuman
Why Us?
Maynooth University is located in the heart of Ireland’s oldest university town. At just 25 kilometres from the city of Dublin, Maynooth was voted Ireland's Tidiest Town in 2023. Surrounded by the rich heritage and beauty of Kildare, our students enjoy the conveniences of a busy town, a growing university campus, and close proximity to Dublin.
Student numbers have soared from 4,000 in 1997 to more than 16,000 in 2024
13,700+ Undergraduate Students
2,300+ Postgraduate Students
23% Students with International / Non - EU Citizenship
1% of new entrants to our undergraduate degrees are students with a disability
3% of new entrants are mature students
12% of students are from a disadvantaged background
(these profiles can intersect)
Many of our students have the opportunity to study abroad for a full academic year or a semester. With over a third of academic staff coming from abroad and many of our own academics and graduates working internationally, we have built up a wealth of global connections.
The Maynooth Access Programme (MAP) actively promotes access to higher education and provides a number of initiatives to remove barriers and to create realistic expectations for educational progression among schools, parents, adult learners and communities who are historically furthest away from higher education.
Over 100,000 accross the globe -
93% of Maynooth University graduates are in employment or further studies/training. From computer programmers to teachers, scientists to journalists, graduates from Maynooth University pursue a wide variety of careers. (2022 Graduate Outcomes Survey)
Videos
Scholarships 7
Key Facts
Facilities
SPORTS FACILITIES INCLUDE
> Sports halls
> Fitness centre
> Fully equipped gym
> Weights room
> Changing rooms
> Floodlit natural turf playing fields
> Floodlit all-weather playing pitch
The sports halls host activities including basketball, fencing, karate and archery. Weekly aerobics and circuit training sessions also take place in the sports halls. The outdoor playing fields cater for Gaelic football, hurling, soccer, camogie and rugby. The nearby River Liffey plays host to the canoe and kayak club. Walking, golf or horse riding are options at the nearby Carton Estate.
The University has acquired 60 acres of adjacent land for the development of additional sport and recreational facilities. Plans are currently underway to significantly enhance student sporting facilities further on this adjacent space. www.maynoothuniversity.ie/campus-life/sports
Library
The Library is an eco-friendly building with a seeded roof and a range of technologies that minimise its impact on the environment. With access to over 850,000 ebooks, 95,000 ejournals, 300 databases and over 460,000 print publications, we can help you to make the most of your time in Maynooth. We also have a range of study areas, laptop lending, lots of PCs for student use and group study and seminar rooms fully equipped with AV facilities
Crèche
Our modern and friendly purpose built crèche is located on the North Campus directly across from the student apartments.
The crèche is available to staff and students of the university, we cater for children aged from 1 year up to school going age.
TECHNOLOGY, SOCIETY AND INNOVATION (TSI BUILDING)
Our new academic building, which opened in summer 2022, forms part of a wider plan to modernise and expand the Arts and Science buildings on the Maynooth University campus and accommodate the rapidly growing student population at Maynooth University. The building is designed to deliver core teaching and learning infrastructure to accommodate curricular flexibility and innovation, and to support the research base to face fundamental societal challenges.
Irish Language Room
ARTS Building - A social space for Irish language speakers.
Clubs & Societies
Maynooth University (MU) Clubs and Societies are the lifeblood of campus activity and provide you with a great opportunity to throw yourself into University life. With over 100 Clubs & Societies we are confident, no matter what your tastes, that you will find at least one that is perfect for you!
> Access
>Africa
>Aikido
>American Football
>Anime & Sci Fi
>Anthropology
>Archery
>Arts Crafts and Design
>Astro 2
>Athletics
>Badminton
>Basketball
>Boxing
>Business
>Camogie
>Cancer
>Cards
>Chinese
>Christian Union
>Classics
>Comedy
>Computer Science
>Creative Collaboration
>Creative Writing
>Criminology
>Cuallacht na Gaeilge
>Dance
>Deutsch
>Disney
>DJ
>Drama
>Education
>Electronic Engineering
>ELSA
>Enactus
>Entrepreneurial
>Environmental
>Equestrian
>Feminist
>Fencing
>Filipino
>Film
>FLAC
>French
>Froebel
>GAA Handball
>Galway Cycle
>Games
>Geography
>Golf
>Hockey
>Hogwarts
>Hurling
>IESN
>Indian
>Islamic
>Japanese Culture
>JP II
>Judo
>Kickboxing
>Labour
>Ladies GAA Football
>Ladies Soccer
>Languages
>Law
>Legal Tech
>Literary & Debating
>Mars FM
>Mature
>Men's GAA Football
>Men's Soccer
>Mental Health
>MUCK
>Music
>Musical
>MU Times
>Ogra Fianna Fail
>Pokémon
>Politics & Sociology
>Powerlifting
>Pride
>Psychology
>Racquetball
>Red Cross
>Rockclimbing
>Rovers
>Rugby
>Shotokan Karate
>Sinn Féin
>Snooker
>Snowsports
>Social Democrats
>Spanish
>St Catherine's
>Surf
>SVP
>Table Tennis
>Tea
>The Purpose Movement
>Trampoline
>Ultimate Frisbee
>Visual Media
>Volleyball
>Women in STEM
>Yoga
>Young Fine Gael
MSU
At MSU, we care about every aspect of your college experience. We run informative campaigns on education, welfare, and student life issues, and our elected student leaders provide a peer support, listening, and referral service that offers free, confidential, and impartial guidance. If you have any questions or concerns, we're here to help. Our friendly staff team are always on hand to provide a warm welcome and help guide you in the right direction.
MSU is a democratic organisation run by student Executive Officers, elected by the student body during annual elections. Our aim is to represent your interests and provide you with a fantastic range of events, activities, informative campaigns, and student-run services. MSU is run by students for students and takes pride in its role in enhancing the student experience at Maynooth.
Information Technology
The Library is an eco-friendly building with a seeded roof and a range of technologies that minimise its impact on the environment.
With access to over 850,000 ebooks, 95,000 ejournals, 300 databases and over 460,000 print publications, we can help you to make the most of your time in Maynooth. We also have a range of study areas, laptop lending, lots of PCs for student use and group study and seminar rooms fully equipped with AV facilities.
Taking time out from study is easy too with lots of spaces in which to relax including our Starbucks Café, an Exhibition space and a landscaped atrium. The Library also has three energy pods for you to relax and recharge. For more ways to unwind, we also have a Short Story Dispenser so drop in and grab a story to read with your coffee!
Moodle
Moodle is the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) used at Maynooth University. It is an online environment where students and staff interact with each other, and with learning resources for programmes and modules delivered at Maynooth. Moodle is made up of individual spaces that represent the modules being taught. There are also additional Moodle spaces for learning support and other projects and activities of the university.
Office 365
Students have access to Microsoft Office 365. Office 365 includes email, calendar, OneDrive and Office software. This will be available from your initial registration with the University until a year after graduation.
Sports & Fitness
> Sports halls
> Fitness centre
> Fully equipped gym
> Weights room
> Changing rooms
> Outdoor fitness area featuring 60m sprint track and calisthenics equipment
> Floodlit natural turf playing fields
> Floodlit all-weather playing pitch
Accommodation
Approximately 1,200 students live on campus. The main campus accommodation is situated just a short walk to all lecture, sports and recreational facilities on the North Campus.
Currently 50% of all campus accommodation is reserved for new first year students. The average annual cost for a room in Student Residences on campus runs from between €5500 to €7200 depending on choice of room and facilities.
Full details of how to book a room is updated each year on the Student Residences Office webpages. A booking fee is payable to confirm a booking.
Entrance Scholars (over 575 points) have a guaranteed option of residing on campus (normal charges apply).
Irish Language Accomodation
We reserve rooms on campus in the Scéim Chónaithe where students have the opportunity to use the Irish Language as their day-to-day language and can get involved in Irish cultural events and activities.
Dining
> Nourish – Arts Building
> Phoenix Food Court – Phoenix Building
> Griolladh – John Hume Building
> Starbucks – The Library
> 53.3 Degrees – TSI Building
> Students' Union Bar – North Campus
> Pugin Hall – St. Patrick's House on the South Campus
Fees and Grants
Most colleges charge an annual student contribution, formerly called the student services charge. It is also known as a registration fee and it covers student services and examinations. The amount of the contribution varies from one institution to another.
Outside of tuition fees, all students must make a payment for registration, examinations and student services. This is subject to change depending on Government regulations. Check the website for updates:
Student Supports
As well as being part of our large University, you’re also part of a smaller campus community. There are various services, from academic to personal, that you may want or need to avail of during your time at Maynooth.
PERSONAL AND WELL-BEING SUPPORTS INCLUDE
>Chaplaincy Service
>Counselling Service
>Crèche Service
>Health Centre
>Speak Out
>Student Budgeting Advice Service
>Student Health Centre
>Student Helpdesk
>Student Support Officer
ACADEMIC SUPPORTS INCLUDE
> Academic and Programme Advisory Service
> Academic Writing Support Service
> An Droichead - Ionad Tacaíochta na Gaeilge/Irish Language Support Centre
> Careers and Employability Service
> Computer Science Support Centre
> IT Support
> Laptop Loans
> LIST (Library Information Skills Tutorials)
> Mathematics Support Centre (MSC)
> MILO Maynooth Inclusive Learning Online
> Moodle Support
> Student Success and Engagement Team
Careers Service
The Careers Service at Maynooth University provides careers education, information, advice and guidance to students from first year onwards. We encourage students to get to know us in first year - we can help with discussions around subject choice and potential career implications, as well as gathering information on how to be prepared to take the next step in your career journey.
Degree courses with Placement option
Maynooth University’s Placement Office supports our students in their search for a placement job – however, the process is competitive.
