The National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM; Irish: Ollscoil na hÉireann Mhá Nuad), commonly known as Maynooth University (MU), is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. It was Ireland’s youngest university until Technological University Dublin was established in 2019, as it was founded by the Universities Act, 1997 from the secular faculties of the now separate St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, which was founded in 1795. Maynooth is also the only university town in Ireland, all other universities being based within cities.St Patrick’s Chapel Maynooth
The university consists of two connected campuses: an older southern campus, with 19th-century buildings, shared with St Patrick’s College, and, across a public road, a modern northern campus, occupying circa 100 acres (0.40 km2).[3][4]
With over 13,000 students enrolled, and over 900 staff from over 20 different countries,[5] it is Ireland’s smallest, yet fastest growing, university.[6][7] In 2009, Maynooth University was listed as a Top500 university in the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings.[8][9] The 2012 QS World University Rankings put MU in the 501–550 bracket worldwide, but most recently, Maynooth University was ranked in the 701–750 bracket in the 2019 QS World University Rankings.[10] In 2008 it was named Sunday Times ‘University of the Year’. In 2011, Maynooth University became the first and only institution outside of North America to be included in The Princeton Review of Best Colleges.[11][12] It also has the highest proportion of university participation in Ireland of mature students (16%) and access students (22%).
Faculties, schools, departments and centres
| Faculties | Schools | Departments |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences | ||
| Adult and Community Education | ||
| Anthropology | ||
| Applied Social Studies | ||
| Economics, Finance and Accounting | ||
| Education | ||
| Geography | ||
| Sociology | ||
| Business and Law | Management | |
| Design and Innovation | ||
| Law | ||
| Innovation Value Institute (Research Institute) | ||
| Science and Engineering | ||
| Biology | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| Computer Science | ||
| Electronic Engineering | ||
| Experimental Physics | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Mathematical Physics | ||
| Psychology | ||
| Arts, Celtic Studies and Philosophy | ||
| Music | ||
| An Foras Feasa (Research Institute) | ||
| Ancient Classics | ||
| Celtic Studies | ||
| Nua-Ghaeilge (Modern Irish) | ||
| Sean- agus Meán-Ghaeilge (Old- and Middle- Irish) | ||
| Celtic Studies | ||
| English, Media and Theatre Studies | ||
| English | ||
| Centre for Media Studies | ||
| Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures | ||
| French | ||
| German | ||
| Spanish |
Froebel College of Education
Since 2013, Froebel College of Education is situated at MU. Maynooth University has established a “Froebel Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education” and awarded Froebel College’s four-year Bachelor of Education degrees, Higher Diploma in Primary Education, Master’s degree in Special and Inclusive Education and Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Special Education. The state-of-the-art Education Building opened in late September 2016.
As a continuity of Froebel Colleges’ heritage Religious Education and Theology modules are delivered by the Department and the Faculty of Theology of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth (SPCM), running alongside the Degree and Masters programmes, leading to a Certificate awarded by SPCM and qualifying to teach in Catholic Schools.
Admissions
Admission to undergraduate study for European Union school-leavers is generally handled by the CAO (Central Applications Office), and not by MU. Applicants have to compete for university places solely on the basis of the results of their school-leaving exams. Places are awarded in mid-August every year by the CAO after matching the number of places available to the academic attainments of the applicants. Qualifications are measured as “points”, with specific scales for the Irish Leaving Certificate, and all other European Union school-leaving results, such as the UK GCE A-level, the International Baccalaureate along with other national school-leaving exams.