University College Dublin and Study Group renew partnership to deliver quality international education in Ireland

• University College Dublin and Study Group renew their 15-year partnership to provide degree-preparation study for international students at the Dublin International Study Centre (DISC).
• The renewal comes as Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) validates Study Group’s International Foundation Year (IFY) programme delivered at DISC.
• University College Dublin is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world in the latest QS Ranking.

Ireland’s largest higher education institution University College Dublin and leading global education specialist Study Group have renewed their partnership to extend until 2030.

Ranked second in Ireland and among the top 100 most prestigious universities in the world, University College Dublin prides itself as having a vibrant and diverse student community from over 150 different countries. Study Group has been preparing international students to join this community via the Dublin International Study Centre (DISC) since the partnership began in 2011.

Programmes delivered at the Dublin International Study Centre include an International Foundation Year (IFY) programme and English Language and Academic Skills tuition which prepare students for university degree study. The International Foundation Year programme has recently been validated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) at level 5 on the national framework of qualifications (NFQ) awarding students a Level 5 Specific Purpose Award comparable with an Irish school leavers’ certificate.

International students studying at Dublin International Study Centre and continuing their studies at University College Dublin will go on to experience student life in one of the best universities in the world, boasting a place in the Top 100 of the latest QS Rankings and Top 50 in the QS Sustainability Rankings. Based in one of Europe’s most visited capital cities, and home to head offices and branches of some of the largest technology companies, the university has modernity and employability at its heart.

Following QQI’s validation of its International Foundation Year programme, Study Group is proud of this renewed partnership with one of Ireland’s most prestigious higher education institutions and provides a platform for the company’s ambitions for further growth in the Irish education sector.

Professor Dolores O'Riordan, Vice-President for Global Engagement at University College Dublin said: “Our collaboration with Study Group has enabled hundreds of international students to come and study on the Irish shores, discover our rich student community and contribute to making our campus the welcoming environment it is today. We look forward to continuing this partnership based on the principles of quality education and exchange in the years to come.”

Professor Melinda Tan, Chief Academic Officer for UK and Ireland at Study Group commented; “Renewing our partnership with University College Dublin is both a moment of pride for me as it is of renewed focus. Ireland has a wealth and breadth of opportunity to offer international students looking to study and work in Europe and I look forward to working with University College Dublin as we enter the sixteenth year of our collaboration and provide more opportunities for international students to succeed here.”

Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcón, Provost and Chief Innovation Officer at Study Group said: “The quality of the education provided in Ireland and especially at University College Dublin is simply impressive and I could not be more delighted to renew this partnership and contribute to maintaining quality international education provision into the future.”