Carlow College

Dublin, Ireland

Carlow College, St. Patrick’s is a publicly funded, liberal arts and humanities-focused higher education institution with a unique and historic mission. Founded in 1782, it is Ireland's oldest Catholic university college and the second-oldest third-level institution in the country.
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Tuition Fees, Cost of Living & Accommodation at Carlow College

Cost Of Living

$ 8000

Bachelors

  • $ 5,500 per year
  • $ 5,500 per year
  • $ 5,500 per year
  • $ 5,500 per year

Masters

  • $ €7,500 (total)
  • $ €7,500 (total)

Carlow College Departments

  • Department of Humanities (History, English, Philosophy)
  • Department of Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, Social Care)
  • Department of Business & Liberal Arts
  • Department of Irish Cultural Heritage

Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of Carlow College

The mission of Carlow College, St. Patrick’s is to provide a transformative liberal arts education that promotes intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a commitment to social justice. Grounded in its Catholic ethos and inclusive of all traditions, the College aims to empower students to lead purposeful lives as engaged, ethical, and globally aware citizens. It is committed to academic excellence, innovative teaching and research, and serving the common good through community engagement and leadership.

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Distinguished Alumni of Carlow College

Infrastructure & Facilities at Carlow College

The College's infrastructure thoughtfully integrates its historic fabric with modern academic needs. The campus features beautifully restored Georgian buildings housing administration, teaching spaces, and the library, connected to newer extensions that provide accessible, bright, and technology-enabled learning environments. Investment in sustainable infrastructure is ongoing, including energy-efficient upgrades. The entire campus is designed to be a walkable, community-focused environment with landscaped gardens, secure bicycle storage, and full disability access to all key buildings, fostering a safe and cohesive atmosphere for study and interaction.

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Carlow College Student Life

Student life at Carlow College is vibrant and engaging, characterized by a strong sense of community. The Students’ Union (SU) is the heart of social activity, organizing a rich calendar of events including formal balls, cultural nights, and regular socials in the on-campus student common room and bar. Students can participate in various clubs and societies, from drama and music to debating and volunteering. The College's central location in Carlow town means students are steps away from cinemas, cafes, sports clubs, and the visual arts centre, ensuring a balanced and fulfilling college experience beyond the lecture hall.

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Carlow College Career support

The Careers and Employability Service at Carlow College offers tailored, one-to-one support from first year through to graduation and beyond. The service provides professional guidance on career planning, CV and cover letter writing, interview technique, and LinkedIn profile optimization. It facilitates direct links to employers through its internship and placement programmes, which are integrated into several degree courses. Regular workshops on graduate recruitment processes, postgraduate study options, and entrepreneurship are held. The service also maintains an extensive online jobs board and actively promotes opportunities that match the unique skills of its liberal arts graduates.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Admission Requirements at Carlow College

Minimum of 2 H5 and 4 O6/H7 grades in the Irish Leaving Certificate, including O6/H7 in English. Equivalent qualifications accepted. Mature applicants (over 23) are assessed based on experience and interview.

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Campus
Recruitment By top Companies

Carlow College’s dedicated Careers and Employability Service actively facilitates campus recruitment by building strong relationships with regional and national employers. The service organizes annual career fairs, on-campus recruitment talks, and sector-specific employer presentations throughout the academic year. Employers are invited to directly engage with students through these events, final-year project showcases, and by advertising graduate roles, internships, and placement opportunities exclusively through the College's online career portal and student communications.

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  • Accenture

Carlow College Corporate Partnership

  • EY : Recruits for its wide-ranging graduate programmes, particularly in consulting and people advisory services, valuing the problem-solving and ethical reasoning skills honed in Carlow's liberal arts degrees.
  • Barnardos : Hires graduates from social science degrees as project workers and family support staff through direct application drives managed in conjunction with the College's careers team.
  • Irish Rural Link : Provides funded research assistantships and policy internship opportunities, allowing students to contribute to national advocacy work and often leading to employment in the NGO sector.
  • Softcat Plc. : Partners with the College to recruit for its graduate sales academy, actively seeking students with strong interpersonal and analytical abilities, regardless of technical background.
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Notable Achievements of Carlow College

Carlow College has achieved significant recognition for its unique educational contribution, including being awarded the prestigious independent status as a Designated Institution of Higher Education by the Irish Government in 2019. It is consistently recognized for its high levels of student satisfaction and exceptional student-staff ratios in national surveys. The College’s research centers, particularly the Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage, have gained national acclaim for projects preserving and digitizing Ireland's cultural archives, securing substantial competitive funding.

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Achievements

01.
Securing Erasmus Charter for Higher Education

Successfully obtained the full ECHE, significantly expanding opportunities for students and staff to participate in European exchange and cooperation programmes.

Year
2022
02.
'First in Family' Initiative Recognition

Nationally recognized for its pioneering and highly effective programme supporting students who are the first in their families to attend higher education, improving retention and success.

Year
2022
03.
Establishment of the Institute of Irish Cultural Heritage

Launched this dedicated research institute, quickly establishing it as a national leader in applying digital technologies to preserve and promote Ireland's cultural heritage.

Year
2021

Notable Innovation, Research & Development Carlow College

Carlow College drives innovation primarily through its research centers: the Institute of Irish Cultural Heritage and the Social Policy Research Centre. Research is focused on applied humanities and social sciences, such as using digital tools to map and preserve intangible cultural heritage, and conducting impactful policy analysis on issues like social inclusion and rural development. The College encourages interdisciplinary research that connects history, sociology, digital humanities, and psychology to address contemporary societal challenges, often in collaboration with community partners.

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Notable Innovation

01.
The 'Virtual Museum' of Local History

An immersive online platform developed in partnership with local museums, using 3D scanning and VR to showcase artifacts and historical sites inaccessible to the public.

Year
2022
02.
Applied Social Policy Simulation Model

A data-driven modeling framework developed to help local governments and NGOs visualize the potential impact of specific social welfare policies before implementation.

Year
2021
03.
Community Oral History Toolkit

A structured methodology and set of resources created by the College to empower local communities to professionally record, archive, and interpret their own social histories.

Year
2020

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