Key to Cork City's success has been the contribution of our two prestigious universities University College Cork and Munster Technological University. UCC is ranked 286 in the prestigious QS World University Ranking 2021, has a student population of 22,500 and is one of Ireland’s leading research institutes, with among the highest research income in the state. In 2016, UCC had 15,000 undergraduates, 4,400 postgraduates and 2,800 adults in continuing education across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and short courses.
Munster Technological University is a multi-campus technological university, contributing to the region through the provision of academic programmes that support student development and opportunities, education and research. MTU has an extensive and impressive regional footprint with six campuses across the South-West region in Cork and Kerry, and a student body of 18,000.
Both universities play a key role in the development of Cork's knowledge-based economy through their contributions to research and assisting Irish owned and multinational businesses through research excellence and collaboration with industry partners to develop impactful business, innovation and economic policy strategies. Not only do both universities offer top-quality research opportunities and assistance to businesses but each year roughly 36,000 students graduate from UCC and MTU across a variety of disciplines giving businesses access to a huge pool of educated talent.
