Ireland’s oldest student debating competition returns
The Irish Times Debate has run continuously since 1960
Third Level
News and advice covering the third level education system.
‘My son has a first-class honours degree, but he has no job offers’
Graduate demand seems to have been affected by AI - what advice would you give highly educated people with no interest from employers?
Increasing number of girls lack confidence in Stem abilities, survey finds
Six in 10 identify lack of confidence in their Stem subject ability as barrier to pursuing career in the sector, survey finds
Leaving Cert students: What you need to focus on at college open days
Curriculum content, college facilities, accommodation and public transport are key issues when sizing up third-level options
AI start-up aims to cut assessment and feedback workload for educators
Irish education technology venture Diotima is preparing to bring its AI-powered assessment platform to market
Open days: Parents need to know the difference between encouraging a child and deciding for them
Guardians can research the multiple choices available and act as a sounding board, but an independent decision is key to success
Decoding the CAO and your college options: An open days explainer
A guide to what you will hear on campus, how entry works and your options if the CAO does not go to plan
Your Open Day checklist: What to ask before choosing a college
Here are some questions that may help you get the most out of an open day
Open days: Key details for NCI, NCAD, technological universities and other institutions
Everything you need to know in advance of undergraduate open days around the State
Open days: What questions should students ask?
Going to open days can help you decide where you want to spend the next few years
When are open days taking place in Irish universities?
The key dates and what to expect at Ireland’s university open days
Funding of universities set to be overhauled, says Minister
Operating environment for third-level institutions has ‘changed considerably’
Irish universities teetering on ‘cliff-edge’ due to chronic underfunding, committee hears
State funding of higher education per student stands at 34% less than in 2008
Approach to Leaving Cert mathematics does not add up
Syllabuses fail to provide knowledge required for understanding modern technology
Core funding for third-level is stalling despite Simon Harris’s promises
In his previous role as minister for higher education he committed to tackling €307m shortfall
Gaza student with UCD scholarship hopes for reprieve ‘before chance is gone’
Ahmed Abuhassan (22) was refused a visa for ‘financial reasons’ despite full scholarship
Mental health of students must be prioritised across campus under new framework
Students see wellbeing as foundation rather than add-on to college success
The Irish Times view on third-level funding: the shortfall remains
In 2022, Simon Harris accepted that there was an annual gap of €307m
Walls, windows and ceilings of Limerick house destroyed during ‘student party’
Gardaí investigate damage caused to property in the city in the early hours of Wednesday
Budget 2027 main points: everything you need to know
Here is our list of the key measures expected to be announced in Budget 2027 at lunchtime
As the class of 2026 begins college, a masked shadow lingers
We should not forget that the chaos caused by Covid can still be impacting on young adults as they begin the next chapter
Why reducing the €2,500 student registration charge would be a double-edged sword
Do we really want our universities to be much cheaper than others in the EU?
SVP to support more than 2,000 students with €3m third-level scheme
Grants will be worth between €500 and €3,000 depending on individual circumstances
Irish colleges should focus on teaching abroad, not attracting foreign students – Minister
State already has insufficient accommodation for those in higher education, James Lawless says
Is it too late to apply for a college grant?
Susi administers two types of grants: maintenance grants and fee grants
University of Galway deficit threatens teaching jobs
Recent year-end funding gap measures for third level institutions have fallen out of favour
Ministers seek more help with third-level fees and return of energy credits in budget
Extension of rent-a-room relief and cost-of-disability payment mooted, cut in tax on home heating oil ‘certain’
Students are screen hostages. They’re losing the ability to switch off and knuckle down
By our own high standards, educational results in Ireland are slipping. But not all the problems are technology-related
‘There isn’t another job that will give you €42,000 a year with no degree or specific skills’
Defence Forces ups efforts at recruitment as students consider careers at Higher Options
Girls in Stem: One of the biggest barriers is perception
Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin overcame her belief that she had no ‘natural ability in mathematics’ to forge a successful career
How can my daughter make the most out of her visit to Higher Options 2026?
She is developing her perspective on future careers and RDS exhibition is a good place to start
What decisions about third level do you have to make?
Higher Options at the RDS allows students to speak to representatives from a wide range of third-level institutions
‘Technical skills are important but so is your ability to communicate and engage with others’
Nisha Devanathan was nominated for Graduate of the Year in 2025
‘There’s a really strong learning culture and supportive work environment’
Patrick Marron has been on the Vodafone graduate programme for a year and hopes to stay with the company
‘Be curious, ask questions’: Industry professionals advise graduates on how to approach a new career
‘If you’re going to fail, fail fast and learn from it’
Understanding office politics: Personality clashes, power dynamics and unwritten workplace rules
‘It’s important to spend time observing what’s happening around you’
Planning the first steps in your career and top tips for job hunting
The first year after graduation isn’t necessarily about finding your ideal job but getting a position that offers real experience
Graduate programme: ‘You take on real responsibility and ownership of projects’
Faye Murray studied marketing at Maynooth University before applying for Lidl’s graduate programme
Seven things every graduate should know before they begin their first job
From being proactive to surviving probation, here is what new graduates need to bear in mind about full-time working
Why did you choose Ireland? Graduates from around the world give their views
Three people from around the globe who graduated (mostly elsewhere) but decided to begin their careers in Ireland
Changing course after a degree: ‘Life is too short to prioritise money over meaning’
Four people who ended up working in a completely different area from their studies tell us what made them switch
‘I knew of people in other companies who weren’t offered roles at the end of their grad programmes’
Jordan Murphy applied for the ESB graduate programme after completing his degree in electrical and electronic engineering
Graduate programme: ‘It’s very eye-opening, not what I expected at all, in a good way’
Reshma Thomas, a biotechnology graduate, is based at Pfizer’s Newbridge site
How to make your degree work for you
Not every graduate wants to work in their field of study but career experts say that is no bad thing
‘I had an idea what I wanted to study but it sparked other interests, for sure’
Delia-Sara Fandache is a fourth year business and Spanish student at DCU and ICADE Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid
Studying in the UK: ‘It forces you to step outside your comfort zone’
From navigating the application process to adapting to new learning environments, students from the Republic share their experience of studying in Britain and Northern Ireland
First job interview: Expert tips on everything from your outfit to ‘the dreaded question’
Guidance counsellor and career coach Edel Smyth shares her advice for graduates preparing to land their first job after college
WorldSkills Ireland 2026 guide: Planning your visit and what to expect
The event at the RDS offers industry talks, hands-on experiences, demonstrations and chances to speak to employers and education providers
‘I knew from day one I wanted to work in the music industry’
‘I knew from day one I wanted to work in the music industry,’ says Kathryn Mason
Irish interest in education is boarding on obsession
Classroom to College: Higher Options supplement is an essential guide for Leaving Cert students
How should a new recruit navigate a hybrid working system?
Flexibility, boundaries and finding out how things are done are key to finding your feet in a new workplace
How to make the most of your time at Higher Options 2026
Key to this event highlighting choices in further education, training and careers is to prepare beforehand while leaving room to discover something unexpected
A place to map out your future: Higher Options conference offers an ideal opportunity for students
Higher Options and WorldSkills Ireland event has a wide range of representatives to help you decide what to pursue after the Leaving Cert
Ten organisations in Ireland offering paid graduate programmes
PwC, Pfizer and the Central Bank are some of the companies and statutory bodies with paid graduate programmes
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices