View source for University of Galway

{{Short description|Public university in Galway, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox university
|name                 = University of Galway
|native_name          = {{lang|ga|Ollscoil na Gaillimhe}}
|native_name_lang     = ga
|image                = University of Galway logo 2022.png
|image_size           = 225px
|caption              = 
|former_names         = {{ubl|Queen's College, Galway|University College, Galway|National University of Ireland, Galway}}
|motto                = {{lang|la|Deo Favente}}
|motto_lang           = la
|mottoeng             = With the favour of God
|type                 = [[Public university|Public]]
|established          = {{start date and age|1845|12|30|df=yes}}
|founder              = 
|affiliations         = {{ubl|[[Atlantic University Alliance|AUA]]|[[Coimbra Group]]|[[European University Association|EUA]]|[[National University of Ireland|NUI]]|[[Irish Universities Association|IUA]]|[[Universities Ireland|UI]]|ENLIGHT}}
|budget               = €360 million (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2023 |title=Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements: Year ended 30 Septembre 2022 |url=https://www.universityofgalway.ie/media/financialaccounting/financialaccountingoffice/University-of-Galway-Consolidated-Financial-Statements-2022-(SIGNED-WITH-C&AG-AUDIT-REPORT).pdf |access-date=27 June 2023 |publisher=University of Galway}}</ref>
|president            = David J. Burn<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2025/0909/1532660-university-of-galway-irish/|title=President of the University of Galway learning Irish following criticism|publisher=[[RTÉ News]]|first=Pat|last=McGrath|date=9 September 2025|accessdate=10 September 2025}}</ref>
|head_label           = Chair of Údarás na hOllscoile
|head                 = [[Máire Geoghegan-Quinn]]
|academic_staff       = 1,587
|total_staff          = 2,650 
|students             = 19,335 (2023/24)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Higher Education Authority |title=Key Facts and Figures |url=https://hea.ie/statistics/data-for-download-and-visualisations/key-facts-figures/ |access-date=13 July 2025}}</ref>
|undergrad            = 14,405 (2023/24)
|postgrad             = 4,930 (2023/24)
|address              = University Road
|city                 = [[Galway]]
|country              = Ireland
|postalcode           = H91 TK33
|coor                 = {{coord|53.279|-9.060|region:IE_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
|campus_type          = Urban
|campus_size          = {{Convert|105|hectare}}
|language             = [[English language|English]]<br />[[Irish language|Irish]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mhonacháin |first=Sorcha Ní |date=2025-08-13 |title=Call for meeting on Irish language at Galway university |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2025/0813/1528334-ollscoil-na-gaillimhe/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |work=[[RTÉ News]] |language=en}}</ref>
|colours              = {{Scarf
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|website              = {{URL|https://universityofgalway.ie}}<br />{{URL|https://ollscoilnagaillimhe.ie}}
|logo                 = Crest of NUI, Galway.png
|logo_size            = 160px
}}
The '''University of Galway''' ({{langx|ga|Ollscoil na Gaillimhe}}) is a [[public university|public]] [[research university]] located in the city of [[Galway]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].

The university was founded in 1845 as '''Queen's College, Galway'''. It was known as "University College, Galway" (UCG) ({{langx|ga|Coláiste na hOllscoile, Gaillimh}}) from 1908 to 1997 and as "National University of Ireland Galway" (NUI Galway) ({{langx|ga|Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh; OÉ Gaillimh}}) from 1997 to 2022. In September 2022, it changed its name to "Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway".<ref name="ugsept22">{{Cite web |last=McGrath |first=Pat |date=September 2022 |title=Galway university embraces name change |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2022/0901/1320036-university-of-galway-marks-renaming/ |website=[[RTÉ]]}}</ref>

The University of Galway is a member of the [[Coimbra Group]], a network of 40 long-established European universities.

==History==
The university was established in 1845 as Queen's College, Galway, together with [[University College Cork|Queen's College, Cork]], and [[Queen's University Belfast|Queen's College, Belfast]]. It opened for teaching on 30 October 1849 with 68 students.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Hermans |first1=Jos M. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QE-P0ffkTUoC&pg=PA44 |title=Charters of Foundation and Early Documents of the Universities of the Coimbra Group |last2=Nelissen |first2=Marc |date=2005 |publisher=[[Leuven University Press]] |isbn=978-90-5867-474-6 |pages=44 |language=en}}</ref> In 1850, it became part of the [[Queen's University of Ireland]], and its degrees were conferred in the name of that university.<ref>Jos. M. M. Hermans, Marc Nelissen (2005) 'Charters of Foundation and Early Documents of the Universities of the Coimbra Group': Leuven University Press</ref>

[[File:NUI Galway, 2022-05-15 09.jpg|right|thumb|The Quadrangle Building]]
Located close to the city centre, the university campus stretches along the [[River Corrib]]. The oldest part of the university, the Quadrangle with its ''Aula Maxima'', was designed by John Benjamin Keane in a Tudor Gothic architectural style and was constructed from local limestone; it is a replica of [[Christ Church, Oxford|Christ Church]], one of the colleges at the [[University of Oxford]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quadrangle - National University of Ireland Galway - NUIG &#124; Galway |url=https://www.visitgalway.ie/explore/heritage-and-history/historic-buildings/quadrangle-at-the-national-university-of-galway/ |access-date=1 September 2022 |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628061335/https://www.visitgalway.ie/explore/heritage-and-history/historic-buildings/quadrangle-at-the-national-university-of-galway/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Queen's University was dissolved on 3 February 1882 under the University Education (Ireland) Act 1879, and was replaced by the [[Royal University of Ireland]] (RUI), which had been established on 27 April 1880.<ref>University Education (Ireland) Act 1979</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the NUI &#124; National University of Ireland |url=http://www.nui.ie/about/history.asp}}</ref>

Under the [[Irish Universities Act 1908]], the RUI was dissolved and was replaced by the [[National University of Ireland]] (NUI) and [[Queen's University of Belfast]] (QUB). The name of Queen's College, Galway, was changed to University College, Galway (UCG), and it became a [[University college|constituent college]] of the new National University of Ireland, together with [[University College Dublin]] (UCD), and [[University College Cork]] (UCC). Queen's College, Belfast, became an independent university, called the Queen's University of Belfast.<ref>{{cite ISB|parl=uk|title=Irish Universities Act 1908|year=1908|num=38|section=2|stitle=Colleges|date=1 August 1908|regy=8 Edw. 7}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> University College, Galway (UCG), was given special statutory responsibility under the University College Galway Act 1929 with respect of the use of the [[Irish language]] as a working language of the university.<ref name="auto">{{cite ISB|parl=ifs|title=University College Galway Act 1929|year=1929|num=35|date=17 December 1929}}</ref>

Members of the [[Franciscans|Franciscan Order]] from St. Anthony's College would have studied for degrees in UCG,<ref name="frans">{{Cite news |last=Kenny |first=Tom |date=5 April 2018 |title=Saint Anthony's College, Galway |url=https://www.advertiser.ie/Galway/article/99744/saint-anthonys-college |work=[[Galway Advertiser]]}}</ref> similarly members of the [[Society of African Missions]] at their House of Philosophy, at Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan, Co Galway, studied for degrees in UCG. St. Anthony's is now used by the J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics.

Several new buildings were constructed on the university campus in the 1970s and were designed by architects [[Scott Tallon Walker]]. The 1990s also saw considerable development, including the conversion of an old munitions factory into a student centre. Under the early 21st-century Presidency of [[Iognáid G. Ó Muircheartaigh]], the university announced details of plans to make the university a "campus of the future" at a cost of around €400 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Campus of the future |url=http://www.nuigalway.ie/campusofthefuture/documents/nuigalway_campusofthefuture.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230227/http://www.nuigalway.ie/campusofthefuture/documents/nuigalway_campusofthefuture.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=24 May 2007}}</ref> Ó Muircheartaigh's successor [[James J. Browne]] continued and implemented that plan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Campus of the future |url=http://www.nuigalway.ie/campusofthefuture/documents/campus_of_the_future_jb.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521142450/http://www.nuigalway.ie/campusofthefuture/documents/campus_of_the_future_jb.pdf |archive-date=21 May 2015 |access-date=23 February 2012}}</ref>

Under the Universities Act 1997, the name of University College, Galway, was changed to National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway), and it became a university in its own right, as a constituent university of the National University of Ireland (NUI).<ref>{{cite ISB|year=1997|num=24|section=7|stitle=Reconstitution of constituent colleges|title=Universities Act 1997|date=14 May 1997}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The university had hoped to change its name to University of Galway, but had received legal advice that this was not possible under the provisions of the Act.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Healy |first=Yvonne |date=17 February 1998 |title=Say goodbye to UCG and UG - it's now NUI Galway and that's official |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/say-goodbye-to-ucg-and-ug-it-s-now-nui-galway-and-that-s-official-1.136671 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Carl |date=22 November 2021 |title=NUI Galway may rebrand amid confusion over its title |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/nui-galway-may-rebrand-amid-confusion-over-its-title-1.4734715 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref>

Visiting the university in 2003, on what was to be his last visit to Ireland, [[Nelson Mandela]] condemned U.S. foreign policy and received an honorary doctorate from the NUI Chancellor, [[Garret FitzGerald]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 December 2013 |title=Mandela's attack on US over Iraq invasion recalled at NUI Galway |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/mandela-s-attack-on-us-over-iraq-invasion-recalled-at-nui-galway-1.1620098 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519185206/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/mandela-s-attack-on-us-over-iraq-invasion-recalled-at-nui-galway-1.1620098 |archive-date=19 May 2015 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Michael |date=6 December 2013 |title=When Nelson Mandela danced to The Corrs in Galway (video): He got up and held the floor on a visit in 2003 |url=https://www.dailyedge.ie/nelson-mandela-dancing-the-corrs-1210150-Dec2013/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330084622/http://www.dailyedge.ie/nelson-mandela-dancing-the-corrs-1210150-Dec2013/ |archive-date=30 March 2018 |access-date=6 December 2013 |work=[[TheJournal.ie]]}}</ref>

21st-century developments include a state-of-the-art University Sports Centre ({{lang|ga|Ionad Spóirt}}), Áras Moyola, J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, the Alice Perry Engineering Building, the BioSciences Research Building, the Life Course Institute, the Lambe Institute and the O'Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, and the Human Biology Building.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 July 2011 |title=New engineering building at NUI Galway displays green ethos |url=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/clean-tech/item/22681-new-engineering-building-at |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519183450/http://www.siliconrepublic.com/clean-tech/item/22681-new-engineering-building-at |archive-date=19 May 2015}}</ref>

In 2014, the [[Equality Tribunal]] ruled in favor of Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington, granddaughter of the famous Irish feminist couple [[Hannah Sheehy Skeffington]] and [[Francis Sheehy Skeffington]], who claimed she had been discriminated against on the grounds of gender during 2009.  The university "unreservedly" accepted the decision that the "hiring process was flawed".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brophy |first=Daragh |title=University ordered to pay €70k to lecturer passed over for promotion |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/lecturer-gender-1785387-Nov2014/ |access-date=2020-02-10 |website=TheJournal.ie |date=17 November 2014 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Boland |first=Rosita |date=6 December 2014 |title=Micheline Sheehy Skeffington: 'I'm from a family of feminists. I took this case to honour them' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/micheline-sheehy-skeffington-i-m-from-a-family-of-feminists-i-took-this-case-to-honour-them-1.2027451 |access-date=2020-02-10 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> In 2015 with "widespread concern" among staff, mandatory [[unconscious bias training]] was introduced for senior staff, including heads of school and interview boards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Healy |first=Catherine |title=NUIG wants to rid itself of sexism by training staff to recognise 'unconscious gender bias' |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/nuig-unconscious-bias-training-2177420-Jun2015/ |access-date=2020-02-10 |website=TheJournal.ie |date=23 June 2015 |language=en}}</ref> In 2017 Dr Elizabeth Tilley was deemed to have exceeded qualifications for senior lectureship following a [[Labour Court]] hearing and promoted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Seana |date=2017-10-23 |title=Academic wins gender discrimination dispute against NUIG |url=http://trinitynews.ie/2017/10/academic-wins-gender-discrimination-dispute-against-nuig/ |access-date=2020-02-10 |website=Trinity News |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2017, the gender ratio of senior lecturers in the university was 60:40 in favour of men. The ratio of professorships, the most senior academic grade, was 87:13 in favor of men.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=Cormac |title=After years of high-profile gender issues at NUI Galway, 40% of senior lecturers are female |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/nuig-gender-3672608-Oct2017/ |access-date=2020-02-10 |website=TheJournal.ie |date=31 October 2017 |language=en}}</ref> In 2018 the university achieved bronze status<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Carl |title=NUI Galway wins recognition for gender equality |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/nui-galway-wins-recognition-for-gender-equality-1.3486287 |access-date=2020-02-10 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> in the [[Athena SWAN]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Athena SWAN in Ireland |url=https://www.ecu.ac.uk/equality-charters/athena-swan/athena-swan-ireland/ |access-date=2020-02-10 |website=Equality Challenge Unit |language=en-GB}}</ref> recognises a commitment to advancing gender equality in higher education and research careers. In 2018 a further four female lecturers who had also applied for promotion in 2009 were promoted having settled their cases "amicably".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hospitals expected to close 'significant' number of beds |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/hospitals-expected-to-close-significant-number-of-beds-1.357546 |access-date=2020-02-10 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 July 2018 |title=Female lecturers settle discrimination action with NUI Galway |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2018/0725/980933-nuig/ |website=RTE}}</ref>

The university launched its Strategic Plan "Shared Vision, Shaped By Values" (for the period 2020–2025) in 2020. Also in 2020, the university was awarded €4 million from the EU's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme to support its Solar2chem project.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-05 |title=NUI Galway wins €4m EU fund to produce sustainable chemicals |url=http://www.techcentral.ie/it1nL |access-date=2020-03-11 |website=TechCentral.ie |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In April 2022, it was announced that NUI Galway would be renamed "Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway" in summer 2022, amid confusion over its proper title.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Carl |date=27 April 2022 |title=NUI Galway to change its name amid confusion over its proper title |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/nui-galway-to-change-its-name-amid-confusion-over-its-proper-title-1.4863260 |access-date=27 April 2022 |publisher=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> On 1 September 2022, the university changed its name to the "University of Galway".<ref name="ugsept22" /> This change took legal effect in February 2024.<ref>{{Cite ISB|title=National University of Ireland, Galway (Change of Name of University) Order 2024|year=2024|number=62|type=si|signedby=[[Simon Harris]], [[Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science]]|date=23 February 2024}}</ref>

==Bilingual status==
Under the University College Galway Act, 1929 (which came into effect on 17 December 1929), the university was given special statutory responsibility with respect of the use of the [[Irish language]] as a working language of the university.<ref name="auto" />

The Act of 1929 provided that when recruiting a person to work for the university, a person competent in the Irish language must be appointed to the position unless no such person with the necessary competence to carry out the role could be found among the candidates for the position. As a result, every president appointed to the university thereafter was fluent in Irish. The university's governing authority complained that this requirement limited the pool of potential candidates for the office of president (in particular, candidates from overseas). As a result, the Act was amended in 2006 to replace the requirement for fluency in the Irish language amongst staff and management with a commitment to provide for education through the Irish language. In 2016, the university amended its recruitment criteria to allow for the possibility of a non-Irish-speaking president.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Carl |date=4 December 2016 |title=NUIG drops requirement for president to be fluent in Irish |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/nuig-drops-requirement-for-president-to-be-fluent-in-irish-1.2892881 |access-date=14 August 2025 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>

In August 2025, a non-Irish-speaking president was appointed to the university for the first time since the appointment of Alexander Anderson in 1899.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ní Mhonacháin |first=Sorcha |date=13 August 2025 |title=Call for meeting on Irish language at Galway university |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2025/0813/1528334-ollscoil-na-gaillimhe/ |access-date=14 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Colleges and schools==
Up until 2007, the university was divided into seven faculties (Arts, Celtic Studies, Commerce, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences, and Science), which were further subdivided into some 69 departments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faculties & Departments, NUI Galway |url=http://www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820063231/http://www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/ |archive-date=20 August 2007 |access-date=1 September 2022 |website=[[NUIGalway.ie]]}}</ref> In 2007–2008, the university transitioned from the faculties and departments structure to a structure of five colleges divided into various schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colleges & Schools, NUI Galway |url=http://www.nuigalway.ie/colleges-and-schools/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213041656/http://www.nuigalway.ie/colleges-and-schools/ |archive-date=13 December 2009 |access-date=1 September 2022 |website=[[NUIGalway.ie]]}}</ref>

[[File:Health Science NUIG.jpg|right|thumb|Áras Moyola, which houses the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the School of Political Science and Sociology and the School of Health Sciences]]
[[File:National University of Ireland, Galway - geograph.org.uk - 1252765.jpg|right|thumb|St Anthony's, which houses part of the JE Cairnes School of Business & Economics]]
[[File:Engineering NUIG.jpg|right|thumb|Alice Perry Engineering Building, which houses the College of Science and Engineering]]

The following are the current colleges and schools of the university:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colleges & Schools |url=https://www.universityofgalway.ie/colleges-and-schools/ |website=[[UniversityOfGalway.ie]]}}</ref>
* College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies
** Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge
** School of Political Science and [[Sociology]]
** School of [[Psychology]]
** School of Education
** School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies
** School of English, Media and Creative Arts
** School of History and Philosophy
** School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures
* College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
** School of Health Sciences
** School of Medicine
** School of Nursing and Midwifery
* Adult Learning and Professional Development
* College of Business, Public Policy and Law
** JE Cairnes School of Business and Economics
** School of Law
** Shannon College of Hotel Management
* College of Science and Engineering
** School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
** School of Computer Science
** School of Engineering
** School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
** School of Natural Sciences

Since 2015 the [[Shannon College of Hotel Management]] has been fully incorporated into the university — becoming part of the College of Business, Public Policy & Law at Galway — formally marked by the then [[Minister for Education and Youth|Minister for Education and Skills]] [[Jan O'Sullivan]] at an event held in Shannon College on 9 November 2015. All staff of Shannon College of Hotel Management became staff of the university and all students of Shannon College of Hotel Management became students of the university.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 November 2015 |title=Minister for Education marks first merger in Ireland as Shannon College of Hotel Management becomes part of NUI Galway |url=http://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/news-and-events/news-archive/2015/november2015/minister-for-education-marks-first-merger-in-ireland-as-shannon-college-of-hotel-management-becomes-part-of-nui-galway.html |access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Shannon College Integration |url=https://www.universityofgalway.ie/shannonintegration/ |website=[[UniversityOfGalway.ie]]}}</ref>

==Research==
[[File:Martinryannuig.JPG|right|thumb|Ryan Institute]]
{{main|List of Research Institutes, Centres and Units of the University of Galway}}
There are five designated Research Institutes and a number of Research Centres and Units at the University of Galway. Designated Research Institutes at the university are characterised by significant interdisciplinary (generally cross-College) and high-quality research activity, including extensive collaboration nationally and internationally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Research centres, institutes, and units |url=https://www.universityofgalway.ie/our-research/listings/research-centres-institutes-and-units.html |website=[[UniversityOfGalway.ie]]}}</ref>
Examples of mould-breaking research include sugar coating devices<ref>{{Cite web |title=Researchers aim to give new layer of protection to medical devices |url=https://www.universityofgalway.ie/about-us/news-and-events/news-archive/2022/august/researchers-aim-to-give-new-layer-of-protection-to-medical-devices.html}}</ref> and how spider bites can lead to hospitalisation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Study Confirms Noble False Widow Spiders Bites Can Result in Hospitalisation |url=https://www.universityofgalway.ie/about-us/news-and-events/news-archive/2021/may/new-study-confirms-noble-false-widow-spiders-bites-can-result-in-hospitalisation.html}}</ref>

==Foundation==
Galway University Foundation (GUF) was established in 1998 with the intention of generating financial support for the university from private individuals and institutions. It nurtures relationships with donors for whom the university's approach to education appeals. The Foundation has many 'Priority Projects' in development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Galway University Foundation |url=https://guf.ie/ |website=guf.ie}}</ref>

[[File:NUI Galway, 2022-05-15 02.jpg|thumb|James Hardiman Library, University of Galway]]
The main library building of the University of Galway is named the [[James Hardiman Library]] after the library's first librarian, [[James Hardiman]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=James-Hardiman-Library |url=https://www.students.universityofgalway.ie/james-hardiman-library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=About - NUI Galway |url=https://library.nuigalway.ie/about/}}</ref>

==Student life==
===Societies===
University of Galway has about 150 active [[Student society|student societies]], ranging from the academic to artistic and performing, lifestyle and wellbeing, religious and political, social action and volunteering, social and cultural, and special interest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NUI Galway - Societies - |url=https://socs.nuigalway.ie/societies/}}</ref>

The oldest society on the campus is the [[Literary and Debating Society (NUI Galway)|Literary and Debating Society]], founded in 1846.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lit & Deb |url=https://socs.nuigalway.ie/societies.php?id=NTc= |access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref> The university's drama society, Dramsoc, was founded in 1914 after the earliest recorded student production in 1904 demonstrated the need for a student-run drama society.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drama at NUI Galway |url=https://www.universityofgalway.ie/creativearts/drama/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=[[UniversityOfGalway.ie]]}}</ref> Cumann Staire is one of Europe's oldest [[history]] societies, and is a member of Comhaltas na gCumann Staire and the [[International Students of History Association]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cumann Staire (History) |url=https://socs.nuigalway.ie/societies.php?id=NTA= |access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref> The university's [[Fianna Fáil]] branch, Cumann de Barra, was founded in 1954, making it the oldest university political party branch in Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ahern celebrates his tenth anniversary |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ahern-celebrates-his-10th-anniversary-1.1166220 |access-date=18 March 2021 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> [[Fine Gael]]'s youth wing was founded in the university in 1973 during the [[Liam Cosgrave]]-led Fine Gael/Labour Coalition government, with [[Enda Kenny]] and [[Madeleine Taylor-Quinn]] among those behind its establishment there.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Young Fine Gael |url=http://www.socs.nuigalway.ie/society_profiles/view/94 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603180930/http://www.socs.nuigalway.ie/society_profiles/view/94 |archive-date=3 June 2015}}</ref> [[Official Sinn Féin]] were also influential in campus politics in the 1970s, and Students Union Presidents [[Eamon Gilmore]] and Johnny Curran were party members.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=John |date=March 2013 |title='Spreading VD all over Connacht': reproductive rights and wrongs in 1970s Galway |url=https://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/spreading-vd-all-over-connacht-reproductive-rights-and-wrongs-in-1970s-galway// |access-date=3 February 2021 |publisher=History Ireland}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Toole |first=Jason |title=Take me to your leader |url=https://www.hotpress.com/culture/take-me-to-your-leader-4154654// |access-date=3 February 2021 |publisher=Hot Press}}</ref> CompSoc (the university's computer society) is the oldest of its kind in the country, established in 1977.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CompSoc (Computer Society) |url=https://compsoc.ie/ |access-date=11 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NUIG's Societies Office |url=https://socs.nuigalway.ie/societies.php?id=MzA=/$1 |access-date=11 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NUIG CompSoc Wiki |url=https://wiki.compsoc.ie/en/About-CompSoc/History |access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref>

Most of Ireland's main political parties have active societies at the university including [[Fianna Fáil]], [[Fine Gael]], [[Green Party (Ireland)|Green]], [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour]], [[People Before Profit]], [[Sinn Féin]] and the [[Social Democrats (Ireland)|Social Democrats]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NUIG Societies |url=https://socs.nuigalway.ie/societies.php |access-date=10 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.socs.nuig.ie/news_reviews/view/356/|title=University Societies Coordination Group (USCG)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130107212210/http://www.socs.nuig.ie/news_reviews/view/356/|archive-date=7 January 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[Flirt FM]] is a community radio station located on campus, spearheaded by the Radio Society. [[Sin Newspaper]] is the student-run news outlet of the university.

GUMS, the university musical society, hosts annual musicals in the Dubhlann/Black Box Theatre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Musical Society (GUMS) |url=https://socs.nuigalway.ie/societies.php?id=MTE5 |access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref>

In 2014, the Christian and LGBT societies were involved in a showdown over [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 March 2014 |title=Rival protests over gay marriage at NUI Galway |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0312/601866-rival-protests-over-gay-marriage-at-nui-galway/ |publisher=RTÉ News}}</ref> The incident was provoked by the auditor of the Christian Society, running for the position of Equality Officer in that year's student union election.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 March 2014 |title=Gardaí called to NUI Galway as students confront Christian activists |url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/video-gardai-called-to-nui-galway-as-students-confront-christian-activists-624910.html}}</ref> Earlier, in the late part of 2013, the university suspended the Legion of Mary Society after it failed to satisfactorily explain its connection to posters containing information on a Christian support group for homosexual persons.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 December 2013 |title=NUIG suspends Legion of Mary college society over leaflets |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1205/491018-nuig-legion-mary/ |publisher=RTÉ News}}</ref>

[[Cumann Gaelach|An Cumann Gaelach]] and An Cumann Drámaíochta are the university's main [[Irish language]] societies, following the demise of the Cumann Craic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Galway Societies |url=https://socs.universityofgalway.ie/societies/ |access-date=7 August 2025 |website=University of Galway}}</ref>

===Clubs===
University of Galway has more than 40 sports clubs based on campus, ranging from indoor sports (such as [[archery]], [[badminton]], [[fencing]], [[Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting]], [[table tennis]], and [[Squash (sport)|squash]]), to water sports (such as [[rowing (sport)|rowing]], [[kayaking]], [[sailing (sport)|sailing]], [[windsurfing]], and [[scuba diving]]), as well as [[martial arts]] (such as [[judo]], [[karate]], [[aikido]], [[Muay Thai]], [[kendo]], and [[taekwondo]]), plus [[List of equestrian sports|equestrian]], [[triathlon]], athletics, and snow sports.<ref name="nuig_clubs">{{Cite web |title=NUI Galway Clubs |url=https://clubs.nuigalway.ie/clubs.php |access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref>

The university also competes in the most popular Irish field sports of [[association football]], [[Gaelic football]], [[hurling]], and [[rugby union]], as well as [[cricket]], [[field hockey|hockey]], and [[lacrosse]].<ref name=nuig_clubs/>

[[University of Galway GAA]] compete in the [[Sigerson Cup]] (Gaelic football) and the [[Fitzgibbon Cup]] (hurling). They are the second most prolific winners of the Sigerson Cup.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 February 2018 |title=NUI Galway see off DIT to advance to first Sigerson Cup final since 2003 |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/nui-galway-see-off-dit-to-advance-to-first-sigerson-cup-final-since-2003-36605366.html |access-date=14 February 2018 |work=Irish Independent |quote=NUIG, the second most prolific winners of the Sigerson Cup, advanced to their first final since 2003 when they held off a DIT comeback in heavy rain at St Loman's GAA grounds in Mullingar.}}</ref>

[[University of Galway RFC]] compete in the [[Connacht Senior Cup (rugby union)|Connacht Senior Cup]], and are the competition's most successful side with 34 wins.

University of Galway F.C. compete in the [[Galway & District League]], the Colleges and Universities Football League (CUFL), [[Collingwood Cup]] and Harding Cup (Freshers).<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Galway Ireland, Galway Sport - Clubs Home |url=https://sport.universityofgalway.ie/clubs/soccer |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=sport.universityofgalway.ie}}</ref> They previously competed in the [[Connacht Senior League (association football)|Connacht Senior League]] under their former name of NUI Galway F.C. and won the competition in 1990, as UCG.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ireland - List of Connacht Senior League Champions |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ierconnachtchamp.html |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref>

The campus is home to a wide range of sport facilities. Facilities include Dangan Sportsground, where the university's GAA teams compete, and the Kingfisher, where [[Moycullen Basketball Club]] play their games.

===Connacht Rugby===
In 2013, the university announced it would sponsor [[Connacht Rugby]], the nearby professional Pro12 (now [[United Rugby Championship|URC]]) rugby union team, for the following three years and would put in place a "High Performance Education Partnership" that would give players from the [[Connacht Rugby Academy]] and age-grade teams the chance to educated there. At the time of the announcement 17 members of Connacht's squad were either attending the university as students or were graduates.<ref>{{Cite news |last=MacKenzie |first=Linley |date=4 September 2013 |title=Connacht Rugby and NUI Galway combine in pursuit of excellence: Players to avail of education at college in addition to mentoring and development |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby-and-nui-galway-combine-in-pursuit-of-excellence-1.1515150 |access-date=4 September 2013 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>

Within a few years of the start of the university's sponsorship of the Connacht Rugby Academy, the team had won, what was then the [[2015–16 Pro12]] title, for the first time by defeating [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] in the [[2016 Pro12 Grand Final]]. Seven players from the Connacht Rugby Academy played 55 times for their team during that campaign, with others in that squad also graduates of the Connacht Rugby Academy.<ref name="cc_autumn2016_16-19">{{Cite news |last=Fallon |first=John |date=Autumn 2016 |title=Sport: A new direction |work=Cois Coiribe |pages=16–19 |quote=Developing partnerships with sports organisations, particularly at elite level, will be a key component of the strategy, with the success of Connacht Rugby in winning the Guinness Pro12 title in May - the province's first trophy in its 131 year history - a good example of what can be achieved. NUI Galway is the main sponsor of the Connacht Rugby Academy, which has helped develop players for the professional game over the last few years. Seven players from the academy last season - Sean O'Brien, Peter Robb, Conor McKeon, Conan O'Donnell, James Connolly, Shane Delahunt and Rory Parata - played 55 times for Connacht during that historic Pro12 campaign, while several other members of the squad were academy graduates. Many of the academy players also study at NUI Galway, while there are a number of areas where the University and Connacht Rugby exchange expertise.}}</ref>

The deal was renewed in 2017, covering the period until 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rooney |first=Declan |date=27 October 2017 |title=NUI Galway renew deal with province |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/nui-galway-renew-deal-with-province-36265387.html |access-date=27 October 2017 |work=Irish Independent |quote=NUI Galway became Connacht's Academy and University partner in 2013, and since then 19 Connacht players have graduated, or are about to graduate, from NUI Galway including current senior squad members Denis Buckley, Eoin Griffin, Eoin McKeon, Andrew Browne, Dave Heffernan, Jack Carty, Darragh Leader, Eoghan Masterson, Seán O'Brien and Conor McKeon.}}</ref>

===Students' Union===
{{main|University of Galway Students' Union}}
The Students' Union's primary role is to provide a recognised representative channel between undergraduates and the university and college authorities.

In February 2009, the university announced the Students' Union-run [[Rag (student society)|RAG Week]] would "no longer form part of the university calendar". The President of the Students' Union expressed the belief that the decision was unjustified, citing the more than €20,000 raised for charities that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Siggins |first=Lorna |date=26 February 2009 |title=NUIG withdraws its support for rag week because of 'unruly behaviour' |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0226/1224241834542.html |access-date=26 February 2009 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> RAG Week continued unofficially until 2024, when the fundraising event returned with support from the Students' Union.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=2024-01-18 |title=University of Galway SU launches RAG Week as charity week returns to its roots |url=https://www.galwaydaily.com/news/university-of-galway-su-launches-rag-week-as-charity-week-returns-to-its-roots/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Galway Daily |language=en-US}}</ref>

===International===
International students make up over 12 percent of the student population at the University of Galway.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International students |url=http://www.nuigalway.ie/student-life/international-students/why-nuigalway.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630221318/http://www.nuigalway.ie/student-life/international-students/why-nuigalway.html |archive-date=30 June 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==People==
{{main|List of University of Galway people}}

===Presidents===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left"
|-
!Name of President
!Years
|-
|[[Joseph W. Kirwan]] 
|1845–1849
|-
|[[Edward Berwick]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 October 1867 |title=The Queen's University in Ireland: Conferring Degrees |newspaper=The Irish Times |page=4}}</ref>
|1849–1877
|-
|[[Thomas William Moffett]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 September 1880 |title=Queen's University Examinations |newspaper=The Irish Times |page=3}}</ref>
|1877–1897
|-
|W.J.M. Starkie
|1897–1899
|-
|[[Alexander Anderson (physicist)|Alexander Anderson]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 April 1908 |title=The New Irish Universities: Members of the Senates |newspaper=The Irish Times |page=7}}</ref>
|1899–1934
|-
|John Hynes<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 January 1942 |title=University College, Galway |newspaper=The Irish Times |page=2}}</ref>
|1934–1945
|-
|Pádraig de Brún<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 October 1957 |title=Degrees given at U.C.G. |newspaper=The Irish Times |page=5}}</ref>
|1945–1959
|-
|[[Martin J. Newell]]<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news |date=27 November 1975 |title=U.C.G names candidate for college presidency |newspaper=The Irish Times |page=9}}</ref>
|1960–1975
|-
| Michael Duignan (interim)<ref name="auto1" />
|1975
|-
|[[Colm Ó hEocha]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 September 1975 |title=President of U.C.G. retires today |newspaper=The Irish Times |pages=5 |volume=37357}}</ref>
|1975–1996
|-
|[[Patrick F. Fottrell]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cullen |first=Paul |date=26 April 1996 |title=Fottrell elected president of UCG |newspaper=The Irish Times |pages=9 |volume=44505}}</ref>
|1996–2000
|-
|[[Iognáid G. Ó Muircheartaigh]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 March 2001 |title=They call me Iggy |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/they-call-me-iggy-1.292746 |access-date=7 August 2025 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>
|2000–2008
|-
|[[James J. Browne]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Faller |first=Gráinne |date=7 April 2009 |title=Quiet man, big reputation |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/quiet-man-big-reputation-1.739762 |access-date=7 August 2025 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>
|2008–2018
|-
|Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jade |date=26 July 2024 |title=University of Galway president Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh to step down from his role |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2024/06/26/university-of-galway-president-ciaran-o-hogartaigh-to-step-down-from-his-role/ |access-date=7 August 2025 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>
|2018–2024
|-
|Peter McHugh (interim)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Slater |first=Sarah |date=4 July 2024 |title=Prof Peter McHugh appointed interim president of University of Galway |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2024/07/04/prof-peter-mchugh-appointed-interim-president-of-university-of-galway/ |access-date=7 August 2025 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>
|2024–2025
|-
|David J. Burn<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mannion |first=Teresa |date=6 August 2025 |title=University of Galway appoints new president |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2025/0806/1527250-university-of-galway/ |access-date=7 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
|2025–present
|-
|}

===Notable alumni===
* [[Keith Barry]], performing artist
* [[Fiona Everard]], national champion runner<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 November 2023 |title=The Startling running progress of Fiona Everard |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/athletics/2023/11/20/the-startling-running-progress-of-fiona-everard/ |access-date=21 November 2023 |website=Irish Times}}</ref>
* [[Ethna Gaffney]], first female professor at the [[Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finn |first=Clodagh |date=2024-01-13 |title=Clodagh Finn: Ethna Gaffney was an academic trailblazer who introduced first dietetics course |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/arid-41307472.html |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Michael D. Higgins]], 9th [[President of Ireland]]
* [[Catherine Connolly]], 10th President of Ireland
* [[Enda Kenny]], former [[Taoiseach]]
* [[Aifric Keogh]] and [[Fiona Murtagh (rower)|Fiona Murtagh]] Olympic bronze medalists Tokyo 2020
* [[Mark Heslin]], judge of the [[High Court of Ireland|High Court]]
* [[Máire Whelan]], former [[Attorney General of Ireland|Attorney General]] and current judge of the [[Court of Appeal of Ireland|Court of Appeal]]
* [[Breandán Ó hEithir]], writer and author
* [[Pat McGrath (journalist)|Pat McGrath]], news correspondent
* [[Wilfrid Napier]] O.F.M., Cardinal, Archbishop of Durban
* [[Conor Pope]], journalist
* [[Gráinne Seoige]], former news anchor and television presenter
* [[Martin Sheen]], actor<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 September 2006 |title=West Wing actor Sheen signs up for degree in Galway |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30274942.html |access-date=7 August 2025 |work=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Nicola Coughlan]], actor<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2019 |title=Derry Girls' Nicola Coughlan on life in NUI Galway, acting, and the impact of the hit comedy show |url=https://sin.ie/2019/04/02/derry-girls-nicola-coughlan-on-life-in-nui-galway-acting-and-the-impact-of-the-hit-comedy-show/}}</ref>
* [[Rónán Mullen]], Irish senator representing [[National University of Ireland (constituency)]]
* [[Enya]] (honorary doctorate)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-06-29 |title=Enya receives honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland, Galway |url=https://cloud.wordpress.com/2007/06/29/enya-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-the-national-university-of-ireland-galway/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Cloud |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Heather Humphreys]], [[Fine Gael]] politician<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/irish-examiner/20171201/281668255297981 |access-date=2025-10-07 |via=PressReader}}</ref>
* [[Donogh O'Malley]], [[Fianna Fáil]] politician<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dictionary of Irish Biography |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/omalley-donogh-a6884}}</ref>
* [[Bobby Molloy]], [[Fianna Fáil]] politician
* [[Frank Fahey (politician)]]
* [[Pat Rabbitte]], former Irish [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] leader
* [[Séamus Brennan]], former Irish government minister
* [[Alfred Keogh]], former Director-General of the British Army Medical Services during the [[First World War]].

===Notable faculty===
*[[Emily Anderson]] - first professor of German<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 February 2017 |title=Ceremony to Mark Naming of Emily Anderson Concert Hall at NUI Galway |url=https://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/news-and-events/news-archive/2017/february2017/ceremony-to-mark-naming-of-emily-anderson-concert-hall-at-nui-galway.html |access-date=22 March 2017 |website=NUI Galway News}}</ref>
*[[Nicholas Canny]] - historian
* [[Colm McDonald]] - professor of psychiatry
* [[Michael D. Higgins]] - sociologist, 9th [[President of Ireland]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 February 1979 |title=Students oppose timetable plan |newspaper=The Irish Times |page=11}}</ref>
* [[William King (geologist)|William King]] - geologist<ref>{{Cite web |title=William King |url=http://www.nuigalway.ie/science/king.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716223105/http://www.nuigalway.ie/science/king.html |archive-date=16 July 2012 |website=History of NUI Galway, the Science Faculty and associated scientists}}</ref>
*[[Alice Perry]] - engineer
*[[Gerard Quinn]] - jurist, specialist in international and comparative disability law and policy<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 March 2015 |title=Prof. Gerard Quinn |url=http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/News/Government_Press_Releases/Appointments_to_the_Court_of_Appeal.html |work=Department of the Taoiseach}}</ref>
* [[Niamh Reilly]] - sociologist and political scientist
*[[George Johnstone Stoney]] - physicist<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mulvihill |first=Mary |date=15 February 2011 |title=The man who 'invented' the electron |url=http://ingeniousireland.ie/2011/02/the-man-who-%E2%80%98invented%E2%80%99-the-electron/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604133542/http://ingeniousireland.ie/2011/02/the-man-who-%E2%80%98invented%E2%80%99-the-electron/ |archive-date=4 June 2015}}</ref>

==In literature and other media==
University of Galway is the setting for, and is referred to in, numerous works of fiction.

[[Breandán Ó hEithir]]'s novel ''[[Lig Sinn i gCathú]]'', set in a thinly disguised Galway and telling the story of student life over four days in April 1949, has featured on the secondary school [[Leaving Certificate (Ireland)|Leaving Certificate]] syllabus.

Tom Curtin's novel ''Melting Pot: An Irish Odyssey'' tells the story of three lads from University College Galway who leave Ireland for New York in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melting Pot: An Irish Odyssey |url=http://www.londubh.ie/?p=2650 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024160738/http://www.londubh.ie/?p=2650 |archive-date=24 October 2017}}</ref>

The university has also faced the legal consequences of gender inequality after a number of female lecturers starting proceedings against the university as gender as a grounds of discrimination is prohibited by Irish law.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Discrimination action involving female NUIG lecturers resolved |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/discrimination-action-involving-female-nuig-lecturers-resolved-1.3576043 |access-date=2020-02-10 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>Employment Equality Act 1998, section 6</ref>

==Art==
The University of Galway houses an extensive collection of artworks, featuring a wide range of works and collections since 1845.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Art Collection |url=https://www.universityofgalway.ie/arts_office/art-collection/ |access-date=February 20, 2025 |website=University of Galway}}</ref>

==Rankings and reputation==
{{Infobox university rankings
| ARWU_W = 501–600
| ARWU_W_year = 2023
| ARWU_W_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities |url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2023 |publisher=Shanghai Ranking}}</ref>
| THE_W = 301–350
| THE_W_year = 2024
| THE_W_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |date=8 March 2024 |title=University of Galway |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-galway |publisher=Times Higher Education}}</ref>
| QS_W = 284
| QS_W_year = 2026
| QS_W_ref = <ref name=":QSW2026">{{Cite web |date=13 August 2025 |title=QS World University Rankings 2026: Top global universities |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings |website=Top Universities}}</ref>
}}

University of Galway has been awarded the [[Quacquarelli Symonds|full five QS stars]] for excellence,<ref name="QS World University Rankings">{{Cite web |date=12 March 2012 |title=More than 100 Universities Rated by QS Stars |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/qs-stars/qs-stars/more-100-universities-rated-qs-stars |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104164318/https://www.topuniversities.com/qs-stars/qs-stars/more-100-universities-rated-qs-stars |archive-date=4 November 2015 |website=[[QS World University Rankings]] |quote=Other recent additions include ... NUI Galway ... awarded five stars overall ... received maximum five-star ratings in several key areas, including graduate employability, teaching, facilities and innovation.}}</ref> and is ranked among the top 1 per cent of universities according to the 2018 ''[[QS World University Rankings]]''.<ref name="cc_autumn_2017_8">{{Cite news |date=Autumn 2017 |title=University news |work=Cois Coiribe |page=8 |quote=... with an estimated 26,000 universities worldwide, this positions our University in the top 1% globally, according to QS.}}</ref><ref name="About NUI Galway">{{Cite web |title=About NUI Galway |url=http://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628001635/http://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/ |archive-date=28 June 2017}}</ref> These rankings marked the sixth consecutive year that the university's ranking improved by these standards.<ref name=cc_autumn_2017_8/>

In 2016 and 2017, the university was ranked ahead of [[University College Dublin]] (UCD) and [[Queen's University Belfast]] (QUB) in the ''[[Academic Ranking of World Universities]]'' (''ARWU''), placing it second among Irish universities — behind only [[Trinity College Dublin]] (TCD).<ref name="arwu_2016">{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=Academic Ranking of World Universities 2016 |url=http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2016.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601014730/http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2016.html |archive-date=1 June 2020 |access-date=22 December 2018 |website=[[Academic Ranking of World Universities]]}}</ref><ref name="arwu_2017">{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Academic Ranking of World Universities 2017 |url=http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2017.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119012717/http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2017.html |archive-date=19 January 2019 |access-date=5 November 2017 |website=[[Academic Ranking of World Universities]]}}</ref> Likewise, in the ''[[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]]'', Galway was ranked ahead of UCD and behind only TCD.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=World University Rankings 2018: Ireland |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2018/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/locations/IE/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats |website=[[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]]}}</ref>

''[[The Sunday Times]]'' University Guide has named the university as its "University of the Year" on three occasions. It won the ''Times'''s inaugural title in 2002–2003. A second title followed in 2009–2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of the year |url=https://www.universityofgalway.ie/about-us/news-and-events/university-of-the-year.html |website=[[UniversityOfGalway.ie]]}}</ref> Galway won its third title in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |date=Autumn 2017 |title=NUI Galway secures ''Sunday Times'' University of the Year |work=Cois Coiribe |page=8 |quote=NUI Galway has been named 'University of the Year 2018' in the ''Sunday Times University Guide'', securing the prestigious accolade for a third time, having won the inaugural title in 2002 and again in 2009... having the best job prospects of any other Irish university were among the reasons for the award.}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| ''[[QS World University Rankings]]''
|-
! Overall Ranking
! Arts & Humanities
! Natural Sciences
! Engineering & IT
! Social Sciences
! Life Sciences
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2005
|-
| '''437'''
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2006
|-
| '''437'''
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2007
|-
| '''484'''
| 312
| 389
| 427
| 323
| 386
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2008
|-
| '''368'''
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| 260
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2009
|-
| '''243'''
| 272
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| 250
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2010
|-
| '''232'''
| 274
| 301-350
| 301-350
| 351-400
| 301-350
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2011
|-
| '''298'''
| 389
| 379
| 367
| {{n/a}}
| 357
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2012
|-
| '''287'''
| 345
| 388
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| 335
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2013
|-
| '''284'''
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2014
|-
| '''280'''
| 344
| 352
| 298
| 326
| 258
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2015
|-
| '''271'''
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2016
|-
| '''249'''
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| 2017
|-
| '''243'''
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|}

==See also==
* [[Education in the Republic of Ireland]]
* [[List of universities in the Republic of Ireland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|National University of Ireland, Galway}}
* [http://www.nuigalway.ie Official website]

{{NUI Galway}}
{{NUI}}
{{Coimbra Group}}
{{Universities in Ireland}}
{{Galway}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:University of Galway| ]]
[[Category:National University of Ireland|Galway]]
[[Category:1845 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1845|Galway]]
[[Category:Education in County Galway]]