Every college has its strong points. LOUISE HOLDENtakes a look at the best institutions for the stuff you like

SOME PEOPLE argue that Ireland is too small for seven universities and a host of Institutes of Technology, art and design colleges, and colleges of education.

However, each campus is individual in its own way, and the students of the various colleges would argue that they’d rather die than go to UCD, or that they love Dundalk Institute of Technology so much that they want to be buried there.

Some students you can identify by their trademark campus style – the studied scruffiness of Trinity College, the Ugg boots of UCD, or the pink tutus of NCAD.

Academically, each campus has worked up disciplinary muscle that makes it a mecca for a certain type of mind. NUI Maynooth attracts literary types while engineers are drawn to CIT.

The colleges are working hard to gain an edge in the type of activity that attracts wunderkinds – sports and arts scholarships complemented by cutting-edge facilities for emerging stars of rugby, hurling, music or media. for example.

So, if you’re keen on style, anonymity and live music, or more comfortable with lab coats, GAA and a decent local, check out the following rough guide – there should be a college made to measure.

THE BEST COLLEGE FOR . . .

Humanities: With its old-world, leafy campus and air of civilisation and priestliness, NUI Maynooth has got the philosophy angle in the bag.

Arts: Galway always has the upper hand when it comes to arts, and NUI Galway milks it. The university is about to open a new facility with performance spaces, darkrooms, dance studios, art and screening rooms.

Music: UL boasts the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, and DCU has the Helix Performing Arts Studio.

Science: With the amount of money now available for science research, every university in the land is vying for the top spot here. TCD and UCD are big winners when it comes to science-research funding, and the new Innovation Alliance between the two is bound to attract even more money and expertise.

UCC has a long history of accomplishment in science and maths; its first professor of mathematics, George Boole, developed the algebra of computer programming.

Engineering: The Dublin Institute of Technology and the Cork Institute of Technology are both well known for their strength in engineering. Construction-related disciplines have taken a bit of a hit this year but the smart student is still going where the expertise is.

Business: UCD’s Quinn School of Business is a big draw for undergraduates, who can then slip across to Smurfit upon graduation (especially if it’s still not safe to g out into the real world). The University of Limerick also has a strong reputation through the Kemmy School of Business.

Up North, the University of Ulster is the place to be.

Sport: DCU has invested big money in sports facilities in recent years and is attracting all manner of elite athletes as a result.

GAA: Cork Institute of Technology, Waterford Institute of Technology, University of Limerick and University College Cork all boast vibrant GAA cultures and strong teams.

Rugby: University of Limerick and UCD are both known as magnets for the rugby school fraternity.

Rowing: Famous for its “garrison sports”, Trinity College also does a good line in cricket and rugger.

Fun: The National College of Art and Design knows how to throw a party, and the small campus in the heart of the city means that students get the best of both worlds.

The students of Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology make up for their distance from the city with an enviable gigs line-up and an energetic ents office.

Because they’re all arty, they’re not really looking for real jobs and can afford to party their way through life.

Entertainment: With full-time ents offices, UCD and Trinity have a very busy schedule of gigs and events all year round.

Nice campus: The UL campus on the banks of the Shannon is spacious and modern, close to the city without being swamped by it.

Dress sense: Again, the arts colleges have it here.

While Trinity and NUI Galway students make some effort to be original, arts students dress as if their individuality depended on it. The NCAD fashion show this year was a triumph, darling.

City/town: NUI Galway is snuggled into the party town of Ireland. Trinity College is all location, location, location.

Weekend life: With 2,500 living on campus in UCD all week long, the campus is fast taking on the attributes of a small town. Unlike most campuses, the fun goes on seven days a week.