Technological Universities: Popular areas of study

The Institute of Technology as we know it, is no more. Technological Universities are taking over.

The first of its kind, Technological University Dublin (TUD) replaced the various Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) campuses across Dublin, and was designated in January 2019. Munster Technological University (MTU), a merger of Cork Institute of Technology and Tralee Institute of Technology, which was designated in January 2021. Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Mid-West (TUS) was designated in October 2021, which saw Athlone IT and Limerick IT come together.

This year will see the establishment of two new technological universities: Atlantic Technological University (ATU), consisting of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo, and Letterkenny Institute of Technology which will be designated in April 2022; and South-East Technological University (SETU), consisting of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and Institute of Technology Carlow (ITC), which will be established in May 2022.

By the end of this academic year, there will be five technological universities across Ireland, each offering a wide range of full-time and part-time courses, at a variety of Levels, to suit the needs of every prospective student. Below is a short summary of some popular areas of study on offer at the various technological universities around the country:

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1. Hospitality and Tourism
For outgoing individuals who enjoy working in fast paced environments, hospitality and tourism could be the ideal career for you. There is a wide range of courses on offer in the sector in the various technological universities across the country.

TUD offers part-time and full-time degrees at Level 7 and 8 in Hospitality Management, Level 8 in Tourism Management, and Level 8 in Tourism and Digital Marketing, as well as a Level 8 degree course in Languages and International Tourism. MTU has a Level 7 Bachelor of Arts in Hotel Management, as well as a Level 8 Bachelor of Arts degree in Travel and Tourism Management. ATU offers a more specific Level 6 course in Hotel and Hospitality Operations, while SETU offers both Level 6 and Level 8 courses in Hospitality Management.

2. Aviation
For those with a keen interest in aviation and flight, there are several courses across Ireland's technological universities that could lead prospective students on to a promising career within the aviation industry. TUD offers a Level 7 course in Aviation Technology, while MTU offers a Level 8 in International Business with Aviation Studies. SETU also offers a Level 8 Bachelor of Engineering in Aircraft Systems.

3. Sports and Leisure
Sports fans and fitness fanatics alike can find a whole host of courses of interest across Ireland's technological universities, leading on to exciting careers in management, coaching, rehabilitation therapy and more. ATU has a Level 8 degree course in Sport and Exercise Science, while TUS has Level 8 degrees in Athletic and Rehabilitation Therapy, and Physical Activity and Health Science.

In the southwest of the country, MTU has both Level 7 and Level 8 Bachelor of Science degree courses in Coaching and Sports Performance, and Level 7 and Level 8 Bachelor of Science courses in Inclusive Sport and Physical Activity.

TUD offers Level 7 and Level 8 courses in both Sports Science and Health, and Sports Management and Coaching, as well as a Level 8 degree in Sports and Leisure Management, while SETU offers Level 7 and Level 8 Bachelor of Arts courses in Sport, Business and Coaching, as well as a Level 8 Bachelor of Science in Sports Coaching & Performance, and a Level 8 Bachelor of Business in Recreation & Sport Management.

4. Agriculture
Those with a passion for agriculture and farming may wish to pursue a degree in the area before entering the hands-on world. ATU offers both Level 7 and Level 8 degree courses in Agricultural and Environmental Management, while SETU offers Level 7 and Level 8 Bachelor of Science degrees in Agricultural Science, as well as a Level 8 Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Farm Management and Agribusiness. MTU also offers Level 7 and Level 8 degree Bachelor of Science courses in Agricultural Science, a Level 7 Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Mechanisation, and Level 7 Bachelor of Engineering and Level 8 Bachelor of Science degrees in Agricultural Engineering.

5. Culinary
Prospective students with a keen interest in food and culinary arts have a wide range of courses to choose from the Technical Universities around the country. These courses cater (pardon the pun) to a variety of career paths, including the food science and innovation route, a management pathway for those potentially starting their own business or joining existing businesses, and practical culinary arts itself. MTU has a Level 7 Bachelor of Arts Culinary Arts degree, which includes a Chef de Partie apprenticeship, and a Level 7 Bachelor of Arts degree in Food Business Innovation. TUD offers Level 8 courses in Food Innovation and Culinary Science, as well as a Level 6 course in Bar and Restaurant Management, and a Level 7 in Baking and Pastry Arts Management.

ATU has a Level 6 in Culinary Arts, as well as both Level 7 and Level 8 degrees in Culinary and Gastronomic Sciences, and at SETU there are Level 7 and Level 8 Bachelor of Arts courses in Culinary Arts, a Level 8 Bachelor of Science in Food Science & Innovation, and Level 7 Bachelor of Science in Food Science with Business.

6. Event Management
Sociable and charismatic individuals, with strong organisational skills would be ideal prospective students of event management. Event management involves all of the planning and delegation in preparation for a wide variety of events, as well as the practical elements of running those events on the day. TUD has a Level 8 degree course in Event Management, while ATU offers both Level 7 and Level 8 Event Management with Public Relations degree options, and MTU has a Level 8 Bachelor of Arts in Event Management.

7. Design
Creative and innovative individuals with an eye for detail may be interested in pursuing courses related to design. SETU offers a Level 8 Bachelor of Arts course in Design (Visual Communications), while TUS has Level 8 courses in Animation and Illustration as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Animation and Motion Design. TUD also has a range of design focused courses, such as a Level 7 in Visual Merchandising & Display, and Level 8 degrees in Visual Communication, Interior Design and Product Design.

8. Property
Prospective students with an interest in property and the auctioneering industry should consider undertaking any of a wide range of courses associated with property and valuation. TUD offers a Level 7 course in Auctioneering, Valuation & Estate Agency, and also a Level 8 degree in Property Economics, that can be studied either part-time or full-time. TUS also has a Bachelors of Science Level 8 course in Property Valuation and Management.

9. Automation and Robotics
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more and more prevalent in our daily lives, so too does the need for experts in the field. Prospective students with an interest in technology and the future of technology should consider pursuing courses within the area of automation and robotics. TUS has both Level 7 and Level 8 courses in Automation and Robots, while SETU has a Bachelor of Engineering Level 8 course in Automation Engineering.

10. Surveying
Creative but also practical individuals with an interest in technology and urban and rural development, should consider pursuing studies in the area of surveying. TUS has a Level 8 course in Quantity Surveying on offer, and SETU also has a Level 8 Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying. TUD offers both Level 7 and Level 8 courses in Quantity Surveying and Construction Economics, on a part-time and full-time basis, as well as a Level 8 course in Geospatial Surveying. MTU also offers both part-time and full-time Level 8 Bachelor of Science degrees in Quantity Surveying.

11. Gaming
Individuals with a technical aptitude and a keen interest in gaming can pursue degrees in a number of areas within the gaming sector.

Those interested in the design side of the industry could attend TUS, where there are both Level 7 and Level 8 degrees in Software Design with Virtual Reality and Gaming, or a Level 8 Bachelor of Science in Game Art & Design, while those more interested in the development side could attend MTU, where they offer Level 7 and Level 8 Bachelors of Science degrees in Computing with Game Development, or SETU where there is a Level 8 Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Games Development.

12. Early Education and Care
Caring and compassionate individuals, with a love for teaching and learning would be ideal prospective students in the area of early education and care. ATU offers Level 6, Level 7 and Level 8 degrees in Early Childhood Education and Care, SETU offers Level 7 and Level 8 Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education and Practice, while TUS offers Level 7 and Level 8 Bachelor of Arts degrees in Early Years Care and Education.

TUD has Level 7 and Level 8 Bachelor of Arts degrees in Early Childhood Care and Education, as well as Level 8 Bachelor of Arts degrees in Early Childhood Education. To the southeast, SETU has Level 7 and Level 8 Bachelor of Education degrees in Early Childhood Education and Practice, while to the south-west MTU offers Level 7 and Level 8 Bachelor of Arts degrees in Early Childhood Education and Care.