Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has made a formal application to the Department of Education for university status, despite a lack of support from Minister for Education Mary Hanafin.
An institute spokesman said yesterday that a submission had been made to the department outlining its case.
"The expectation is that a national and international panel of respected higher educationalists will adjudicate on the merits of the institute's case and that their report will be submitted to the Higher Education Authority," the spokesman said.
WIT said it is "looking forward with confidence to participating fully in the process and will make every preparation with the internal and external community towards ensuring a positive outcome that will benefit the southeast region and its people, but also impact positively for Ireland's wider society and economy".
A university in Waterford is supported by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen. Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has also signalled some support for university status.
The Waterford campaign has attracted support from some venerable academic figures including Dr Ed Walsh, the former president of the University of Limerick.
Ms Hanafin has insisted there are no plans to change the status of WIT.
The landmark 2004 OECD report on the third-level system proposed that the current division between the seven universities and the 14 institutes of technology (IOTs) should be maintained, because of their differing focus.
Broadly, the IOT sector - which developed from the regional technical colleges - tend to be more career orientated than some universities.
The OECD opposed the establishment of any more universities saying "there should be no further institutional transfers into the university sector".
Ms Hanafin has referred to WIT as one of the "jewels in the crown" of the institute of technology sector. But she has also pointed out how the institutes fulfil "other needs", compared to the universities.
Last year she said: "I would think the people of Waterford want a top quality third-level institute. They want top academic results, they want an institute at third level which responds to the needs of the region, which responds to the needs of industry, which responds to the need of the people and I believe the Waterford institute does that."
Waterford is the only regional capital without a university.
