A survey has disclosed a serious shortage of computers at universities, with some operating a ratio of one PC for every 33 students.
The survey by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), found that NUI Maynooth and Trinity College Dublin had the worst ratio, with 33 students for every PC.
The best performance was at DCU where there was one PC available for every 13 students. This was followed by University College Cork and the University of Limerick with one PC for every 14 students, UCD had one PC for every 16 students, while NUI Galway had a ratio of one PC for every 21 students.
The survey also includes details on the Northern Ireland colleges. The University of Ulster had a ratio of 11 students to every PC, while Queen's University, Belfast had one PC for every 32 students.
The use of PCs among third-level students has soared in recent years. A recent report by UCD showed that of its 18,000 students, almost 14,000 used email on a regular basis.
With increasing pressure on their infrastructure, many colleges now require students to have their own computers.
UCD's Commerce Faculty recently announced that its students needed to have their own laptop.
Five years ago the Government-appointed Information Society Committee set a target of one PC for every three students, but none of the colleges surveyed by USI is near to meeting this standard. While the survey deals with universities, the figures at some institutes of technology are believed to be worse.
Mr Richard Hammond, president of USI, said: "Ireland is one of the world's leading exporters of computer software and hardware and yet our university students are struggling with inadequate facilities".
Mr Colm Jordan, education officer with USI, said a digital divide was being created.
"In the absence of adequate computer facilities in our third-level institutions, those students with the resources to provide themselves with their own computer and printer have a great advantage over those who must wait in line for the use of college facilities."