The University of Dublin, corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin (since the 19th century), located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592, Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin as "the mother of a university" - making it Ireland's oldest operating university. This is one of the seven ancient universities in the English speaking world and the only one outside the present United Kingdom.
Unlike the universities of Oxford and of Cambridge, after which the University of Dublin was modelled and both of which comprise several constituent colleges, there is just one Dublin college: Trinity College. Thus the designations "Trinity College Dublin" and "University of Dublin" are usually synonymous for practical purposes.
The University of Dublin is consistently ranked top in Ireland in certain global surveys - for example, the Times Higher Education Supplement placed the university 49th in the world (no other university from the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland appeared within the top 100).
The University of Dublin is a member of Irish Universities Association and the Coimbra Group, a network of leading European universities.
Contents [hide]
1 Organisation
2 Reputation
2.1 Rankings
3 History
3.1 Early History
3.2 18th and 19th centuries
3.3 20th century
3.4 Recent Years
3.5 Access for Catholics and Women
4 Degrees
5 Parliamentary representation
6 Notes and References
7 See also
8 External links
[edit] Organisation
The University of Dublin may have been modelled on University of Oxford and University of Cambridge in the form of a collegiate university, though the establishing Letters Patent are not clear on this, Trinity College being named by the Queen as the mater universitas ("mother of the university"). As no other college was ever established, Trinity is the sole constituent college of the university and so Trinity College and the University of Dublin are for most practical purposes synonymous.
Queen Victoria issued Letters Patent in 1857 giving legal foundation to the Senate, and other authorities specific to the University - but the High Court held in 1888 that these dealt with "not the incorporation of the University of Dublin but of its Senate merely", the judge noting pointedly, referring to the founding of University College Dublin, that "The advisers of Queen Victoria knew how to incorporate a University when they meant to do so."[1] In a remarkable High Court case of 1898, the Provost, Fellows and Scholars of Trinity were the claimants and the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin were among the defendants, and the court held that Trinity College and the University of Dublin "are one body".[1]
The University is governed by the Board, chaired by the Provost, who is elected for a period of 10 years. The University Council, also chaired by the Provost, governs academic matters. The current Provost of Trinity, John Hegarty, formerly a member of the School of Physics, was elected in 2001.
Dr Mary Robinson is the current Chancellor of the University, its titular head, and there are a number of pro-Chancellors, who can act in her place. In 2008, these are five, Justice Susan Denham, Tony O'Reilly, Professors Eda Sagarra and Dermot F McAleese, and Dr Patrick J. Molloy
