DkIT and Queen’s University Strategic Partnership
Read the latest news and press releases on the DkIT and Queen's landmark partnership.
In November 2025, Queen’s University Belfast (Queen’s) and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) announced a major new partnership that will establish Dundalk Institute of Technology as a University College of Queen’s University Belfast.
Since the announcement, both institutions have worked in close collaboration, establishing core working groups to oversee key areas. DkIT & Queen's also celebrated the formal endorsement of a Heads of Agreement between the two Institutes in March 2026.
See below for updates on this exciting partnership which is set to expand education, research and cross-border collaboration to boost the Dublin–Belfast corridor.
Notes for Incoming Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students
Minister James Lawless T.D. recently brought a memorandum to Cabinet seeking approval to draft legislative amendments to the Technological Universities Act 2018, which will enable Dundalk Institute of Technology to participate in a new all-island university group with Queen’s University Belfast. The legislation sets out a process to establish a Technological University College following a strategic partnership agreement with Queen’s University Belfast. This technological university college will be named Dundalk University College, a College of Queen’s University Belfast. Subject to this regulatory approval process and a successful application by Dundalk Institute of Technology, students entering DkIT in September 2026 can expect to graduate from Dundalk University College which will be a designated awarding body in its own right.
Subject to legislative approval, and a successful application by Dundalk Institute of Technology, it is anticipated that new entrants to undergraduate honours and postgraduate taught programmes from September 2027 may register for Queen's awards from Dundalk University College, a College of Queen’s University Belfast. Subject to the same regulatory approval and as part of the strategic partnership, it is anticipated that first-year PhD students who enrol from January 2027 may register for Queen’s awards from Dundalk University College.
Recent News Stories
Media Queries
For all media enquiries relating to the DkIT and Queen's University Belfast partnership, please complete this form and a member of our communications team will be in touch.