DkIT and Queen’s University Belfast Advance Strategic Partnership Towards University College Status
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) and Queen’s University Belfast (Queen’s) have issued an update on their strategic partnership, first announced in November 2025, which 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. This will see DkIT embedded within Queen’s academic and quality assurance frameworks.
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.
Dr. Diarmuid O’Callaghan, President of Dundalk Institute of Technology, said:
“From the outset of this partnership, we have worked closely with our colleagues in Queen’s University Belfast, alongside government and sectoral stakeholders, to deliver on our shared vision. The formal endorsement of the Heads of Agreement in March marked a significant milestone, underlining our joint commitment to cross-border collaboration in teaching and learning, research and innovation, and community engagement. We remain fully committed to ensuring our students graduate with a university qualification.”
Queen’s University Belfast President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer said:
“We are delighted with the continued progress being made in relation to this strategic partnership. The recent government approval was a significant step towards creating the first all-island university group, a partnership that will drive economic growth and further improve student opportunities between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen’s University Belfast.”
“We look forward to further developments with this partnership to expand education, research and cross-border collaboration to boost the Dublin–Belfast corridor.”
