Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
905. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Irish/EU and non-EU students enrolled in graduate entry veterinary medicine at University College Dublin in each academic year since 2017/2018; the annual tuition fee charged to each category; whether additional publicly funded EU places have been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68446/26]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to enrolments on the Graduate Entry Veterinary Medicine programme at University College Dublin (UCD) is set out in the table below. Data provided by UCD indicates that the number of students enrolled on the programme has increased from 145 in 2017/18 to 230 in 2024/25.
Graduate Entry Veterinary Medicine (UCD) - Enrolments by Domiciliary Origin
|
Academic Year |
Irish/EU (including Northern Ireland & Great Britain) |
Non-EU |
Total |
|
2017/18 |
35 |
110 |
145 |
|
2018/19 |
35 |
125 |
155 |
|
2019/20 |
30 |
130 |
160 |
|
2020/21 |
30 |
150 |
180 |
|
2021/22 |
30 |
165 |
200 |
|
2022/23 |
40 |
175 |
210 |
|
2023/24 |
35 |
185 |
220 |
|
2024/25 |
35 |
195 |
230 |
Source: UCD enrolment data, HEA
In relation to tuition fees, the Graduate Entry Veterinary Medicine programme at University College Dublin is a fee-paying programme. As an autonomous higher education institution, UCD determines the fee levels applicable to the programme and publishes fee schedules annually. UCD's published fee information notes that both EU and non-EU students entering Graduate Entry Veterinary Medicine (DN301) from 2019/20 onwards are subject to annual fee increases. The current published fee for entrants to the Graduate Entry Veterinary Medicine programme in academic year 2026/27 is €31,680 per annum, exclusive of the Student Centre Levy. This fee applies irrespective of domicile status and reflects the programme's position as a graduate-entry professional course.
In relation to veterinary education more generally, currently there are approximately 90 places provided on UCD's direct entry veterinary medicine programme each year and this figure has remained broadly consistent in recent years. More than 90% of these places are taken by Irish and EU students.
More broadly, Ireland's higher education system has experienced sustained growth in student demand in recent years, driven by increasing demographics and strong participation rates in higher education. The sector has continued to expand capacity to accommodate increasing numbers of students and is planning for further growth in the years ahead as larger school-leaver cohorts continue to progress into higher education. Government policy has been focused on increasing overall higher education capacity, including in priority areas such as healthcare and veterinary education, to ensure that demographic growth can be accommodated.
As you are aware, Government approval was granted in October 2025 for the capital programme underpinning the Veterinary Places Activation Programme (VPAP). This is supporting the establishment from this year of two new veterinary schools at South East Technological University and Atlantic Technological University. Together, these schools will provide 80 additional veterinary places annually from 2026, significantly strengthening veterinary education and training capacity in Ireland.
While there are currently no plans to provide additional publicly funded places specifically within UCD's Graduate Entry Veterinary Medicine programme, the Government is substantially expanding overall veterinary education capacity through the Veterinary Places Activation Programme. This expansion is designed to support Ireland's future veterinary workforce needs and increase opportunities for students to access veterinary education. It also forms part of the broader approach being taken across higher education to provide additional capacity in response to continued demographic growth and increasing demand for places.
