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St Patrick's College, Maynooth opened its doors as an educational institution in 1795 as the National Seminary, becoming a Pontifical University in 1896. In the intervening two centuries, it has established for itself an impressive reputation for scholarship and learning. The Pontifical University and National Seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. Today, as a Pontifical University, the College specializes in the study of theology and philosophy and related areas, in one of the most beautiful campuses in Ireland, and the support of Ireland's newest University, Maynooth University. The College is justly proud of its long-standing tradition of commitment to high-quality instruction and student service provided by a responsive faculty, formation team, and administrative staff. Many of our alumni and current students alike cite close interaction with faculty members as hallmarks of their educational experience at Maynooth. The Pontifical University, on foot of its ongoing professional quality assurance process, is redoubling its efforts to put in place an environment of excellence for undergraduates and postgraduates in every dimension of student life and learning. Our commitment to each student is to deliver a high quality third and fourth level educational experience that is at once academically challenging and personally supportive. The College seeks to provide its students and seminarians with a solid academic foundation, a strong spiritual base, and value-added research and recreational environment capable of generating graduates equipped with the requisite knowledge and leadership skills to excel in their career fields or vocational callings. Studying at Maynooth, whether for several years or just a semester, is truly a time of rich intellectual, personal, spiritual, and human development opportunities. As we work and study, all of us faculty and staff, seminarians and students, are on a journey of faith, discovery, leadership, and community. Our common goal is the education and formation of leaders: for the church, our country, our communities, the professions, and many different walks of life. Let us make the most of this piece of the road that we will share! With an original foundation in 1795, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, is, since 1896, a Pontifical University dedicated to the disciplines of philosophy and theology. Drawing on its Catholic tradition, the College is committed to the highest level in teaching and learning, research, and publication. As an institution, it promotes the intellectual, human, and professional development of its students within an environment that respects autonomy and diversity. The Faculty of Theology further strives to communicate, conserve, and innovate from within the Christian theological tradition and contribute creatively to the broader church, society, and culture. St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, was founded in 1795 as the National Seminary for all of Ireland. In addition to the courses in philosophy and theology required for the education of candidates for the priesthood, its' curriculum included courses in the Humanities (Classics, English, Irish and Modern Languages) and Natural Philosophy (including mathematics and experimental science). At the time of the celebration of the College's first centenary, permission was sought from Rome to confer canonical degrees in Philosophy, Theology, and Canon Law. This was achieved in 1896 with the grant of a Charter as a Pontifical University. The history of University Education in nineteenth-century Ireland is a complex one and was only finally resolved by the foundation of the National University of Ireland (NUI) in 1908, with constituent colleges in Dublin, Cork, and Galway. The terms of the Act of Parliament establishing the University excluded the teaching of and granting degrees in theology. It gave the new University, however, the right to recognize other institutions for teaching and granting of degrees. Under these terms, the Trustees of Maynooth applied for recognition of the College's non-theological courses in 1909. The following year, Saint Patrick's College Maynooth became a Recognised College of the National University of Ireland, with Faculties of Arts, Philosophy and Celtic Studies. After an initial experimental period of four years, the status of Recognised College was granted in perpetuity and extended to include a Faculty of Science. Maynooth was accordingly both a Pontifical University for the ecclesiastical sciences and a Recognised College of the National University of Ireland in Arts, Philosophy, Celtic Studies, and Science. The President of St Patrick's College was head of both institutions, and the staff of the College held professorships and lectureships within the National University of Ireland. The College's student body remained exclusively clerical until 1966, when lay students were admitted to NUI courses of the College. In time, these courses became the predominant dimension of Maynooth's curriculum. With the increasing number of students, the NUI's teaching staff became more numerous and varied in background. An Act of Dáil Éireann in 1997 restructured the National University of Ireland. By its terms, the Recognised College at Maynooth became the National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM), independent of St Patrick's College. NUIM now has more than 8,000 students. Its traditional Faculties of Arts, Philosophy, Celtic Studies, and Science, includes courses in Finance, Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Electronic Engineering. Today, the Pontifical University at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses open to all qualifying candidates. View full university