Your college years are a combination of education, self-development and life experience, so you’ll want to spend them in a place you love. It’s about finding a home away from home, making new friends and doing a course that you will really enjoy.
The award-winning Institute of Technology Sligo ticks all of those boxes. It offers everything from level six Higher Certificate awards to Level 10 PhD at a single 72-acre campus on the edge of Sligo town. Students enjoy the bustling attractions of the town as well as everything from world-class surfing spots to wild, unspoiled countryside on its doorstep.
Here’s why IT Sligo is the perfect college for you.
1 Top-class lecturers
College may be about more than just learning, but IT Sligo provides the chance to learn from the best in your field. Its passionate, engaging lecturers combine academic theory with industry experience in their lessons. IT Sligo is ranked first in Ireland for student-to-lecturer ratio across all universities and institutes of technology by the Good University Guide 2021, ensuring students get the time and attention they need.
The institute operates at a university level and will become a technological university in 2022. In fact, it is ranked as a top 5 Irish University by U-Multirank – the world’s largest global university ranking.
2 Innovative and accredited courses
Most programmes offer added value such as professional accreditation, work experience or pathways into post-college careers. New and innovative degrees include Robotics & Automaton, Electronics & Self Driving Technologies, Business & ICT and Law & Business. IT Sligo is home to Ireland's first CORU-approved Level 8 Social Care Practice degree. Professional accreditations in Engineering, Occupational Safety and Health, Construction, Quantity Surveying, Accounting, Sport, Human Nutrition, Health Science, Marketing and Business are just some of the many more.
It’s no wonder that 96 per cent of IT Sligo graduates are employed or engaged in further study.
3 Common entry flexibility
It is not always easy to know what area to study; it is even more difficult to decide what area to specialise in. That’s why IT Sligo’s common entry programmes are so popular. All engineering and computing programmes, alongside four in the Faculty of Science, have built-in common entry routes. Our business degrees also offer a broad-base degree before students can specialise in the final year.
The common entry helps you understand where your true passion lies. Study a broad range of subjects before choosing what area to specialise in at a later date. So, if you know that you like a certain topic but are unsure what area to specialise in, it is definitely worth checking out these flexible options.
4 Ireland’s online specialists
IT Sligo is ranked No 1 for Most Flexible Learning Students in the Good University Guide 2021. With more than 140 online courses available, IT Sligo is Ireland’s leading online provider. Through innovative online teaching methods, students anywhere in the world can study and graduate with fully accredited online qualifications matched to industry demand.
For many students, attending campus full time is not an option for a variety of reasons. The institute now offers four full-time CAO programmes through the Higher Education for All initiative: a work-based learning degree in Mechatronic Systems plus fully online options in Business, Writing & Literature and Health & Medical Information Science.
5 Great facilities
The college was ranked third highest across all universities and institutes of technology for its investment in facilities by the Good University Guide 2021. It invests heavily in state-of-the-art facilities such as industry-spec computer, science and engineering labs, as well as quality teaching spaces, spending €60 million over the past decade.
A further €35 million investment over the next two years will build a modern four-storey complex with the latest state-of-the-art technology for teaching and learning, located right in the centre of campus. In addition, the final phase of the new Creative Hub is underway to ensure the Yeats Academy of Arts, Design and Architecture will become a cultural beacon for the northwest region.
There’s also a three-storey library, a student support building, chill-out zones, study zones and subsidised cafes and restaurants on campus.
6 Comprehensive supports for students
IT Sligo says "if it's important to you, it's important to us", and this is clear from the amount of free supports in place for students. Academic supports include maths, academic writing and engineering. The access office organises learning support, disability support and use of modern assistive technology for those who need it.
A health service made up of doctors, nurses and counsellors is also available free of charge. The careers team supports you throughout your time studying and beyond, while a pastoral care team support your personal and spiritual growth. Finally, a student mentoring programme and fun-filled induction will help you settle into college life seamlessly.
7 A real sense of community
IT Sligo is the sort of college where you get to know your lecturers almost as well as your classmates. There are more than 70 sports clubs and societies so there’s always an activity or something to do on campus. Whether you’re into sport, music, art exhibitions or debates, you’ll find your tribe at IT Sligo.
This is a far cry from some of the bigger colleges, where you sometimes feel like you’re just another face in the crowd. The award-winning Student Union helps to support the welfare of students and runs campus watch initiatives throughout the year.
8 A vibrant town
Another attraction of choosing the institute is the chance to live and study in Sligo, which has everything you'll need but with a more relaxed lifestyle than its city counterparts. It's a safe, friendly, lively town where the students and the locals mix freely.
As you’d expect from somewhere in Yeats County, Sligo has a thriving cultural scene and is home to artists, writers, digital creators and filmmakers, as well as exciting new enterprises in technology and food tourism. And, of course, there are great eateries, cafes and bars in town.
9 A natural wonderland on your doorstep
One of the advantages of studying along the Wild Atlantic Way is the wealth of natural amenities and scenic destinations on offer. From surfing at Mullaghmore and Strandhill to camping at Lough Gill and hiking Benbulben, the surrounding countryside is an adventure playground just waiting to be explored.
Its dramatic coastal scenery makes it an ideal spot for road trips with friends or outdoor pursuits when you need a well-deserved break from the books. The S1 and S2 bus routes from campus also make it easy to reach popular hotspots such as Strandhill and Rosses Point.
10 On-campus accommodation
There are seven purpose-built student accommodation villages at IT Sligo, all self-catering and within one to 12 minutes' walk to campus. The villages are lively, fun places where you'll meet lifelong friends. Some villages offer smart TVs, high-speed wifi, and some even offer Netflix. The Student Union can help you find the perfect accommodation option to match your needs.
The town also has plenty of digs accommodation on offer or you can privately rent out a room in a shared house or with friends. In Sligo you'll be a world away from the soaring rents and the accommodation crises found in bigger cities. Find out more at www.youtube.com
11 Sport for all
Whether you are an elite level athlete, a talented amateur or simply looking to keep fit and healthy, IT Sligo has something to suit all abilities and interests. This is mirrored in the sports facilities. With a campus walking trail, fully equipped fitness suite, exercise studios, international standard eight-lane running track, Fifa-approved AstroTurf pitch, FAI-approved soccer pitch and an intercounty standard GAA pitch – there really is something for everyone.
For elite level athletes, there is a sports scholarship programme. Through several supports, athletes can achieve their sporting goals while maintaining academic excellence. Find out more at www.youtube.com
12 A lower cost of living
One of the biggest college expenses is rent, but student accommodation is a lot more affordable in Sligo than in other student towns or cities. It starts at €56 for a twin room or €63 for a single room per week in the student accommodation villages, compared with a starting cost of €158/week in some Dublin colleges. That's a big difference over a college term.
The cost of simple things such as groceries, gyms, taxis, eating out and even a pint is also lower in Sligo than in cities. So your euro will go much further, which is good news for students.
13 Travelling home is easy
You may be having too much fun to think about home, but you’ll need to get that laundry done eventually! As the largest urban centre in the northwest, Sligo is well-connected with a road, rail and air infrastructure and it’s just a 2 1/2-hour drive from Dublin. Most buses stop at the college campus on Friday, with return stops on Sundays.