Let’s admit it, not everyone has access to quality education in the country capital or even abroad. That’s why good educational institutions and colleges were also built in other areas, including Waterford.
So if you’re planning on studying a program that you love, here is the list of colleges that we think are the best in Waterford, Ireland.
Want to know more? Check out this review!
How much does it cost to study college in Waterford?
Studying in Waterford will cost you at least €4,000 a year depending on the program and type of college you are in. Here’s our estimates per program:
The Top Colleges in Waterford
A college must have what it takes to develop students and help them reach their potential. That said, here’s what we used as criteria in this review:
1. South East Technological University
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| COURSES | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| OVERALL ENVIRONMENT | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| REPUTATION | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
We included South East Technological University as one of the most excellent colleges in Waterford, Ireland and we’ll tell you why.
The school offers nearly 70 courses, which cater to a wide range of interests and career paths ranging from business and accounting to health and engineering.
One of the strongest suits of its engineering path is its focus on sustainability, with courses in sustainable civil and energy engineering. This is an ideal choice for students who are passionate about making a positive impact on the world through technology.
Another advantage here is its blended learning approach, which combines traditional in-person classes with online learning. This flexible approach enables students to balance their studies with work or other commitments.
Additionally, we like that the university also offers flexible learning opportunities through the Springboard program, which provides upskilling courses for those looking to enhance their careers. Plus, these are free or subsidized .
However, it’s worth noting that the university doesn’t offer a degree in medicine, which may be a drawback for students interested in pursuing a career in that field.
There’s also no course in chemical engineering which is an important area in engineering and research.
Overall, South East Technological University is a great choice for students looking for a well-rounded education in different areas, especially on business and management.
Pros
- Offers nearly 70 courses
- Ideal for sustainable engineering courses
- Has blended learning
- Flexible learning for upskilling courses under Springboard program
Cons
- No degree in medicine
- No chemical engineering course
Customer Reviews
Popular place
“Very popular place for young people who cary on studying. Thera so many facilities for students also accommodation. Good big parking spaces.” – Sergiy Moskalenko
Awesome place to study
“I have done my masters here. Faculties are so helpful and it’s awesome place to study and grow yourself.” – Deeksha
2. Waterford College of Further Education
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| COURSES | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| OVERALL ENVIRONMENT | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| REPUTATION | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Waterford College of Further Education is an excellent educational institution located in the beautiful city of Waterford. Why? It allows students to learn without pressuring them about schedules!
The college has a reputation for providing reputable skills training for students in a variety of fields such as arts. This makes it an ideal place for students looking to expand their skill set.
One of the college’s greatest strengths is its short-term courses, which are designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter in a condensed period of time.
We love the Childcare Program because it covers applied psychology, legal studies, and even advanced special needs for children.
Another great aspect of Waterford College of Further Education is its comprehensive business and hospitality course. We like that the college focuses on providing students with hands-on merged business and tourism topics.
To add, the college has a strong sports program, with a wide range of recreational activities and facilities available to students. It doesn’t only cover sports strategies, but also injury management and performance.
The only major disadvantage of the college is that it is limited to vocational courses, which may not suit everyone’s needs, especially those looking for full degrees in the fields of health, sciences, and humanities.
However, Waterford College of Further Education is an excellent choice for students looking to improve their skills to expand their sources of income through having a ticket to in-demand jobs.
Pros
- Ideal for skills training
- Ideal for short-term courses
- Comprehensive business and hospitality course
- Good sports programs
Cons
- Limited to vocational courses
- Requires initial payment for evening classes
Customer Reviews
Great college
“Great college and [the] teachers are amazing.” – Darwaish Nasari
Amazing teachers
“I went here in 2019 social studies amazing teachers ! The building itself needs to upgrade its heating l, its computers and its cleaning staff…” – Amy O
3. Dungarvan College
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| COURSES | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| OVERALL ENVIRONMENT | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| REPUTATION | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Dungarvan College is a great educational institution located in Waterford that assists high school learners and even prepares those who want skills to begin their employment journey.
One of the biggest pros of Dungarvan College is that it offers a great introduction to bookkeeping.
This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in pursuing a career in finance or accounting, and it provides a solid foundation for future studies in these fields.
Another pro of the college is that it offers night classes, making it accessible to students who work during the day. Most of the courses offered here are skills-based and are preparatory for degree programs.
We also love the helpful guitar lessons as part of its 3-course program that are very ideal for individuals with zero guitar knowledge.
What’s more, the college offers an interesting short course in Mediation, Mindfulness, and Relaxation. This is taught every Tuesday by an experienced practitioner.
Also, Dungarvan College offers affordable short courses, making it accessible to a wide range of students. However, one con of the college is that it is limited to short courses and does not offer bachelor degrees.
Still, we included it as one of the best colleges in Waterford because of its ability to prepare secondary students to reputable tertiary learning institutions.
Not only that, but the short courses offered to expand a student’s skill set is a deal maker.
Pros
- Good for bookkeeping intro
- Offers night classes
- Helpful guitar lessons
- Interesting Mediation, Mindfulness, and Relaxation short course
- Affordable short courses
Cons
- Limited to short courses
- No bachelor degrees
Customer Reviews
Well done
“…I find it an amazing school . Well done to all teachers…” – Ursula Fynn
Best for children
“Best place for education of our children.” – Natalia Stavrati
4. Yeats College
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| COURSES | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| OVERALL ENVIRONMENT | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| REPUTATION | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Yeats College in Waterford, Ireland is an excellent choice for students who are looking to prepare for the Leaving Certificate.
With over 20 years of experience, the college has a proven track record of delivering high-quality education to its students.
We love how the college has a student-focused approach and provides tailored support to meet the individual needs of its students.
In addition to Leaving Certificate preparation, Yeats College also offers top-notch Health Professional Admissions Test (HPAT) courses.
We think this is a helpful program to prepare for admission into medicine, dentistry, and other health-related programs.
We also like that the college has a team of experienced and knowledgeable instructors who are dedicated in ensuring high passing rates for its reviewees.
One of the downsides of Yeats College is that it does not offer degree programs. It’s also limited to review courses for the Leaving Certificate and HPAT.
This means that students who are interested in pursuing a degree will need to transfer to another institution after completing their courses at Yeats College.
To sum it up, Yeats College is a great option for students who are looking for a short, reliable education in Waterford because it can help students enter their chosen education paths.
Pros
- Great for Leaving Certificate preparation
- First class HPAT courses
- Over 20 years experience
- Student-focused approach
Cons
- No degree programs
- Limited to review courses
Customer Reviews
Excellent
“An excellent College with the best teachers.” – Cecilia Kehoe
Five stars
A five-star Google rating by Jodie Murphy on Communication, Professionalism, Quality, Value
FAQs about the best colleges in Waterford
Waterford is a great place to study if you’re looking for a city that’s small enough to still feel like home, but big enough to have everything you need.
If you’re also looking for other places to study in Ireland, check these out: