On Monday February 19, TUS announced that it had received maximum stars in all categories assessed under the popular university rating system, making it Ireland’s first university to have ever received five stars in the Arts and Culture category.

The QS university rating system is considered one of the most influential and credible ratings for universities internationally, as ratings are entirely based upon an institution’s performance. The advantage of this rating system is that it highlights for potential staff and students, as well as to future partners, the many areas in which TUS excels.

According to QS: “Employers generally recruit students from (5 Star) institutions directly after they’ve graduated. The performance of such institutions is considered as “Excellent” in the QS Stars rating system”.

The rating system evaluated TUS’s performances in eight categories, all of which received five stars, including: teaching, employability, internationalisation, academic development, online learning, programme strength, arts and culture, inclusiveness.

TUS, with campuses in Limerick (2), Athlone, Thurles, Clonmel and Ennis, including the world-renowned Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) is the first Irish university to achieve a 5 Star Arts and Culture rating.

TUS’s QS 5 Star rating is valid until February 2027 and follows a rigorous and independent data collection process and analysis of performance metrics by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

Announcing the news at a specially convened staff meeting, President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunnane said the results acknowledge the core values of TUS as a higher education institution:

“The fact that we have received the highest number of stars in what is considered one of the most influential and credible ratings for universities globally is a fitting acknowledgement of our commitment to a student-centred, inclusive university, that excels at academic development and providing work ready graduates”

“This recognition not only brings an international focus on TUS, but also the region we serve. Having received 5 Stars across all the categories assessed, TUS scored exceptionally high in the areas of international diversity and employment, with the scoring system taking into consideration the university’s strong reputation among employers, the graduate employment rate, and career service supports. This rating supports the finding of the HEA, that TUS has the highest percentage of honours degree graduates in the country in employment nine months after graduation.”