Side by side with the publicly funded tertiary sector are a number of private institutions mainly involved in the provision of business and professional educational training. Courses on offer include; Accountancy and Business Studies, Law, Humanities, Hotel and Catering, Tourism Studies and Art. Many of the programmes offered by these colleges are validated by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and some have links with universities and/or professional associations through which the courses on offerare accredited.

Institutions engaged in the provision of education, some, at least, of whose programmes are validated by Higher Education and Training Awards Council:

American College Dublin

American College Dublin provides quality international education for students from all over the world by combining the excellent traditions of the American and Irish education systems. Profile Page

Burren College of Art

Burren College - A Place of Imagination

Imagine a purpose-built art college in the grounds of a sixteenth century castle located within a spectacular landscape on the west coast of Ireland.A remote place where artists and art students thrive as a community free from urban distractions yet networked with the art centres of the world. Profile Page

Carlow College

Carlow College has educated thousands of students, among whom there were poets, writers, teachers, priests, politicians, lawyers, artists and journalists, people who have made an important contribution to society.. Profile Page

Dublin Business School

Established in 1975, Dublin Business School (DBS) is one of Ireland's largest independent third level college. With over 9,000 students, DBS provides a comprehensive range of Full-time Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Evening Degree, Evening Diploma, Professional Accountancy and Executive Education programmes. DBS courses in Business, Management, Law, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Event Management, Information Technology, Arts, Media, Journalism, Psychology and Social Science. Profile Page

Griffith College

Griffith College offers both academic and professional programmes, full and part-time, short-term and long-term and from classroom to distance based. Profile Page

Hibernia College

Hibernia College is an international, third level, online college offering accredited, niche-focused educational programmes designed to address the growing demand for flexible, cost-effective, lifelong learning which is not restricted by location or time. Profile Page

St Nicolas Montessori

Nicholas Montessori College Ireland is a higher educational institution providing Montessori teaching through full-time, part-time, outreach and in-service programmes. Profile Page

Milltown Institute

Milltown Institute is a thriving third level college specialising in philosophy, theology, spirituality, cultural studies and pastoral care. As a specialist institute Milltown offers an alternative to large university campuses with multiple departments and thousands of students.Profile Page

IBAT College Dublin 

Established in 2004, IBAT College Dublin is one of Ireland’s fastest growing private education providers, with a global reputation for high-quality education and student care. Profile Page

Kimmage DSC

KDSC offers a unique combination of studies which aim to combine the practical and the theoretical, the academic and the skill-based. The development studies courses of Economics, Sociology and Anthropology are complemented by subjects which have a large training, active learning and skills component, such as Human Development, Adult Education, Group Facilitation Skills, Financial Management, Gender and Development, Sustainable Livelihoods and Project Planning and Management. These courses have proven invaluable in enabling practitioners to work effectively for social, economic and political change in society and the holistic development of all. Profile Page

Independent Colleges

Independent Colleges is a new concept in Irish education providing goal-focused, personalised tuition, supported by Independent News & Media plc. Independent Colleges offers courses in psychotherapy and journalism Profile Page

Institute of Public Administration

The Institute of Public Administration is Ireland's only consultancy service focused exclusively on public sector development

The Open University

The Open University is a third level, online college offering accredited programmes. Profile Page