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Founding Legislation

Queen's College, Galway was founded under the provisions of “An Act to enable Her Majesty to endow new Colleges for the Advancement of Learning in Ireland”. Under the powers given by this Act the three Colleges of Belfast, Cork and Galway were incorporated on the 30th day of December, 1845.

Subsequently, the University Education (Ireland) Act, 1879, provided for the formation of a new University in Ireland, afterwards in its Charter styled the Royal University of Ireland, and for the dissolution of the Queen's University within two years from the date of the Charter of the Royal University. In this Act it was provided that the professors, graduates and matriculated students of the Queen's University, at the period of its dissolution, should become professors, graduates and matriculated students of the Royal University. The Charter of the Royal University was granted on 27th April, 1880, and the Queen's University was dissolved on 3rd February, 1882.

Under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, two new Universities - the National University of Ireland and the Queen's University Belfast – were established, and on 31st October, 1909, the Royal University was dissolved. The 1908 Act provided that graduates and matriculated students of the Royal University should become graduates and matriculated students of one of the two new universities. The National University of Ireland had three Colleges, including University College, Galway.

University Charter

The founding Charter of the College was established further to the Universities Act, 1908 setting out key governance arrangements including the role of the President and the powers and membership of the Governing Body. ‌

The Universities Act, 1997, as amended

The Universities Act 1997, as amended by the Higher Education Authority Act, 2022 is the principal legislation currently in force which sets out the objects and functions of the University and provides for key aspects of governance and accountability.

It was enacted inter alia to provide for the governance and oversight of higher education institutions in receipt of public funds, the constituting of governing authorities and academic councils and providing for their powers and functions, and to make certain provisions relating to staff, planning and financial scrutiny and reporting of universities.

The HEA Act 2022 amends and updates some of the provisions of the Universities Act 1997. It also provides for changes and updates to the functions and governance of the Higher Education Authority - An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas - and sets out how the HEA oversees higher education institutions.

Other Applicable National Legislation

In addition to the legislation specific to the University and the higher education sector, NUI Galway must also comply with the national legislation in force in relevant areas including but not limited to equality, diversity and inclusion, data protection, freedom of information, ethics in public office, employment rights and protected disclosures.