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Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
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University Life
University Life
Each year more than 4,000 choose University of Galway as their University of choice. Find out what life at University of Galway is all about here.
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About University of Galway
About University of Galway
Since 1845, University of Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
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Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
University of Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching across a range of key areas of expertise.
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Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
University of Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
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Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at University of Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
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Alumni & Friends
Alumni & Friends
There are 128,000 University of Galway alumni worldwide. Stay connected to your alumni community! Join our social networks and update your details online.
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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Water
Photo by Prof. Chaosheng Zhang
Over the last year we have demonstrated our commitment to the principles of the SDGs though our effective and efficient use of water, a key natural resource; by preventing and reducing waste and managing waste in a sustainable way and by encouraging and facilitating sustainable transport and travel patterns. We are committed to creating a campus that will have a positive impact on the surrounding environment, promoting resource efficiency, reducing pollution and protecting historic areas of the campus.
Our Strategic Aim is to minimise the local, regional and global environmental impacts of water usage by reducing university-wide water usage, increasing the use of reclaimed water and reduce bottled water consumption on campus.
Wastewater Treatment
Trade Effluent:
NUI Galway has a Trade Effluent licence in compliance with Irish Regulation, which governs the discharge of all our liquid waste (other than domestic wastewater and stormwater). NUI Galway comply with the conditions of our Trade Effluent Licence across our Campus including food services, research facilities and our sports facility.
Wastewater:
We work under a water discharge licence with Irish Water through Galway City Council and all our wastewater discharge goes into the Galway City Council (GCC) public sewer network and treated by the Galway Wastewater Treatment Plant. This plant is licensed by the EPA which outlines strict guidelines and quality control for wastewater treatment. We thereby abide by the water quality standards and guidelines for water discharge laid out in the National Guidelines for wastewater treatment.
Carna Reserach Station
NUI Galway's Carna Research Station, located in Carna, the Atlantic coast of Ireland is a leading facility for aquaculture research and development on a diverse range of marine finfish, shellfish and seaweed species. The wastewater discharge is under license with Galway County Council (GGC) and discharge water is tested monthly by Complete Laboratory Solutions with all results sent to GCC for reference.
Laboratory waste at NUI Galway
All wastewater in laboratories in NUI Galway are trapped at source with water going through dilution traps which are cleaned and changed every 6months, this reduces any chemicals entering the waste treatment systems.
Reducing bottled water consumption on campus
NUI Galway is committed to reducing bottled water consumption on campus by increasing drinking water facilities, improving signage and implementing a programme of education and awareness.
Water fountains on campus
University of Galway has a network of over 30 drinking water fountains on campus, including 4 recently installed outdoor ones.
See our drinking water map or the locations of all water fountains on campus!
Certified Water Stewardship
NUI Galway is committed to the effective and efficient use of water throughout the campus and the appropriate treatment, management and disposal of wastewater. The University is striving to reduce its water usage and increase the use of harvested rainwater through a series of measures, including: water leakage detection and repair programme, education and outreach, process-related efficiency measures, greywater and rainwater harvesting. The Certified Water Stewardship badge demonstrates that key staff have undertaken a course designed to show leadership and set goals/targets in reducing water consumption.
NUI Galway Water Stewardship Charter
The NUI Galway Water Stewardship Charter outlines our key actions and targets.
The Charter commits to maintaining and achieving further reductions in water usage on campus and to highlighting the importance of water of as a critical and limited resource. It aims to ensure that our future water professionals are cognisant of best, sustainable practices in water resource management, treatment and supply, through research-led teaching and on‐campus applied solutions.
Strategic Aims
- To raise awareness with staff, students and visitors of water as a critical and limited resource that must be used responsibly.
- To reduce water usage on campus by 10% by 2025 based on 2018 baseline.
- To eliminate all unnecessary water usage on campus, to maintain and further improve the water usage reductions achieved on campus in the last period.
- NUI Galway to utilise new technologies and methods to reduce water consumption on our Laboratory's and Research labs.
- To eliminate the reliance of staff, students and visitors on single use plastics for water consumption.
Life below water
NUI Galway is a global leader for research on life below water and education and support for aquatic ecosystems both locally and globally. The Times Higher Societal Impact Rankings 2020 placed NUI Galway 10th in the world for addressing UN SDG 14 – life below water. SDG 14 aims to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution and address the impacts of ocean acidification.
