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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.
Accessibility & LanguageWater
University of Galway is committed to the effective and efficient use of water resources because we recognise the economic and environmental cost of providing safe, clean drinking water and the need to safeguard the supply for the future. Concerted efforts to reduce water consumption have been ongoing across the campus for more than a decade, from extensive leak detection and repair to improved monitoring, equipment upgrades and the adoption of behaviour change campaigns.
We are committed to continuing to reduce water consumption and to highlighting the importance of water as a critical and limited resource and eliminate all unnecessary water usage on campus. We will engage staff, students and visitors in responsible water usage on campus and by example, encourage responsible water use practice in the wider community. We will continue to lead and contribute to water research providing sustainable local and global solutions for water resource management, supply and treatment. Through research-led teaching and on campus applied solutions, we will ensure that our future water professionals are cognisant of best, sustainable practises in water resources management, treatment and supply.
In line with our Water Stewardship Charter and Sustainability Strategy 2021-2025, our strategic aims are:
- 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 2019 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.
- To utilise new technologies and methods to reduce water consumption in our laboratories and research labs
- To eliminate the reliance of staff, students and visitors on single use plastics for water consumption.
Our Water Guidelines 2024 outlines our commitments and actions on areas such as water stewardship, measurement and reduction of water consumption, water reuse, drinking water and single-use plastics, wastewater, trade effluent and pollution prevention, and engagement and research.
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
University of 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 previously placed University of 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.
Sustainable management of water, aquatic ecosystems and marine resources
University of Galway hosted an online event on 'Sustainable management of water, aquatic ecosystems and marine resources' to engage students, staff, communities and policy-makers on these important areas.
The speakers and topics were:
- Introduction to University of Galway research on water and environment - Prof. Frances Fahy, Ryan Institute & School of Geography, Archaeology & Irish Studies
- Wastewater Engineering: Key to clean environment, sanitation and a sustainable future - Prof. Xinmin Zhan, School of Engineering
- It’s all about water, water means life - Dr Liam Morrison, School of Natural Sciences
- Irish Marine Biomaterial Repository - Prof. Olivier Thomas, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
The event was attended by representatives of the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications, Uisce Éireann (Irish Water), Inland Fisheries Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Watch the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_AfVdHxjuw
