Academic Affairs & Student Life

From September 2024 to August 2025, Mary Immaculate College continued to foster a vibrant and supportive learning community, characterised by strong student engagement, academic success, and a commitment to holistic development. With a student population of over 5,000 and one of the highest retention rates in Ireland (over 95%), MIC provided an inclusive, empowering environment, with students supported to realise their academic, personal, and professional potential.

During the year, MIC also continued to strengthen and diversify its academic portfolio in response to evolving student interests, societal needs, and strategic priorities. 

At undergraduate level, the College expanded its programme offering, introducing new degree pathways, further enhancing opportunities for students across the humanities and social sciences with the introduction of the BA in Drama and English and the BA in English Language and Literature. 

At postgraduate level, significant additions included the M Ed in Education for Human Rights and Equality, and the MA sna Dána sa Ghaeilge (Ceannaireacht i dTeanga, Cultúr agus Pobal), reflecting MIC's commitment to academic innovation, lifelong learning, Irish-language provision, and the development of graduates equipped to contribute to an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Development and diversification in MIC Thurles continued during the year, culminating in the launch of the new Department of Business and Accounting by Minister Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

MIC CAO Figures

The B Ed in Education and Psychology (MI008) degree, the only one of its kind in Ireland, not only remained a highly sought-after programme attracting the highest calibre of applicants, but the 2024 CAO minimum points requirement of 590 made it, along with MIC’s Bachelor of Education - International (MI004), the teacher education programme with the highest points in the country. The minimum points requirement for the B Ed - International was 565. 

The provision of Home Economics as a subject offering at MIC Thurles was widely praised for serving to tackle a teacher supply issue in the discipline. This reporting year saw the BA in Education, Home Economics, and Business Studies (MI022) points increase from 509 in 2023 to 531 in 2024. 

On Saturday 19 October 2024, 537 Inclusion Coordinators were conferred at MIC as part of the Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme. 

The following week saw over 1,800 graduates conferred with academic awards across the College’s 50+ undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Education and the Liberal Arts including an MIC record high number of PhD graduates (33). 

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Skills, Patrick O’Donovan TD, who is also an alumnus of MIC, attended the ceremony on Friday 25 October.

Almost 100 students were recognised for their academic and other notable achievements this year, as almost half a million euro was awarded in scholarships, awards and bursaries. 

€100,000 was presented to 47 first-year students who received an MIC Entrance Scholarship for their impressive Leaving Certificate results.

Five Elite Sports Scholarships were awarded to Kerry Ladies Footballer, Aoife Dillane; Irish Women’s Rugby player, Clara Barrett; Clare Senior Hurler, Shane Meehan; Laois Ladies Footballer, Katie Donoghue and Clare U20 hurler, Ronan O’Connor.

Waterford Camogie player, Niamh Murphy, and Galway Senior Hurler, Eoin Lawless, were awarded the MIC GPA Sports Scholarship worth €4,800, awarded to two Gaelic Players Association members who undertake postgraduate study at MIC.

Clíodhna Queally from Clare and Niamh Hally from Waterford were the two recipients of the prestigious Camogie Association Camogie 120 Teacher Education Bursaries. These bursaries are worth €5,000 each annually for four years of the Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) and were sponsored by MIC Alumna, Dr Carmel Naughton.

A further nine deserving students who excelled in their chosen sports received Munster GAA bursaries, valued at €750 each while Caoimhe Fraher, from Cork, received the Rachel Kenneally Memorial Award, awarded annually in memory of former MIC student and Tipperary Ladies Footballer, Rachel Kenneally.

Clare’s GAA/GPA 2024 Young Hurler of the Year and Third Year Liberal Arts student, Adam Hogan, was awarded the Student Outstanding Achievement of the Year for his phenomenal sporting success with county (Hurling League and All-Ireland honours), club (County Championship with Feakle) and College (Fitzgibbon Cup 2024).

Gifted concertina player, Rachel Mahony from Ennis, Co. Clare, was awarded the Ashling Murphy Memorial Scholarship. The scheme, jointly presented by MIC and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), recognises first-year Bachelor of Education students for exceptional achievement and talent in traditional Irish music.

Alex Kinahan, Tipperary, received the TOMAR Trust Award, valued at €8,500 over four years. The award is offered by the TOMAR Trust to support MIC’s PATH programme, which seeks to recognise students who transfer with distinction from their Further Education programme to take up a place in MIC Thurles’ teacher preparation programme.

Six students were awarded the Saint Bonaventure Trust Prize, recognising the academic excellence of students studying Theology and Religious Studies.

MIC’s Postgraduate College of Sanctuary Scholarships were awarded for the second time this year to two recipients. The scholarships aim to support International Protection Applicants, refugees, and migrant groups to pursue postgraduate study and consist of an annual stipend of €3,000 and a full fee waiver. 

Several awards were presented to postgraduate students to continue their studies at MIC, and three MIC Researchers received Research Ireland Government of Ireland funding awards.

The 1916 Bursary scheme continued to support 37 new entrants from targeted underrepresented groups.

The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provided essential financial aid to students experiencing hardship. These supports contributed significantly to retention and equitable participation for many students facing challenges with finance, commuting and accommodation.

Mental Health Investment: Significant HEA funding (€138,484) secured to bolster student mental health and wellbeing services across both MIC campuses.

The HEA provided MIC with increased and dedicated funding of €19,000 to support student mental health and wellbeing initiatives.

The Access Office maintained a strong strategic focus on inclusion and widening participation. Key priorities included supporting students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, mature learners, and students with disabilities. Structured supports, financial assistance, and tailored engagement initiatives ensured that access students were supported across the full student lifecycle. 

MIC delivered strong performance in Access, exceeding key widening participation targets, supported by sustained investment through PATH 1, PATH 3 and PATH 5 initiatives. Entry rates for socioeconomically disadvantaged students (HEAR) reached 4.8% (target 3%), while students with disabilities (DARE) increased to 9.2% (target 6.3%), significantly above target. Traveller participation rose to 0.3% (3 entrants), and access/foundation pathways grew to 0.78% (target 0.2%), with FET entrants at 1.3% (target 1.2%). Overall, outcomes demonstrate effective PATH-enabled interventions and strong student success, with retention and completion rates of 94%. 

In parallel, PATH 4 (Universal Design for Learning) strengthened inclusive teaching, learning and assessment practices across the institution. Specifically, it provided funding (€82k) for the roll-out of training for Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for all staff, as well as the establishment of a Community of Practice. 

PATH 4 also facilitated delivery of a revised course for students with intellectual disabilities, Mary Immaculate College Ability Programme (MAP). MIC was awarded €625k to support delivery. The MAP is delivered in partnership with LCETB, Brothers of Charity, Ennis and Enable. An initial cohort of ten students registered on MAP. PATH 5 (Travellers/Roma) enhanced targeted supports for students with a grant of €15,191. Together, these initiatives complement access efforts by embedding inclusion at both systemic and individual levels, supporting improved participation, progression and student success.

Established in 1997, MIC’s Academic Learning Centre (ALC) provides free academic support and guidance to students across both campuses. 

This reporting period saw an extension of services offering through the provision of additional support classes in Gaeilge and Mathematics. Reflective Practice and Academic Integrity workshops were also offered to students throughout the year. The ALC’s drop-in service proved very effective, particularly in managing queries about AI use and Academic Integrity.

This reporting period also saw the Pre-University Programme for Mature Learners taking place. This is an in-person programme offered by the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) in MIC and is aimed at adult learners (minimum age: 22) from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who wish to continue their education, and whose educational experiences and opportunities in their earlier years may have been limited. 16 students received their certificates from the MIC President in May.

MIC's alumni community is an integral part of the College's story and future success. Through their professional accomplishments, civic engagement, and ongoing connection with the College, our graduates enrich the MIC community and help strengthen our mission. MIC remains committed to fostering meaningful lifelong relationships with our alumni and supporting their continued success.

The annual Alumni Awards recognise the remarkable achievements of notable graduates in their personal or professional lives. This reporting period saw internationally acclaimed singer, theologian, writer, musicologist, and Celtic Spirituality expert, Dr Nóirín Ní Ríain, and former Cork dual player and MIC Fitzgibbon Cup team manager, Jamie Wall, receive the 2024 MIC Alumni of the Year awards in recognition of their respective musical and sporting contributions to society.

This year we welcomed back close to 200 graduates from years including 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2014 to meet old friends, reminisce about their studies, view old archive materials and tour the MIC Limerick campus.