Mary Immaculate College (MIC) was pleased to welcome Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, on a recent visit to MIC Thurles earlier this week.
During the visit, Minister Lawless met with Professor Dermot Nestor, President of MIC; Prof. Jennifer Johnston, Vice Dean at MIC Thurles; Dr Rebecca Purcell, Head of the Department of Business & Accounting at MIC Thurles; and Fianna Fáil Education Spokesperson and Tipperary North TD, Ryan O’Meara, to discuss planned programme expansion and student accommodation.
Over the past decade, MIC Thurles has demonstrated sustained and strategic growth, evolving from a small specialist campus into a thriving regional hub for higher education. Since 2016, student enrolment has more than tripled, increasing from approximately 200 to over 600 in the current academic year, reflecting both strengthened provision and rising demand. This trajectory is mirrored in CAO engagement, with applications increasing consistently year-on-year. This growth has been underpinned by a deliberate and responsive expansion of the academic portfolio. From an initial offering of just four programmes, MIC Thurles will deliver 13 programmes as of 2027, with further programme development planned.
The campus has also benefited from strengthened organisational structures, targeted staff recruitment, and enhanced regional partnerships, positioning it as a key contributor to education and skills development in the Mid-West and South-East. Collectively, these developments reflect a clear and ambitious trajectory for MIC Thurles—one centred on sustainable growth, widening participation, and the continued expansion of high-quality, regionally relevant higher education provision.
Speaking during the visit, Minister Lawless said that MIC ‘is now a strong and very well-established campus in Thurles.’
Further information on MIC Thurles programme offerings may be viewed here.
