National College of Ireland has been to the forefront of innovation in learning for over fifty years, transforming education in a way that is both simple and extraordinary. Guided by the principles of Access, Opportunity and Excellence, the College is committed to delivering academic excellence in a student-centred environment with a curriculum that is responsive to the needs of business and community.

NCI, established in 1951, is a non profit, third level College whose mission is to provide a centre of academic excellence, to create opportunities for students to succeed and to facilitate access to education for all groups. NCI identifies educational needs and responds to them through innovative and flexible delivery systems, including distance education and online learning technologies, which provide educational access regardless of geographical location. NCI 's student profile is unique, over 80% of its student are working adults. The current enrolment is over 5,500 students.

NCI, through its two schools, the School of Business and Humanities and the School of Informatics, offers a wide range of full-time and part-time courses at different levels from foundation through to certificate, diploma, degree and postgraduate level. NCI's courses are accredited by HETAC/FETAC and qualify under relevant grants, tax releif and free fees.

NCI's educational philosophy and operational structure embody participation, collaboration and applied problem solving strategies. These are enabled by a faculty whose qualifications and professional experience help integrate academic theory with current practical application. The college assesses both the quality of its academic programmes and the academic achievement of its students and utilises, the results of these assessments to improve academic and institutional quality.

The primary focus of NCI is on maintaining a centre of excellence that is centred on the changing needs of today's learner.

Since its foundation, the College has been developing to meet the needs of a changing world. NCI now provides a broad range of high-quality education programmes for today's knowledge-based society.

In line with its mission of broadening access to education, the College places a strong emphasis on the needs of the learner, bringing a unique student-centred approach to all aspects of its teaching and research. NCI provides a range of learning options that extend beyond traditional classroom dynamics, including distance learning and internet-based learning programmes.