NUI Galway was established in 1845 and is one of Ireland's foremost centres of academic excellence. NUI Galway ranks among the top 1% of Universities in the world based on data from QS World University Rankings and is the 2018 Sunday Times University of the Year.

With over 17,000 students, NUI Galway has a distinguished reputation for teaching and research excellence. NUI Galway has earned national and international recognition as a research-led community with a commitment to top-quality teaching. At NUI Galway, there is a strong connection to the Irish language; in addition, volunteering and community outreach play a strong role in academic life.