A lot, if you are a college trying to attract international students and lucrative research funding. In Ireland, the use of the term “university” is carefully controlled under the Universities Act 1997, which sets out the legal and regulatory framework for the sector. Politically, there has also been reluctance to award the RCSI university status ahead of moves to create the State’s first technological university. ObstacleThe “private” nature of the RCSI has been cited in some circles as an obstacle in the past to the college being granted university status. There are no costs to the State in granting university status.

Source: The Irish Times February 07, 2019 02:03 UTC