Dublin Business School

What Dublin Business School does

Dublin Business School (DBS) is Ireland's largest independent third-level college, founded in 1975 and wholly owned by Kaplan, Inc., operating under the legal entity Accountancy and Business College (Ireland) Limited. It delivers career-focused undergraduate degrees, postgraduate programmes, evening/part-time degrees, professional diplomas, and online courses (DBS Online, DBS OnDemand) from two Dublin city-centre campuses on Aungier Street and South Georges Street, with programmes awarded by Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). It also runs ACCA and CIMA professional accountancy tuition leveraging Kaplan's expertise, and offers Irish government-funded Springboard+ courses.

The school's core technology stack comprises Moodle as the virtual learning environment (with H5P for interactive content), Vevox for in-class polling, Zoom for hybrid delivery, Parchment for verified digital credentials, and enterprise systems including Workday and Agresso. DBS recruits through multiple channels: direct online application, the Central Applications Office (CAO) for domestic Irish students, an international agent network spanning 40+ countries, and 75+ European university partnerships (plus selected US Study Abroad partners such as Northeastern University).

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees across multiple delivery modes (full-time, part-time, online, professional accountancy), supplemented by Springboard+ government-funded courses. The student base spans domestic Irish undergraduates and postgraduates, working professionals enrolled in evening programmes, non-EU international students recruited globally, and European exchange students. A Protection of Enrolled Learners arrangement, guaranteed by Kaplan, Inc., provides financial backstop under Section 65(4) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Act 2012.

Name

Dublin Business School

Legal name

Accountancy and Business College (Ireland) Limited

Website

https://dbs.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Dublin Business School is Ireland's largest independent third-level college, offering QQI- and LJMU-awarded undergraduate, postgraduate, evening, professional diploma, and online programmes, plus ACCA/CIMA tuition, to domestic and international students across 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business and Secretarial Schools (61141)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online For-Profit Career Universities (EDAHALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE), Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA), Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD), Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Professional accountancy training
• Online postgraduate courses
• International student programs
• Professional diplomas

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: DBS generates primary revenue through tuition fees for undergraduate degrees, postgraduate programmes, evening degrees, professional diplomas, and online courses. Programmes are awarded by Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and Liverpool John Moores University.
2. Professional Accountancy Programmes: DBS offers comprehensive tuition options for ACCA and CIMA professional accountancy qualifications, generating revenue from students seeking professional certifications alongside or independent of degree programmes.
3. Springboard+ Courses: Free and 90% funded Springboard+ courses providing skills and qualifications across Business and Digital, Computing, and Fund Accounting. Funded by the Irish government through the Springboard+ initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dublin Business School is Ireland's largest independent third-level college delivering career-focused education through full-time undergraduate degrees/certificates, postgraduate programmes, part-time evening degrees, professional diplomas, online courses (DBS Online and DBS OnDemand), and professional accountancy tuition for ACCA and CIMA. Programmes are awarded by Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), with delivery supported by a Moodle-based virtual learning environment, Zoom, and Parchment digital credentials.

Product overview

Dublin Business School (DBS) is Ireland's largest independent third-level college offering career-focused education through multiple delivery modes. The portfolio includes full-time undergraduate degrees/certificates and postgraduate programmes, alongside part-time Evening Degrees and Professional Diplomas. Online learning is served through DBS Online (postgraduate courses) and DBS OnDemand (self-paced content). The institution leverages its parent company Kaplan's resources, notably for Professional Accountancy (ACCA/CIMA) tuition. Student support services include the Library (50,000+ print books, online resources), Careers Hub for employment preparation, and Vevox for interactive classroom engagement. The school maintains international reach through programmes for global students and partnerships with 75+ universities. Academic credentials are managed via Parchment (Digitary CORE) for digital transcript verification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-time Degrees/Certificates Undergraduate degree programs including BA/BBS degrees in Psychology, Business, Film, Law and more. CAO applications accepted up to July 1st each year for Irish and EU school-leavers.
• Postgraduate Programmes Postgraduate courses including Master's degrees and MBAs designed to advance career prospects and deepen specialised expertise across various disciplines.
• Evening Degrees Part-time evening degree programs in Business, Psychology, Law and other areas designed for working professionals to pursue accredited qualifications while employed.
• Professional Diplomas Short-term professional qualification programmes across Leadership, Human Resource Management, Entrepreneurship and other areas for professional development.
• DBS Online Online postgraduate courses allowing students to study remotely with flexible delivery options and live online classes.
• DBS OnDemand On-demand learning content for flexible, self-paced study across various subject areas delivered online.
• Springboard+ Programmes Free and 90% government-funded courses providing skills and qualifications in Business and Digital, Computing, Fund Accounting and more for eligible candidates under the Irish Springboard+ initiative.
• Professional Accountancy (ACCA/CIMA) Comprehensive tuition options for ACCA and CIMA professional accountancy examinations, leveraging Kaplan's reputation in Ireland as a leading provider for these professional qualifications.
• International Programmes Programmes for international non-EU students including Study Abroad, semester exchanges, and pathway programmes with over 75 university partnerships across Europe, US Study Abroad, and Malaysian MARA collaboration.
• Parchment Digital Transcripts Digital credential platform used by graduates to obtain officially verified academic transcripts, credentials, and documents shareable with employers and credential evaluators such as WES and ACCA.
• Vevox Interactive Polling Platform Interactive polling and live Q&A platform integrated via SSO with DBS login credentials, used for real-time feedback, polls, surveys, quizzes, and engagement during lectures and webinars.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1300+ Malaysian students graduated through DBS-MARA collaboration

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQQI is the Higher Education regulatory body in Ireland. DBS programmes are awarded by QQI, and QQI can withdraw validation of programmes under Section 36(7), 47, or 59(7) of the 2012 Act as part of the PEL trigger events.
• Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBS offers programmes awarded by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) in addition to QQI awards. Replacement parchments for LJMU-accredited programmes must be requested through LJMU's website.
• MARA (Malaysia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of Understanding signed in July 2011 for academic collaboration on accountancy programmes incorporating degree and professional accountancy pathways. Collaboration started in early 1990s and has seen over 1,300 Malaysian students graduate with HETAC, QQI, LJMU and ACCA awards.
• Xiamen University, ChinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation Agreement approved by Chinese Ministry of Education allowing Xiamen graduates to continue studies at DBS and obtain a joint BA (Hons) Degree award from HETAC and Liverpool John Moores University. Xiamen is ranked 23rd out of 2036 institutions in China.
• Universidad CEU San Pablo, MadridminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ partner institution. Professor Almudena Baanante Gisermo taught on Global Issues for Management (MBA) and Economic Perspectives (BA Hons in Business) in April, with peer observation of teaching facilitated by DBS Learning Unit.
• European University Partners (75+)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBS has 75+ university partnerships in European countries including France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. Students from these universities join DBS for a semester or academic year to obtain double qualifications. Key partners include ESC Toulouse, IULM Milan, IHM Sweden, IDRAC France, ISEG France, and EGC France.
• US Study Abroad PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBS offers Study Abroad Programme to US undergraduate students. Partner institutions include Northeastern University, Clarion University, University of Northern Iowa, and Foundation for International Education (FIE) for which DBS is the Dublin centre.
• ACCA and CIMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBS has an unrivalled reputation as one of Ireland's leading colleges for professional accountancy. Offers comprehensive tuition options for students of ACCA and CIMA professional qualifications.
• AdvanceHEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBS is a member of AdvanceHE, entitling faculty to apply for fellowships (Associate Fellow, Fellow, Senior Fellow, Principle Fellow) at reduced rates. Formerly Higher Education Academy Fellowships, recognised internationally as illustrating levels of achievement in higher education.
• Parchment (formerly Digitary CORE)coreTechnology or IntegrationParchment is the trusted international verified digital credential platform used by DBS for issuing official transcripts from summer 2024. Documents are verifiable, secure, and include cryptographic signatures compliant with EU Digital Signatures Directive 1999/93/EC.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Navitas: Navitas operates university pathway programmes and professional education globally (now part of Study Group following acquisition). Comparable as a global pathway provider for international students seeking degree qualifications at partner institutions.
• Hult International Business School: Hult is a US-headquartered private for-profit business school offering undergraduate, MBA, and Master's programmes with global campuses. Comparable as a for-profit, career-focused, internationally-recruited business school with very similar value proposition structure to DBS.
• BPP University: BPP is a UK-based for-profit professional university owned by Apollo Global, focused on accountancy (ACCA/CIMA), law, and business programmes with strong international student recruitment. Highly comparable as a for-profit, career-focused, professionally-accredited UK/IE higher education operator with overlapping accountancy pedigree.
• INTO University Partnerships: INTO operates university pathway programmes for international students at partner universities in the UK, US, and Australia. Directly comparable as an international student pathway provider with similar channel relationships and English-language education delivery model.
• Kaplan International: Kaplan International is the global English-language and university pathway division of Kaplan Inc., the parent company of DBS. Operates pathway programmes, language schools, and international college partnerships with structurally identical business model to DBS. Directly comparable as a sibling entity under the same ownership.
• Study Group: Study Group runs higher education pathway, English language, and direct entry programmes globally, with notable Ireland/UK presence. Comparable as a for-profit pathway provider serving international students seeking university-level qualifications in English-speaking markets.

Broad incumbents

• University of Phoenix: University of Phoenix is a large US-based for-profit university offering career-focused online and on-campus programmes. Comparable as a broad incumbent for-profit higher education provider demonstrating the operating model and economic dynamics applicable to DBS's market segment.
• Laureate International Universities: Laureate operates a global network of for-profit universities across the Americas, Europe, and Asia (now largely divested but still active). Comparable as a large-scale global for-profit higher education operator demonstrating the broader category economics in which DBS operates.

Regional players

• IBAT College Dublin: IBAT is a private Dublin-based college offering business, IT, and professional programmes with international student focus. Comparable as a small-scale Dublin private college competitor directly competing with DBS for similar student segments including international learners.
• National College of Ireland (NCI): NCI is a Dublin-based private not-for-profit higher education institution offering business, computing, and professional programmes to a similar student demographic. Comparable as a Dublin-based private higher education competitor targeting similar domestic and international markets with overlapping programme portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DublinBusinessSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/dbscollege
• Xx.com/dbscollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dublin-business-school

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dublin Business School