Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education

What Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education does

Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education, now operating as City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh, is a state-funded Further Education and Training (FET) institution based in North Dublin, Ireland. It is operated by the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB), a statutory body co-funded by the Government of Ireland, SOLAS and the European Union, and delivers more than 70 courses across 19 discipline categories at QQI levels 4, 5 and 6, alongside Higher National Diplomas, Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Entrepreneurship programmes and BA/Tertiary Degrees. Its primary customers are school leavers pursuing Post Leaving Certificate qualifications, adult learners accessing funded part-time BTEI courses, apprentices and trainees, and degree-seeking students progressing via CAO routes.

The college operates from four physical campuses — Coolock (the headquarters where all registration occurs), Raheny, Kilbarrack and the Malahide Sailing School, the last of which hosts the Shackleton outdoor education and adventure management programme. Its technology stack is conventional and shared across the ETB network: Moodle on the ETB Online platform for learning management, VSware for student information and attendance, Outlook Web Access for staff and student email, and a CDCFE radio streaming service. The college collaborates with Technological University Dublin to deliver tertiary degree programmes, including a new Media Technologies degree announced in 2026.

The business model combines student-paid tuition (with a dedicated fee payment portal for full-time PLC and degree programmes) with government and EU funding channelled through CDETB and SOLAS, supplemented by apprenticeship and traineeship framework funding. Distribution is primarily community-led and direct, via on-campus delivery, online application portals, open days, an annual prospectus and a multi-channel social media presence. Career guidance is extended through a partnership with CareersPortal.ie, and progression to higher education is mediated through the national CAO system.

Name

Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education

Legal name

City of Dublin Education and Training Board

Website

https://cdcfe.ie

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh (formerly Coláiste Dhúlaigh) is a state-funded Further Education and Training institution in North Dublin offering 70+ courses across QQI levels, apprenticeships, traineeships and tertiary degrees to school leavers, adult learners and apprentices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Further Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (61), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Career Readiness & College Prep (In-School) (EDAJAFAM), Personal Enrichment & Creative Arts Programs (EDAAAEAG), Electives & Enrichment Curriculum (Arts, Music, PE, CTE Exploratories) (EDAGAAAG)

Keywords

• Further education courses
• Post-leaving certificate programmes
• Vocational training services
• Apprenticeship training programmes
• Adult education courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Coolock

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Students pay course fees for full-time and part-time PLC programmes. Fee amounts are referenced but not publicly disclosed on the website, with a dedicated fee payment portal available.
2. Government Funding: Co-funded by City of Dublin Education and Training Board (ETB), Government of Ireland, and European Union through SOLAS. This includes Back to Education Allowance Initiative funding for eligible part-time students.
3. Apprenticeship and Traineeship Programmes: Funded through national apprenticeship and traineeship frameworks managed by SOLAS and the Department of Education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education delivers more than 70 Further Education and Training programmes from four North Dublin campuses, including Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses at QQI levels 4, 5 and 6, Higher National Diplomas, Apprenticeships, Traineeships, BA and Tertiary Degrees (in collaboration with TU Dublin), and funded part-time courses through the Back to Education Allowance Initiative (BTEI). Courses span 19 categories including Animation, Media, Performing Arts, Art & Design, Fashion Design, Hairdressing, Science & Engineering, IT, Business & Tourism, Social Studies & Education, Health Science, Outdoor Education and Horticulture, with progression routes through CAO to universities and Institutes of Technology.

Product overview

FET College Dhúlaigh (City of Dublin FET College, formerly Coláiste Dhúlaigh) is a Further Education and Training provider offering more than 70 courses across multiple delivery modes. The institution operates as a unified platform offering programmes at various qualification levels: PLC Courses at QQI levels 4, 5 & 6 form the core full-time offerings across diverse disciplines (Animation, Media, Performing Arts, Art & Design, Fashion Design, Hairdressing, Science & Engineering, IT, Business, Health Science, Outdoor Education, Horticulture); alongside these sit Higher National Diplomas, Apprenticeship and Traineeship work-based programmes, BA and Tertiary Degrees (in collaboration with TU Dublin), Part-Time/BTEI courses, and Entrepreneurship programmes. Students progress through CAO to universities and Institutes of Technology, with advanced entry opportunities available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PLC Courses (Post Leaving Certificate) Full-time Further Education and Training programmes at QQI levels 4, 5 and 6 across 19 discipline categories, intended for school leavers seeking vocational qualifications or progression to higher education through CAO.
• Higher National Diploma (HND) Higher-level vocational qualification programmes providing advanced technical and professional skills, offering progression routes to universities and Institutes of Technology through CAO.
• Apprenticeship Programmes Work-based learning programmes combining on-the-job training with off-the-job education, providing industry-recognised qualifications while learners gain workplace experience.
• Traineeship Programmes Industry-focused training programmes combining theory with practical workplace experience to equip learners with skills for specific sectors.
• BA & Tertiary Degrees Higher education degree programmes delivered in collaboration with Technological University Dublin, providing progression pathways to honours degree level.
• Part-Time Courses (BTEI) Funded part-time Further Education programmes delivered through the Back to Education Initiative, providing flexible learning opportunities for adult learners.
• Work Based Training Training programmes integrating workplace learning with academic instruction, designed for learners seeking employment or career advancement in specific industries.
• Entrepreneurship Programmes Programmes focused on developing business skills, innovation and enterprise capabilities for individuals seeking to start or grow their own businesses.
• Evening Courses Part-time evening classes offered for adult learners seeking flexible education options outside of regular working hours, with intakes in January and September.
• Top-Up Degrees Part-time degree completion programmes allowing students with existing qualifications to progress to full degree level.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70+ courses across QQI levels 4, 5 & 6, Higher National Diploma, and degree programmes
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026FET College Dhúlaigh collaborates with TU Dublin to deliver tertiary degree programmes in Media Technologies. The college is taking applications for degree programmes in collaboration with TU Dublin, providing clear progression pathways for students to earn university qualifications.
• City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe college operates under the City of Dublin ETB, which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. ETB provides governance, funding, and strategic direction for the college network.
• SOLAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOLAS (the national further education and training authority) co-funds the college alongside the Government of Ireland and European Union. SOLAS manages apprenticeship and traineeship frameworks.
• CareersPortal.ieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with CareersPortal.ie for providing career guidance services to prospective students. The college's guidance page links directly to the CareersPortal platform.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marino College of Further Education: Also a CDETB FET college in Dublin offering PLC, BTEI, and apprenticeship programmes. Directly comparable as a sister CDETB college serving Dublin learners with similar vocational/technical course portfolios.
• Ballyfermot College of Further Education: CDETB FET college offering QQI-validated PLC, HND, and apprenticeship courses across creative arts, media, business, and technology. Operates under the same ETB governance and serves a comparable Dublin learner population with overlapping programmes.
• Pearse College of Further Education: CDETB FET college in Dublin offering PLC courses across multiple disciplines with CAO progression routes. Sister CDETB institution with directly comparable course breadth, funding model, and target student segments.
• Rathmines College of Further Education: CDETB FET college offering PLC, BTEI, and evening courses to Dublin adult and school-leaver learners. Sister ETB college with overlapping course categories and identical QQI/CAO regulatory framework.
• Coláiste Íde College of Further Education: CDETB FET college offering QQI-validated PLC courses with similar vocational/creative-arts mix. Directly comparable further-education institution under the same ETB network and funding model.
• Crumlin College of Further Education: CDETB FET college offering PLC courses across a similar mix of disciplines including arts, business, and technology. Sister ETB college competing for the same Dublin catchment with a comparable operational footprint.
• Liberties College: CDETB FET college in central Dublin providing PLC, BTEI, and apprenticeship programmes. Direct comparator operating under the same ETB governance, with overlapping creative-arts and vocational course categories.
• Dún Laoghaire Further Education Institute (DFEi): DDETB FET college offering PLC, BTEI, and apprenticeship courses across multiple disciplines. Direct comparator as another Dublin-based ETB FET college serving the same regional learner pool with similar QQI-validated programmes.

Broad incumbents

• Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin): Ireland's largest technological university and Dhúlaigh's strategic degree-pathway partner. Comparable as the higher-education destination for FET graduates, offering overlapping IT, media, business, and engineering programmes at degree level.

Emerging players

• National Learning Network (NLN): Specialist training provider delivering QQI-validated further-education and training programmes, including for adult learners and people with additional needs. Comparable as an alternative FET delivery model targeting overlapping learner segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ColDhulaigh
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFAAJ2nxksKIKKhXbOBnN3Q/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/cdcfe
• Instagraminstagram.com/dhulaigh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education