Hibernia College

What Hibernia College does

Hibernia College is a private, for-profit third-level institution founded in 2000 in Dublin, Ireland, and is self-described as the largest provider of school teachers in Ireland. It delivers accredited graduate, postgraduate, and professional programmes primarily through a blended learning model that combines online content with face-to-face components. The portfolio is anchored by the Professional Master of Education (PME) in Primary and Post-Primary Education, complemented by postgraduate programmes including an MA in Education, an MA/PG Dip in Inclusive and Special Education (jointly developed with ICEP Europe), an MSc in Corporate Governance, a Professional Diploma in Healthcare Leadership (awarded by RCPI), a Higher Diploma in Spanish for Teachers (state-funded), a Certificate in Therapeutic Use of Play, and continuing professional development (CPD) courses for nurses and teachers. Cumulative graduate output is stated at 12,000+ with approximately 2,500 current student teachers and 600+ adjunct faculty supporting delivery nationally.

The technology backbone is a proprietary blended learning stack built on Moodle LMS, Zoom, Mahara e-portfolio, the custom-built Cohort mobile application, Office 365, Visible Body, and Articulate authoring tools, all accessible through a device-agnostic Virtual Learning Environment with a 24/7 digital library. Revenue is generated predominantly from tuition fees (€995 for the micro-credential up to €15,800 for PME Primary), supplemented by non-refundable application fees (€65–€95), QQI certification fees (€200), and state funding for designated programmes such as the Higher Diploma in Spanish for Teachers. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via hiberniacollege.com, supported by an inside-sales enrollment team and a webinar-led demand generation engine. Operationally the college holds QQI validation, Teaching Council accreditation for PME programmes, NMBI accreditation for nursing CPD, an Erasmus+ Charter, and AHEAD Charter compliance, with a completed CINNTE Institutional Review in October 2024 and a successful HCQF quality review in November 2024. The legal entity is registered in Ireland (company number 328066) and is privately held with leadership comprising CEO Paul Farrell, CFO Eileen Mooney, Chairperson David Moffitt, and President of Hibernia Colleges Group Dr Mary Kelly.

Name

Hibernia College

Legal name

Hibernia College

Website

https://hiberniacollege.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Hibernia College is an Ireland-based private third-level institution founded in 2000 that delivers accredited blended learning programmes, primarily Professional Master of Education qualifications for aspiring primary and post-primary teachers, alongside postgraduate degrees and diplomas in education, healthcare leadership, and corporate governance. It is the self-described largest provider of school teachers in Ireland with 12,000+ graduates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Online Professional Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

Keywords

• Online higher education
• Teacher education programs
• Blended learning platform
• Postgraduate professional development
• Continuing professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Merrion

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition fees charged for various programmes. Fees are structured as modular payments, instalment plans, or upfront payments with discounts. Programmes include PME (Primary/Post-Primary), MA in Education, MA in Inclusive and Special Education, MSc in Corporate Governance, Professional Diploma in Healthcare Leadership, and Certificate programmes.
2. Application Fees: Non-refundable application fees charged for programme applications, ranging from €65 to €95 depending on programme.
3. Certification Fees: QQI certification fees charged at award stage for all QQI programmes, typically €200.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hibernia College is an Irish third-level institution that sells accredited graduate, postgraduate, and professional programmes delivered through a blended learning model combining online interactive content with face-to-face instruction. Core offerings include initial teacher education (PME Primary and Post-Primary), postgraduate education programmes (MA in Education, MA/PG Dip in Inclusive and Special Education with ICEP Europe), professional qualifications (MSc in Corporate Governance), and a Professional Diploma in Healthcare Leadership awarded by RCPI, alongside micro-credentials and CPD courses. The college monetises these programmes via tuition fees, application fees, and QQI certification fees, with modular, instalment, and employer-sponsored billing options.

Product overview

Hibernia College is Ireland's largest provider of school teachers, offering a portfolio of accredited third-level programmes delivered primarily through a blended learning model combining online and face-to-face components. The core portfolio includes initial teacher education programmes (PME in Primary and Post-Primary Education at Level 9), postgraduate education programmes (MA/PG Dip in Inclusive and Special Education, MA in Education), professional qualifications (MSc in Corporate Governance, Professional Diploma in Healthcare Leadership delivered with RCPI), and shorter micro-credentials and CPD courses. The College serves over 12,000 graduates and 2,500 student teachers across its digital-first, flexible programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PME in Primary Education A 120-credit, Level 9 Professional Master of Education delivered over 24 months in blended learning format, qualifying graduates to register with the Teaching Council as primary school teachers in Ireland. Includes school placement, Gaeltacht training, and Gaeilge proficiency components, with application fee €95 and total tuition approximately €15,800.
• PME in Post-Primary Education A 120-credit, Level 9 Professional Master of Education delivered over 24 months in blended learning format, qualifying graduates to register with the Teaching Council as post-primary teachers across subject specialisms including Accounting, Biology, Computer Science, English, Gaeilge, Mathematics, and others. Similar fee structure to PME Primary, with TUI Credit Union loan facility available.
• MA/PG Dip (Arts) in Inclusive and Special Education A part-time, online postgraduate programme developed jointly with ICEP Europe, comprising a PG Dip (60 credits) or MA (90 credits) in Inclusive and Special Education. Delivered over 1-2 years on a self-paced, modular basis with continuous assessment and no exams, for educators seeking specialist knowledge in special educational needs, with module fee €1,250 (rising to €1,350 from September 2026).
• Master of Arts in Education A two-year, part-time, fully online Level 9 Master of Arts worth 90 ECTS credits, designed for educators and allied professionals seeking career advancement. Includes a core module on Education in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence and an Educational Research Project, with application fee €65 and total tuition €9,000.
• MSc in Corporate Governance A two-year, part-time blended learning programme at Level 9, designed for professionals in corporate governance and compliance. Covers education and professional training needs for the corporate governance and compliance profession.
• Professional Diploma in Healthcare Leadership A fully online, eight-month professional diploma delivered in partnership with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). Equips clinicians and healthcare professionals with leadership, operational, and quality improvement skills, earning 48 CPD credits, with total tuition €4,000 and 10% discounts for upfront payment or RCPI membership.
• Certificate in the Therapeutic Use of Play and Expressive Arts in Education A 12-week, fully online Level 9 micro-credential worth 10 ECTS credits, designed for educators and allied professionals. Explores therapeutic use of play, creativity, and expressive arts to support communication, wellbeing, and inclusion in educational settings, with tuition €995 (or €895 for alumni).
• Higher Diploma of Arts in Spanish for Teachers A 24-month, part-time Level 8 programme at 75 ECTS credits, fully funded by the Department of Education and Youth, designed for registered post-primary teachers. Develops Spanish language proficiency, cultural understanding, and pedagogical skills for teaching Spanish at post-primary level.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Courses CPD courses for nurses and teachers offered free to clinical/placement partners. Nursing courses include NMBI-approved Preceptorship courses (full 8-unit and 4-unit update versions). Teaching CPD courses consist of online lessons, forum contributions, and reflective learning logs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,000+ graduates produced as qualified teachers in Ireland
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Learnovate Centre (Trinity College Dublin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Participated in the Work Ready Graduate Programme (WRGP) in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to address Ireland's digital skills gap, specifically in AI and data analytics. Hibernia College has reported significant impacts from graduates in AI adoption and data analysis.
• Alliance for Innovation in Teacher EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2025Hibernia College became the first European institution to join this global alliance for digital innovation in teacher education. The college will incorporate ISTE Standards and develop credentials to enhance technology skills among its student teachers and adjunct faculty.
• Technische Universität Wien (Austria)minorOthers · 1 October 2016Erasmus+ mobility partner for student and staff exchanges in Europe
• West University of Timișoara (Romania)minorOthers · 1 October 2016Erasmus+ mobility partner for student and staff exchanges in Europe
• Centro Autonómico de Formación e Innovación (Spain)minorOthers · 1 October 2016Erasmus+ mobility partner for student and staff exchanges in Europe
• Institute of Child Education and Psychology (ICEP) EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of MA/PG Dip (Arts) in Inclusive and Special Education programme. ICEP Europe collaborates on curriculum design and programme delivery for special education training.
• Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCPI awards the Professional Diploma in Healthcare Leadership delivered in partnership with Hibernia College. RCPI provides programme design, faculty (Professor Liam Plant as Programme Lead, Professor Trevor Duffy as Director of Healthcare Leadership), and accreditation. Hibernia College provides the online learning platform and operational delivery.
• European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN)minorOthersSectoral membership organisation for distance and e-learning. College contributes to public consultations and sectoral research.
• Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA)minorOthersSectoral membership association for higher education colleges in Ireland
• The Teaching CouncilcoreOthersProfessional accreditation body for teachers in Ireland. PME programmes are professionally accredited by the Teaching Council for registration purposes.
• Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)coreOthersNational qualifications authority that validates Hibernia College's academic programmes. All college programmes carry QQI accreditation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• 2U: US-listed online programme management company powering graduate degree programmes for partner universities. Comparable to Hibernia's blended learning model as a scaled operator of accredited online higher education, though operating in different geographies and serving university partners rather than its own-branded programmes.

Direct peers

• National College of Ireland (NCI): Private third-level college in Dublin offering QQI-accredited postgraduate and professional programmes with strong online learning provision. Comparable to Hibernia as a privately funded Irish college delivering accredited, professionally oriented education to working adults.
• Portobello Institute: Private Irish education provider delivering QQI-validated childcare, healthcare, and professional development programmes through blended learning. Comparable to Hibernia as a private Irish third-level college competing for the same adult learner segment with QQI accreditation.
• Dublin Business School (DBS): One of Ireland's largest private colleges, offering professional, postgraduate, and undergraduate programmes with flexible online and blended study options. Comparable to Hibernia as a private Irish higher education provider targeting career professionals and adult learners.
• Mary Immaculate College: Third-level college in Limerick focused on education, liberal arts, and teacher training, with Teaching Council-accredited PME programmes. Comparable to Hibernia College as a competing provider of initial teacher education in Ireland with similar accreditation pathways.
• Froebel College (Maynooth University): Specialist provider of primary teacher education within Maynooth University, delivering PME programmes accredited by the Teaching Council. Directly comparable to Hibernia's PME Primary programme on regulatory accreditation and curriculum scope.
• Marino Institute of Education: Specialist teacher education college based in Dublin, accredited by the Teaching Council and offering initial teacher education alongside further study. Directly comparable to Hibernia's School of Education because of the focus on Irish teacher training and Teaching Council accreditation.
• Griffith College: Ireland's largest independent private college, offering a broad portfolio of accredited undergraduate and postgraduate programmes delivered through blended and on-campus formats. Comparable to Hibernia College as a privately run, QQI-validated third-level institution serving adult and career-change learners in Ireland.
• ICD Business School: Irish provider of professional, accredited, and executive education programmes for working professionals, including QQI-validated postgraduate awards. Comparable to Hibernia College's MSc in Corporate Governance and wider professional diploma portfolio targeting employed learners.
• Institute of Education (IOE Dublin): Dublin-based private provider of QQI-validated further and higher education programmes, including professional diplomas and postgraduate courses. Comparable to Hibernia as a privately operated Irish college offering accredited, accessible professional education.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HiberniaCollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hibernia-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/hiberniacollege
• Xx.com/hiberniacollege

Compliance7 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 Hibernia College