Liberties College

What Liberties College does

Liberties College is a further education and training (FET) college located in Dublin's Liberties neighbourhood at Bull Alley Street, Dublin 8, operated as part of the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB), a statutory Irish government body. The college delivers QQI-accredited courses at Levels 5 and 6 across healthcare (Healthcare Assistant with Maternity, Mental Health and Older Person specialisations), performing arts (Drama Foundation, Advanced Actor Training), tourism and travel (Airline & Travel Agency Studies, Tourism with Business, National Tour Guiding with the Fáilte Ireland White Badge), social care and youth work, pharmacy, computing with AI and software development pre-apprenticeships, retail, creative arts (Portfolio Preparation, Textiles, Art & Craft Professional Practice), and special needs assistance. It serves approximately 750 full-time students supported by 56 staff, with course offerings in specialised tracks dating to at least 1991 (Special Needs Assistant training) under the Trinity Access Programme umbrella.

The institution operates a hybrid revenue model combining modest student tuition fees — ranging from €0 for some courses (free to those in employment under BTEI/VTOS) and €150 for most full-time QQI Level 5 programmes, up to €350 for tourism/healthcare and €1,600 for the National Tour Guiding special-purpose award — with co-funding from the Government of Ireland and the European Union channeled through SOLAS and CDETB. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the college's website and an MIT-managed online enrolment portal, with some courses requiring interviews, auditions or portfolio submissions, and in-person enrolment available for part-time courses. The technology backbone is a Moodle learning management system for online course delivery alongside Microsoft-hosted enrolment and student portals; QQI provides the national accreditation framework underpinning credentialed outcomes.

Customer monetisation sits on top of an ecosystem of partnerships that materially shapes the value proposition: the Trinity Access Programme (TAP) with Trinity College Dublin offers reserved places in Arts and Social Sciences for eligible graduates; FIT (Fastrack to IT) routes students into ICT Associate Apprenticeships; the Central Remedial Clinic Clontarf co-delivers long-standing SNA training; multiple universities (UCD, Maynooth, DCU, IADT, TU Dublin, TCD) accept QQI qualifications via the Higher Education Links Scheme; and the Irish Pharmacy Union certifies the Medicines Counter Assistant component. Marketing is conducted primarily through the college website, downloadable prospectus, and email outreach, with student success stories as the principal demand-generation asset.

Name

Liberties College

Legal name

City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB)

Website

https://libertiescollege.ie

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Liberties College is a Dublin-based further education college operated by the City of Dublin Education and Training Board, delivering QQI-accredited Level 5 and 6 courses to roughly 750 full-time students across healthcare, performing arts, tourism, social care, computing, and creative disciplines, with co-funding from the Irish Government and the EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Further Education and Vocational Training

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

Keywords

• Further education courses
• Vocational training programs
• QQI accredited courses
• University access programs
• Professional development courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition Fees: Fees charged to students for course enrollment, ranging from €0 to €1,600 depending on the course and student eligibility (some courses free for those in employment, BTEI participants, or eligible for grants).
2. Government and EU Funding: Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through Solas and CDETB. Students may receive grants through SUSI, Back to Education Allowance, and other government schemes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Liberties College is a further education and training college that delivers QQI-accredited full-time and part-time courses across healthcare, performing arts, tourism, social care, youth work, university access, computing/IT, and creative arts disciplines. The college operates from a single Dublin campus, enrolling approximately 750 full-time students into one-year Level 5 and Level 6 programmes, with structured work experience placements and progression pathways to universities and institutes of technology.

Product overview

Liberties College (City of Dublin FET College, Liberties) is an educational institution offering further education and training programs across multiple disciplines. The institution provides a portfolio of full-time and part-time courses organized into distinct program areas: Healthcare (including Maternity, Mental Health, and general care), Performance Arts (Drama Foundation and Advanced Actor Training), Tourism and Travel (Airline Studies, Tour Guiding, Tourism with Business), University Access Programs (TAP, Liberal Arts), Social Studies and Social Care (Youth Studies, Social Care at Level 5 and 6), Retail and Pharmacy, Computing and Technology (Network Technologies, Computing with AI, Software Development apprenticeships), Media Production, and Creative Arts (Portfolio Preparation, Textiles, Art & Craft). Courses range from QQI Level 5 to Level 6, with many offering direct progression pathways to universities and institutes of technology. The college serves approximately 750 full-time students and operates from its Bull Alley Street campus in Dublin 8.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TAP – Access Course for Higher Education – Young Adults
• Liberal Arts – Access to University
• Healthcare Assistant – Maternity Paediatric and Older Person Care
• Healthcare Assistant – Mental Health Studies
• Performance – Drama Foundation
• Advanced Actor Training
• Tourism and Travel – Airline & Travel Agency Studies
• Tourism with Business QQI Level 6
• National Tour Guiding Award with Business
• Foundation Skills for Employment and Third Level Success (General Studies)
• Youth Studies & Community Development
• Social Care Assistant QQI Level 5
• Social Care Assistant QQI Level 6
• Pharmacy Assistant
• Retail Merchandising & Display
• Network Technologies
• Computing with AI (Software Development)
• Pre-Apprenticeship in Software Development
• Pre-Tech Apprenticeship
• Media Production
• Certificate in Early Learning and Care Stage 1
• Special Needs Assistant – Special and Mainstream Education
• Portfolio Preparation in Art, Craft & Design
• Textiles – Heritage, Craft, Revival and Renewal
• Art & Craft Professional Practice
• National Tour Guiding (Part-time)
• Enhancing Productivity with AI
• 10-week Maternity Care Support Course

Quantifiable outcome

• TAP students can apply for reserved places in Trinity College Dublin Arts and Social Sciences
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Trinity College Dublin - Trinity Access Programmes (TAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three colleges of further education working in partnership with Trinity College Dublin Access Programmes. Provides access courses to Higher Education, allowing TAP graduates to apply directly for reserved places in Trinity's Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences.
• City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB)coreOthersParent organization that operates Liberties College. Manages data protection, admissions policies, and governance. Contact: 1-3 Merrion Road, Town Hall, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 PP46.
• City of Dublin Youth Services Board (CDYSB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the Youth Studies & Community Development programme. CDYSB-supported students may qualify for bursary grants upon achieving full awards.
• The National Youth Council of IrelandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting the Youth Studies & Community Development course alongside City of Dublin Youth Services Board.
• Central Remedial Clinic ClontarfmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint training programme with Liberties College for Special Needs Assistant (SNA) training. CRC has offered SNA training since 1991.
• FIT (Fastrack to IT)majorTechnology or IntegrationNational coordinator for Level 6 Tech Apprenticeships. Provides Pre-Tech and Pre-Apprenticeship in Software Development courses that lead to ICT Associate Apprenticeships with tech companies.
• Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertifies the Medicines Counter Assistant course within the Pharmacy Assistant programme. Recognition extends to 40 countries worldwide via ATHE endorsement.
• Various Universities (UCD, Maynooth, DCU, IADT, TU Dublin, TCD)majorOthersHigher Education Links Scheme partners accepting QQI qualifications for progression. Includes Trinity College Dublin (via TAP), UCD, NUIM Maynooth, DCU, IADT, and multiple TU Dublin campuses.
• Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Sky HandlingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry guest speakers for Tourism and Travel courses, providing insight into cabin crew operations and airline requirements.
• AOA (Association of Airports)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Airport Passenger Services & Cabin Crew Training within the Tourism with Business Level 6 course.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB): Parent government body that operates Liberties College alongside Coláiste Íde, Marino College, and other CDETB FET colleges. Provides centralized governance, data protection, admissions policy, and funding oversight for the entire CDETB FET network.
• Solas: Ireland's national Further Education and Training Authority that co-funds and oversees all 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) including CDETB. Functions as the system-wide governance, funding, and policy umbrella for FET colleges like Liberties College.

Direct peers

• Killester College of Further Education: Dublin FET college providing similar QQI Level 5/6 vocational courses in healthcare, business, childcare, and IT. Directly competes for mature students and Leaving Certificate applicants in the greater Dublin area.
• Marino College of Further Education: Dublin-based FET college (also under CDETB) offering comparable QQI programs in healthcare, social care, business, and creative arts. Same governance structure, same QQI progression routes, and overlapping student demographic.
• Sallynoggin College of Further Education: South Dublin FET college providing similar Level 5/6 QQI programs in healthcare, social care, business, and performing arts. Overlaps significantly with Liberties College on curriculum, pricing, and target demographics.
• Rathmines College of Further Education: Dublin FET college offering similar QQI-accredited Level 5/6 courses across healthcare, performing arts, social studies, IT, and tourism. Directly competes for the same Dublin catchment and shares Higher Education Links Scheme progression routes.
• Coláiste Íde (City of Dublin FET College, Finglas): Sister CDETB FET college in Dublin offering overlapping QQI Level 5/6 programs in healthcare, social care, business, and IT. Operates under the same City of Dublin Education and Training Board governance and shares the Trinity Access Programmes (TAP) reserved-place pathway to Trinity College Dublin.
• Colaiste Dhulaigh College of Further Education: North Dublin FET college offering a comparable QQI Level 5/6 portfolio including healthcare, social care, business, IT, and tourism. Operates as a direct competitor for the same Dublin student pool and progression pathways.
• Inchicore College of Further Education: Dublin FET college (CDETB-affiliated) offering comparable QQI-accredited programs in healthcare, business, IT, and social studies. Directly competes for the same southwest Dublin catchment.
• Ballsbridge College of Further Education: Dublin FET college under CDETB oversight offering similar QQI Level 5/6 programs including healthcare, beauty, business, and IT. Shares the same public funding model and governance as Liberties College.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/liberties-college

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Liberties College