UCD is one of Europe's leading research-intensive universities and is also the largest and Ireland's most globally engaged university. UCD is globally recognised for its excellence in teaching and learning, with international accreditations for UCD degrees from the world's leading professional organisations in Veterinary Medicine, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Regional and Urban Planning, and Engineering. Research is conducted within each of the University's extensive range of disciplines, and in multidisciplinary research programmes addressing challenges of global scale. UCD is ranked No 1 in Ireland for highest volume of research publications per year.

The latest QS World University Rankings has seen University College Dublin rise 45 places to be ranked 126 in the world. And also, UCD ranked No. 1 in Ireland for Employability since 2018.