About university

Dublin Business School (DBS), originally founded in 1975 as Accountancy and Business College, initially provided evening courses for students preparing for accounting body exams. Over time, the school's success and reputation in this field led to expansion into full-time and part-time courses in accounting, marketing, and banking. In 1989, DBS introduced its first undergraduate degree in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), a collaboration that lasted until 2013, when DBS transitioned to seeking accreditation from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) for all academic awards.

The school became a designated institution with the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) in 1992, expanding its program offerings to include Honours Degrees, Higher Diplomas, and Master’s Programmes. In 2000, DBS merged with LSB College, now known as DBS School of Arts. In 2012, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) was established, merging several educational bodies including HETAC, to oversee education and training awards across Ireland, marking a new era in academic quality assurance.

In 2003, DBS was acquired by Kaplan, Inc., a global education provider, and further expanded by acquiring the European Business School in 2006 and Portobello College in 2007. These acquisitions helped DBS solidify its position as Ireland’s largest independent third-level institution, offering a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional programmes across Business, Arts, and Law.

Campuses: Dublin