[11] In May 2019, academic staff of Cork Institute of Technology and IT Tralee rejected the merger,[12] and an international advisory panel visited the campuses.

[15] In May 2020, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the formal approval of the technological university, to begin operations in January 2021.

[16][17][18] In February 2023, MTU was the target of a ransomware attack, which caused the cancellation of all classes in the university's Cork campuses for a period.

[23][24][needs update] The Crawford College of Art and Design spans a number of buildings in the centre of Cork city.

Visual communications and digital media courses are based between the Bishopstown Campus and Sober Lane building, adjacent to Sullivan's Quay.

[25] This school of music is located on Union Quay in Cork city, operating from a purpose-built facility which opened in 2007.