[citation needed] It was ranked, in 2014, in Times Higher Education's top 100 university-level institutions globally under 50 years old.

[4] The first of DIT's predecessor colleges, the City of Dublin Technical Schools, was founded in 1887 by Arnold Felix Graves.

Dublin Institute of Technology now has a scope of activities and variety of powers identical to those of a university, and its degrees are recognised as such both in Ireland and internationally.

DIT had a governing body comprising representatives of public, including Dublin Lord Mayors (such as formerly Maurice Ahern and Mary Freehill), social and industrial groups, faculty, staff and students, its final composition was chaired by Professor Tom Collins.In 1992 Michael O'Donnell became the first interim president.

Previous faculty members included Pat Kenny, Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ and Newstalk) news and current affairs presenter, Joan Burton, Teachta Dála (TD), Minister for Social Protection, Frank Harte, Irish traditional singer and architect, Hugh McFadden, poet, Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus, politician, Brid Grant, Dean of Arts, University of Connecticut, Desmond Fennell, writer and cultural philosopher, Lelia Doolan, TV and film producer, Peter Sutherland, lawyer and politician.

It also houses "CREST"; an international centre supported by Enterprise Ireland for paint and surface coating development.

[17] Recently research supported by Science Foundation Ireland in the Dublin Energy Lab, water sciences, air quality, food preservation and environmental health and safety are being co-located in a major new building at the Grangegorman new city centre campus together with an additional "Hothouse" start-up business incubator for new DIT spin-off companies.

[citation needed] In common with other Irish universities, DIT validates programmes taught in other institutions in Dublin such as Pulse College, based in the Windmill Lane Studios, and the British and Irish Modern Music Institute BA programme.

[citation needed] There are student exchange and joint research programmes with several universities in India, China, Brazil, Australia, the US and Europe.

[19] Embedded in the life of Dublin city centre, DIT had several links with its neighbouring communities and schools.

The Access and Civic Engagement service provided programmes that enabled those from traditionally under-represented groups to study at DIT.

These included a number of access routes for children in secondary schools where there had been no tradition of continuing to third level education.

As of 2014, the Grangegorman campus was home to students in Fine Art, Product Design, Visual Communications, Photography and Social Sciences.

[24] When, in January 2019, DIT joined with ITB and ITT to form Dublin Technical University, a member referendum was held.

[25][26] As of 2014, DIT had more than 40 student clubs,[27] including Gaelic Athletic Association, football, handball, rifle shooting, waterpolo, archery, basketball, kite surfing and cricket.