In 2004-05, the Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) jointly commissioned the European University Association (EUA) through its Institutional Evaluation Programme (IEP) to undertake the first cycle of external reviews of the seven Irish universities. Trinity College was reviewed by the EUA in October 2004 and the Institutional Report on internal quality assurance activities at TCD was published in November 2004. In addition, the EUA produced a sectoral report which highlighted good practice across the sector and issued sector-level recommendations. Further details on the EUA review process and copies of the EUA Institutional report and the Sectoral report, along with TCD's responses to both and the subsequent progress reports can be viewed on the Institutional Review section of the Quality Office website here.

In October 2006, after consultation with the universities, it was agreed that a second cycle of institutional reviews would be initiated in 2009/10. The guidelines for this Institutional Review of Irish Universities (IRIU) process was approved for publication by the Board of the IUQB in March 2009. The aim of this rolling cycle of reviews is to confirm (i) whether Irish universities are operating in line with the requirements of Section 35 of the Universities Act, 1997, and (ii) are consistent with the Part 1 requirements of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area 2005 (the ESG). Further details on the IRIU process can be found on the IUQB website here and information on TCD's preparation for its IRIU can be found on the Institutional Review section of the Quality Office website here.