Dublin City University (abbreviated as DCU) is a university situated on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland. Created as the National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin, it enrolled its first students in 1980 and was elevated to university status in 1989 by statute. In September 2016, DCU completed the process resulting in the incorporation of three Dublin institutions: Church of Ireland College of Education; Mater Dei Institute of Education and St Patrick's College.