Cork of Institute has applied to the Minister for Education for university status.
The application was made in a letter delivered today to the minister by President of CIT, Dr Brendan Murphy.
The Institute says it does not wish to change its educational mission or ethos but it considers itself to be a university-level institute and wishes to be designated as such.
CIT is the largest Institute of Technology outside Dublin, with 17,000 students registered.
It comprises the campus at Bishopstown as well as the Crawford College of Art and Design, the Cork School of Music and the National Maritime College of Ireland at Ringaskiddy.
