Following the introduction of the Technological Universities legislation in March 2018, the TU Dublin consortium, consisting of the Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown and Institute of Technology Tallaght, submitted an application seeking designation as a technological university.

The application was assessed by an International Advisory Panel and they furnished a report to the Minister of Education and Skills, Richard Bruton T.D. on the merits of the application and provided a positive recommendation to designate. Following consideration of this report with supporting views of the Higher Education Authority, the Minister notified the consortium of his proposed decision to grant the application.

TU Dublin was designated as a technological university in January 2019.