The National University of Ireland (NUI), (Irish: Ollscoil na hÉireann), is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997. The constituent universities are for all essential purposes independent universities, except that the degrees and diplomas are those of the National University of Ireland with its seat in Dublin. The constituent universities are: The recognised colleges are: Former recognised colleges, and their years of recognition, are: † St Angela's College maintains its links to the National University of Ireland by being "A College of the National University of Ireland, Galway" from January 2006. This in effect means that students of the college are registered as students of the National University of Ireland, Galway — the National University of Ireland continues to grant degrees and diplomas of such students when they graduate. ‡ In accordance with the Universities Act 1997 (Section 48) graduates of the recognised college of St.