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Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin

Ireland Ireland

2 Reviews

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THE World Ranking: 134

Overview

Overview

Trinity College Dublin (TCD) is one of the oldest universities in the world, and it has a long record of excellent teaching. In the centre of the city of Dublin, Ireland’s capital city, the university has taught some very famous and respected alumni, including four Nobel laureates and some famous writers, from Jonathan Swift (Gulliver’s Travels) to Bram Stoker (Dracula).

 

Lecturers and tutors at this university are some of the most talented, experienced people in their fields. All courses and programmes are delivered to a high standard, informed by a lot of industry knowledge and education expertise.

 

Across three faculties and 23 schools, there are 119 undergraduate degree programmes offered at TCD (including double honours subjects) and 127 postgraduate degree programmes. Most programmes are very competitive and selective, so the best students, whether they’re domestic or international, are the ones who make it onto TCD courses.

 

There are 18,000 students on campus each year, and every one of them has been carefully chosen for their abilities. A quarter of these students are international students, and TCD puts a lot of work into international outreach. Times Higher Education ranks the university as the 12th most international in the world, and there are lots of dedicated international student services to help people from all backgrounds get settled into university life in Dublin.

 

Although TCD has had a great reputation for years, this reputation continues to be well deserved. In the latest QS World University Rankings, TCD was named Ireland’s best university and placed as one of the top 100 universities worldwide. Research produced at TCD is also high quality and well respected. The university is the 109th best university in the world when ranked based on how much of its research efforts can be found in the top academic and scientific journals.

 

For any student who dreams of studying and living in a global city with a lot of exciting history and some great extracurricular options, TCD is a great option. For any student who wants to access high-quality education from some of the best lecturers and tutors in Europe, TCD is, again, a great option. There’s something for everyone, and standards never drop.

 

Find out more about studying at TCD:

 

Teaching quality

Entry requirements

Scholarships & funding

University structure

Facilities

Student support

Graduate outcomes

 

Teaching Quality

TCD is a world-famous university, the best in Ireland according to the QS World University Rankings, and also the best in the country for employer reputation and graduate outcomes. TCD is one of the top 100 universities worldwide, with four individual subjects ranked in the top 50 and another 15 subjects ranked in the top 100. Students who are lucky enough to be accepted into TCD enjoy high-quality teaching and a great learning experience, no matter what they’re studying.

 

The teaching quality at TCD is clear from how many talented alumni there are alone. Four Nobel laureates were educated at the university, as well as a long list of famous and important figures. To this day, TCD graduates continue to change the world for the better, working hard in important industry positions across the globe.

 

Lecturers and tutors across the three faculties at TCD are involved in important research, and students can often get involved with projects that have a truly positive impact on the world. This is another way for students to access quality teaching at TCD, learning practical skills as well as developing a strong academic knowledge base.

 

Between 2017 and 2020, over 3,500 scientific papers were produced by the university, with nearly 14 per cent of these published in major journals. According to Leiden Rankings, Trinity College Dublin is 109th in the world when ranked for the amount of its research that’s found in top academic and scientific journals.

 

Entry Requirements

TCD is a well-respected university with high standards, so it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that there are some clear university entry requirements. These entry requirements are all explained in detail on the TCD website, including country-by-country guidance for international students about their equivalent education values, required English scores and so on.

 

To be considered for an undergraduate degree at TCD, students must meet a couple of key requirements (and they will often have to meet more requirements specific to their course, so they will need to do plenty of research).

 

The general university requirements for undergraduates are a completed secondary education/the equivalent for a student’s home country and a certain minimum level of English language understanding and proficiency. For postgraduates, previous university qualifications replace the secondary education requirement, and applicants are usually expected to have a minimum of an upper second-class bachelor’s degree.

 

English Score Required

TCD’s language of assessment and teaching is English. To make sure all students at TCD can complete their courses and communicate effectively while studying, they need to show that they have a good understanding of English during their application. If they can’t do this, they won’t be considered for admission.

 

Every applicant for an undergraduate programme at TCD must understand the right level of English to be considered for a place. This includes candidates from English-speaking regions. Accepted language qualifications which prove fluency include secondary education qualifications like GCSEs and the International Baccalaureate.

 

If applicants can’t prove their English proficiency with any of the qualifications listed above, they’ll need to complete an English test and get a minimum English score. TCD accepts most testing methods, including the Cambridge English Test, the Pearson Test of English (PTE), the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

 

As an example, if applicants choose the IELTS, a common option, they will need to get a minimum overall IELTS band score of 6.5 with no individual band scores below 6 to be considered for admission. Some courses will have higher requirements individually, so students should do their research to make sure their English level matches up with their ideal course.

 

Admission

TCD offers applicants detailed step-by-step guides for undergraduate student admission and postgraduate student admission. Plus, if any questions pop up along the way, TCD is quick to offer students help and advice. The university admission process is as easy as it can be at this institution.

 

Once an applicant has found the programme that they want to apply for at TCD, they can officially begin the admission journey. Undergraduate applicants from the EU/EEA should apply through the Central Application Office of Ireland. This service organises applications in Ireland. When applying, students will need to pay a small fee, share their details and attach a list of important supporting documents. These documents include:

 

  • Academic transcripts
  • Academic certificates
  • A valid passport
  • Proof of English proficiency
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Certified translations for any important documents that aren’t delivered in English

 

Postgraduate applicants and undergraduate applicants from outside of the EU/EEA will need to apply directly to TCD through its online portal. Again, they will need to share all their details and relevant documents. There will also be an application fee of EUR 55.

 

Some programmes may have an entrance examination, which applicants will be told about as soon as possible if it applies to their course. When an application has been fully processed and considered, TCD will contact successful applicants with an offer of admission, these applicants will accept, and it will be time to start officially preparing for their studies.

 

Scholarships & Funding

Tuition fees for non-EU students at TCU are usually around EUR 20,000 annually for undergraduates and between EUR 5,000 and EUR 30,000 annually for postgraduates (it’s very course-dependent). For domestic and EU students, only a EUR 3,000 contribution is expected annually from undergraduates, and postgraduate fees can be anything from EUR 2,000 to upwards of EUR 30,000. Tuition fees are published on the TCU website each academic year, so students can plan their funding in advance.

 

TCU understands that international non-EU students are covering higher costs, so wherever possible, the university makes scholarships available to these students. There are many great university scholarships available, and they’re all listed on the TCU website for students to research and find out if they’re possibly eligible.

 

One great example of a financial award for non-EU students is the Undergraduate E3 Balanced Solutions for a Better World Scholarship. There are 30 of these E3 scholarships valued at EUR 3,000 for all four years of study, and there are also some one-year awards valued at EUR 2,000 to 4,000 each. They are directly applied as a reduction to tuition fees.

Undergraduates studying the following courses are eligible for the E3 Balanced Solutions for a Better World Scholarship if they apply directly and submit a 200-word statement explaining how they’ll contribute to the E3 initiative with their application:

 

  • Biological and biomedical science
  • Chemical sciences
  • Computer science
  • Computer science and business
  • Computer science and geography (joint honours)
  • Computer science, linguistics and language
  • Engineering
  • Engineering with management
  • Environmental science and engineering
  • Geography and geoscience
  • Management science and information systems studies
  • Physical sciences

 

There are also some great postgraduate scholarship options, including the postgraduate version of the scholarship explained above, the E3 Balanced Solutions for a Better World Postgraduate Scholarship. TCU recommends that all students research the scholarships they might be eligible for in the time between starting at the university and being officially accepted.

 

University Structure

Trinity College Dublin offers a range of qualifications. There are a total of 119 full-time bachelor’s courses on offer at the university, including joint honours programmes. Graduate students can choose from 127 programmes, studying towards postgraduate diplomas, master’s degrees, or doctorates. All these courses are offered through TCD’s three main faculties: the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, the Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Science and the Faculty of Health Sciences.

 

Within these faculties, there are a total of 23 schools. Within these schools, there are lots of individual subject areas and specialist groups. There are also five multidisciplinary teaching units that specialise in teaching students on courses that cover different subjects and specialisms. Here’s how things are organised:

 

  • The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
    • The School of Business
    • The School of Creative Arts (containing three subject areas)
    • The School of Education
    • The School of English
    • The School of Histories and Humanities (containing three subject areas and one research centre)
    • The School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies (containing seven subject areas and one research centre)
    • The School of Law
    • The School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences (containing one subject area and two research centres)
    • The School of Psychology
    • The School of Social Sciences and Philosophy (containing four subject areas)
    • The School of Social Work and Social Policy
    • The School of Religion (containing three subject areas, a research centre and a research institute)
  • The Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Science
    • The School of Biochemistry and Immunology
    • The School of Chemistry
    • The School of Computer Science and Statistics (containing two subject areas)
    • The School of Engineering (containing three subject areas)
    • The School of Genetic and Microbiology (containing two subject areas)
    • The School of Mathematics
    • The School of Natural Sciences (containing four subject areas and two research centres)
    • The School of Physics
  • The Faculty of Health Sciences
    • The School of Dental Science
    • The School of Medicine (containing 18 subject areas and two research centres)
    • The School of Nursing and Midwifery
    • The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

 

At TCD, there are also lots of research projects and groups. In total, there are five research institutes and over 50 research centres run by the university, and the university also leads six research groups, working closely with other universities and institutions to bring together experts and resources. The five research institutes are:

 

  • The Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN)
  • The Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI)
  • The Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN)
  • The Trinity Translational Medical Institute (TTMI)
  • The Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute (TLRH)

 

Facilities

TCD is located on one beautiful campus in the middle of the city of Dublin. Medical students learn and study nearby, getting practical work experience at Saint James Hospital, but most other subject areas are taught at the student life centre that is TCD’s main historic campus.

 

Though the campus is historical, the facilities are all modern and purpose-made for comfortable learning and quality teaching. From the lecture theatre to the seminar room to the industry-standard laboratory, students can expect nothing but the best. TCD also has several amazing libraries, including the Old Library. Every library is a perfect student activity centre for research and studying (alone or in a group), filled with all the physical and digital resources that could possibly be required for student success.

 

When class is over, TCD’s facilities continue to look after students and make them feel at home. The Students’ Union building operates shops and a café and runs lots of social events. It also manages the 180 different societies and sports clubs at the university and organises the TCD Trinity Ball, a huge party at the end of each academic year.

 

There are beautiful parks on campus for relaxing and enjoying nature, as well as many spots for socialising and/or studying. There are also some great student accommodation options. TCD is designed to be what students need, flexible and safe. And it’s all within easy reach of the facilities the city of Dublin has to offer, from extracurriculars and nightlife options to fully-equipped student recreation centres for students who want to stay fit and healthy during their studies.

 

Accommodation

Learners at TCD have several options for student accommodation. There are some university accommodation options available close to campus, which offer students fully furnished rooms and rent that includes the cost of utilities. However, spaces in official university accommodation are limited, and there’s no guarantee that a student will be able to receive this option, especially if they don’t apply early enough.

 

Luckily, there are lots of other accommodation choices for students from all backgrounds moving to Dublin to live and learn at TCD. Private accommodation companies like Yugo and Mezzino offer rooms similar to university halls with some additional luxury features like gyms, game rooms and cinema rooms. Students can also choose to find their own privately rented student house, usually sharing with other students.

 

There are lots of student houses available in Dublin, and the best place to start looking is on sites like daft.ie and rent.ie. Whether planning to rent privately or apply for the university’s accommodation, students should start researching as soon as possible to get their preferred place.

 

Student Support

TCD student support services cover academic issues, financial issues, physical issues, and emotional issues. There’s no form of student support not available to someone on campus at TCD, as the university understands how important it is to keep students happy, healthy, and comfortable. Successful students are students who have access to the right student support programmes. Available student services include:

 

  • The Academic Registry Service Desk
  • The Postgraduate Advisory Service
  • The Trinity Access Programme (academic help for underrepresented groups)
  • Healthy Trinity
  • The Student Counselling Service
  • The Chaplaincy (access to religious support from a friendly student guide)
  • The Careers Service
  • The TCDSU Jobs Board
  • The TCD Accommodation Office
  • The TCD Students’ Union
  • The TCD Graduate Students’ Union
  • The Global Room (for international students)
  • The Day Nursery (for students who are parents)

 

There are many more services on the list, and the overall idea is that students always have somewhere to go and someone to talk to if they have an issue, a question or a concern. TCD isn’t just focused on giving academic help; it wants to make sure people can enjoy every area of their student life, including their experiences outside the classroom.

 

Graduate Outcomes

TCD has a great employer reputation, so graduates receive a high-value degree that improves their job prospects and opens up their career options. When employers see that a graduate comes from TCD, they know this graduate will be fully prepared for the professional world. The QS World University Rankings place TCD second in Ireland and 24th in Europe for graduate outcomes, especially in the alumni outcomes and graduate employment rate categories.

 

TCD students aren’t just prepared for work by high standards in their courses and advice from industry-experienced lecturers. They also have access to a wide range of career services and employment services, including:

 

  • Career fairs
  • Networking events
  • Career coaching and employability skills workshops
  • CV clinics
  • LinkedIn clinics
  • One-to-one advice appointments with a career guide
  • Online resources and tools for help and skill building
  • Practice interviews/assessments
  • Career mentoring
  • Job listing boards for TCD and wider Dublin
  • Volunteering/extracurricular opportunities
  • Work placement/internship opportunities
  • Alumni network events where graduates can help each other to get ahead

 

Overall, TCD gives students all they need to succeed. New graduates can benefit from all of these services, too, so the help doesn’t end on the day of a student’s graduation. Whatever a student wants to do, and wherever in the world they come from, they can achieve their academic and professional dreams with the help of an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification from TCD (and with the help of all the university’s great career support services, of course).

 

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Key facts and figures at Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin

Rankings

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
Source: THE

134

OVERALL SCORE

63.2%

TEACHING

44%

INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

91.4%

INDUSTRY INCOME

76.6%

RESEARCH

48.4%

CITATIONS

87.6%
QS World University Rankings 2024
Source: QS

81

Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023
Source: ARWU

201

Student life in numbers

COSTS PER YEAR

€6,500

CAMPUS ACCOMMODATION

€9,100

AVERAGE TUITION FEE PER YEAR

UNDERGRADUATE

€23,970

POSTGRADUATE

€17,490

Student reviews

Overall experience

100% of reviewers recommend Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin

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image Anonymous, UK

Brilliant

I can't recommend this college enough- excellent facilities and lecturers, good supportive administration, friendly course mates and brilliant library as well. I had an excellent tutor in Dr Michael O'Rourke who inspired me to study further to PhD level

I can't recommend this college enough- excellent facilities and lecturers, good supportive administration, friendly course mates and brilliant library as well. I had an excellent tutor in Dr Michael O'Rourke who inspired me to study further to PhD level

image Anonymous, Libya

dentistry

best place to study at.

best place to study at.

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