Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland

Trinity College Dublin (TCD): Rankings, Courses, Admissions, Fees, and Scholarships

Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s leading and oldest higher education institute. It was established in 1592 by the royal charter as the first (and the only) college of the University of Dublin. Home to 18,000 students, Trinity College Dublin has its beautiful campus in the heart of Dublin’s city center. 

TCD has students and academic staff from more than 120 countries. Its inclusivity and diversity are reflected in the fact that more than 28% of Trinity students come from outside Ireland. 

Trinity College Dublin has 3 primary academic faculties and 24 academic schools covering all disciplines. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in a wide range of study areas like business, law, arts & humanities, science, engineering, and health science.

Trinity has one of the most celebrated alumni histories not just in Ireland, but across the world. Some of the prominent figures that graduated from Trinity College Dublin include Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, and George Burkley.

Why study at Trinity College Dublin?

• Trinity College Dublin ranks 92nd in the world for graduate employability (QS World University Graduate Employability Rankings)
• International students at Trinity can stay back in Ireland for 1 year after their undergraduate studies. Eligible postgraduates can stay back for 2 years to look for employment in Ireland.
• TCD is situated in one of Europe’s most multicultural and safe cities, i.e. Dublin. Dublin was ranked at 37th position among the best student cities in the world (QS World’s Best Student Cities 2019 )
• There are ample opportunities for student involvement as Trinity College Dublin has more than 170 student clubs and societies, many of which are international groups.

Trinity College Dublin Rankings

Trinity College Dublin has been highly ranked in the country and across the world.

• Ranked #1 Leading University in Ireland (QS 2022, THE World University Ranking, 2022)
•  Ranked #101 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2022)
• Ranked #8 among most international universities in the world (THE World University Rankings 2021)
• Ranked #1 in Ireland for employer reputation and alumni outcomes (QS Graduate Employability World Rankings, 2022)
• More than 15 subjects taught at TCD are ranked among the top 100 in the world (QS Subject Rankings 2021)
• Ranked #1 in Europe for producing entrepreneurs (Pitchbook Universities Report 2020)

Programs and Courses at TCD

Trinity College Dublin has 3 academic faculties:

• Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
• Health Sciences

Together, these faculties offer nearly 400 programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.  

Some of the most popular and globally renowned programs at the Trinity College Dublin are:

In addition to undergraduate and postgraduate courses across various disciplines, Trinity College Dublin offers an International Foundation Program for foreign students that do not meet the eligibility criteria for direct entry to a degree program. 

TCD also has online and continuing education programs for its students.

Admission Process & Requirements for International Students

Admission to Trinity College Dublin is highly competitive. It has an average acceptance rate of 33.5% and most programs require good academic achievement for entry. International students can apply online directly via the university’s website. 

Undergraduate Admissions

• Application Fee: 59 USD*
• Application Deadlines

 Applications are accepted from October each year for entry into programs starting in September the next year. The final deadline is June 30th. For Drama, Music, Dental Science, and Medical programs, the deadline is February 1.

International students from the UAE must have one of the following qualifications for direct entry to UCD’s undergraduate programs:

• GCA A levels
• International Baccalaureate
• US high school diploma with ACT or SAT

Additionally, students must have passing grades in English, Maths, and a language other than English in order to be eligible for admission. There might be other course-specific requirements that prospective applicants will have to meet depending on the choice of program. 

Minimum English Language requirements that international applicants have to meet with-

• TOEFL iBT- 90
• IELTS- 6.5 (not less than 6.0 in any component); IELTS- 7.0 (for dental courses and clinical speech & language studies)

Please keep in mind that meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee a place at UCD. Admissions are generally competitive and based on merit.

Documents required for undergraduate admissions include:

• Final high school results or predicted grades provided directly by the school
• Statement of purpose in 500 words
• Two academic references
• Proof of English Language Proficiency

Alternatively, international students can apply for the International Foundation Program if they are not eligible for direct entry. 

Admission requirements for the International Foundation Program: 

• Academic transcripts (overall aggregate of 80% or above in all relevant subjects)
• Letters of recommendation (two)
• Copy of Passport
• Proof of English Language Proficiency (IELTS- 5.0, TOEFL iBT- 64 or IELTS- 6.0, TOEFL-72 for some programs)

Postgraduate Admissions 

 Many programs at the postgraduate level are offered by University College Dublin. Students must possess a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 60% aggregate to be considered for admission.

Documents required for postgraduate admissions include:

• 2 academic references or clinical references when required 
• Academic transcripts & certified copies of degree certificates
• Proof of English Language Proficiency (TOEFL iBT- 90/ IELTS-6.5; IELTS- 7.0 for dental courses and clinical speech & language studies)
• Any other standardized tests such as GMAT (for master’s courses in Business)

Some programs may have additional requirements. Please check the university’s official website or get in touch with us for further details. 

Tuition, Fees, & Cost of Attendance

The total cost of attendance for an international student at Trinity College Dublin is made up of tuition, other fees, and price of room & board. 

Undergraduate tuition costs for the 2021-2022 academic year are tabulated below.

Tuition for postgraduate programs vary depending on the choice of program. Some popular postgraduate programs with their annual tuition for international students have been tabulated below.

Cost of living

In addition to the respective course tuition, students at Trinity College Dublin are required to meet with other expenses such as room & board, cost of utilities, transportation costs etc.

According to the Students’ Union at Dublin University College, these are the monthly expenses a student should be ready to pay.

*Note: All rates have been converted from EUR to USD at the current exchange rate of 1 EUR= 1.07 USD. Exchange rates are subject to periodic change. 

Also Read: Cost of Medical Studies and MBBS in Ireland – Gyanberry 

Scholarships for International Students at TDC 

Trinity College Dublin offers a range of financial assistance for international students in the form of scholarships and grants. Details of these scholarships have been tabulated below.

In addition to the scholarships mentioned above, there’s an extensive range of department-specific scholarships for postgraduate students (law, business). The Ireland government also provides full tuition scholarships to international students with excellent academic achievement every year.

Career Prospects for International TCD Students

Some popular Companies that hire from TCD are-

• Google
•  Amazon
• Deloitte
• Facebook
• Microsoft
• EY
• Bank of Ireland

Additionally, TCD has a separate Careers Service section which assists students in finding job prospects, provides tools for preparing applications, interview preparation, and also assists students in building an effective CV/Resume.

The Careers Service section also includes a guide on how to find work (How to find work – Trinity Careers Service), which explains the method to find a suitable job and provides links for online sites which are effective in searching for jobs.

Opportunity to Work during Studies

International students outside European Economic Area (EEA) are eligible to undertake casual part-time work for up to 20 hours per week during term time, and up to 40 hours of casual full-time work per week from 15th December to 15th January and between the 1st of June and the 30th of September, once this does not interfere with your attendance at university. These dates are subject to change.

Opportunity to work after studies in Ireland

Non-EU students who complete an undergraduate degree at Trinity can get the Stamp 1G which allows them to work in Ireland for 12 months from the date of issue of final results, as part of the Third Level Graduate Scheme. Master’s and Ph.D. students can stay back for 12 months post-study as well. 

If an international student wishes to stay for work after completion of the 12 months, then a work permit is required.

Job Prospects after MBA

As per the data published by TCD, 95% of the students secured job offers within 6 months of graduation and had a 30% average increase in salary. The average salary post completion of an MBA is approximately USD 86,000.