Getting Set Up

This page will give you an overview of the following steps:

• Step 1: Obtain your Trinity username, email address and initial password
• Step 2: Set up your Trinity computer account
• Step 3: Set up your computer
• Step 4: Submit a VPN connection request

Step 1: Obtain your Trinity username, email address and initial password

Before setting up your Trinity computer account, you need your Trinity username, email address and initial password. You will get these details from HR along with your ID card.

Getting your account information

Step 2: Set up your Trinity computer account

To complete the setup of your computer account, you will need your Trinity email address and initial password that you will receive from HR (see step 1 above). During the setup, you will enable two-step sign-in for your account and change your initial password.

Enable Two Step Sign-in with Microsoft 365

When you log in for the first time, to a Microsoft 365 authenticated service (such as office.tcd.ie), using your username and password, you will be requested to set up Two Step Sign-In.

Changing your initial password

IT Services recommend changing your initial password as soon as you have Two Step Sign-In set up.

Instructions for setting up your computer account

Step 3: Set up your computer

Previously used Windows computers

If you have been given a Windows computer that was previously used by another member of staff in Trinity, you will need to have the ownership and control of that computer transferred to you. The request for the change of ownership should come from your Head of Area or School/Office Administrator and be emailed to the IT Service Desk at itservicedesk@tcd.ie.

Previously used Mac computers

If you’ll be working on a previously used Mac computer, you’ll need to know the local administrator password for it when carrying out certain actions such as installing software.  IT Services will not have a record of this local administrator password. The previous owner or your manager may have this password.

New computers

If you get a brand-new Trinity-owned computer, or will be working on campus on your own computer which meets our network requirements, then you will need to connect it to the Trinity network. To do this, please fill in and submit a network request form. You will need your Trinity username and password to log into the form as it is accessible internally only.

Once you have submitted the form, you will receive an email from the IT Service Desk with step-by-step configuration instructions to set up Trinity network connectivity. 

Submit network request form

Purchasing a new computer

New computers should only be purchased from official Trinity computer suppliers.

IT purchasing advice for staff

Step 4: Check if you need a VPN connection

Staff who are using fully networked, Trinity-owned computers can also be set up with the Staff VPN service to remotely access Trinity network services which are usually restricted to those who are situated in their office on campus.

When working from home or some other off-campus location you don’t need the Staff VPN service to access most online Trinity services hosted in the “cloud”, for example your email, OneDrive, Teams, Blackboard, Panopto, T4 CMS (Terminalfour), etc.

To get started, check our VPN Service page to see if you need to use the Staff VPN when working off campus.

Check if you need to use the Staff VPN Service