Dual BA Programme
The Dual BA in Philosophy offers students a unique opportunity to earn degrees from both Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University, combining two world-class educational experiences.
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Is it for me?
If you are interested in exploring fundamental philosophical questions about reality, knowledge, morality, politics, and the human mind, while gaining an international perspective, this programme offers a stimulating and challenging path. Students in the Dual BA Programme spend their first two years at Trinity, studying core philosophical topics and historical foundations, before continuing their studies at Columbia University in New York, where they complete their major alongside Columbia’s Core Curriculum.
Graduates of the Dual BA develop strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that are highly valued across a range of careers, including law, policy, journalism, technology, and academia.
Dual BA: Study at Trinity and Columbia
Two universities, two degrees, one unique experience. Watch to learn more!
Course Structure
In their first two years at Trinity, students take foundation courses in the history of philosophy and engage with core philosophical debates on topics such as free will, the nature of morality, the existence of God, logic, and the scope and limits of human knowledge.
In their final two years at Columbia, students join the Department of Philosophy to complete their major, gaining a foundation in logic and philosophical methodology while exploring key areas such as epistemology and metaphysics, ethics and political philosophy, the philosophy of mind and language, and the history of philosophy. Columbia students also take at least one advanced seminar and outstanding seniors may also pursue their own philosophical project in a senior thesis.
As part of the Trinity degree programme, students also complete an additional 30 ECTS credits in years three and four, including a Capstone project that allows them to explore an area of interest in depth.
Assessment
Assessment is by means of both essays and formal examinations. In the fourth year, students undertake a Capstone project. For more detailed information, please see the module outlines.
Entry Requirements
Applicants to the Dual BA Programme must apply by 2 January for entry the following September.
The admissions process includes a review of the applicant’s academic history, letters of recommendation, an essay, and an interview conducted in English. Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) can be submitted but are not required for 2025 entry. Applications are reviewed by a joint committee with representatives from both Institutions.
EU applicants to the Dual BA Programme must also apply to and receive an offer from their chosen programme at Trinity through the Central Applications Office (CAO).