FAQs for all Undergraduate International Students
1. How do I open a bank account?
To open a bank account in Ireland, you are required by law to show valid proof of identity (complete with photograph), and proof of address. It is easiest to open a bank account with the Bank of Ireland branch on College Green or the Allied Irish Bank (AIB) branch on Grafton Street. These branches will typically accept a letter from the Academic Registry, which can be generated in your mytcd.ie portal, as proof of address. This letter can be issued once you have completed Registration, and will confirm that you are a registered Trinity College student and should list your home and Dublin addresses. There are normally no fees charged on student bank accounts.
2. Can I get a letter confirming attendance so that I can set up an Irish bank account prior to arrival in Ireland?
The letter required for students to open their student bank accounts can be issued once students have completed Registration, and confirmed their term-time Irish address.
3. How do I connect my laptop to the College wifi?
Information on connecting your personal laptop to the TCD network can be found on the IT Services' Orientation webpages.
4. Where is the disability office?
The disAbility Service is located in Printing House Square. The Service holds drop-in hours from 12pm-2pm Monday-Friday during term-time. You can also get in touch with the Service by emailing askds@tcd.ie.
Students requiring support due to the impact of their disability or learning difficulty will need to complete an Application for Reasonable Accommodations. We recommend that students complete their Application for Reasonable Accommodations, or make contact with the disAbility Service to explore support options, as soon as possible. Please see https://www.tcd.ie/disability/ for further information.
5. Where can I buy a student travel card (Leap Card) to get cheaper travel on public transport?
To purchase a Leap Card, visit: https://leapcard.ie/. Those aged 18 or younger should buy a Child Leap Card; those aged 19-25, a Young Adult Leap Card; and those aged 26 and older, a Student Leap Card. Those purchasing Student Leap Cards will need to collect their Card from a designated Leap Card agent, such as the Students' Union, House 6, Front Square, on campus. For further information, visit: https://about.leapcard.ie/about
6. Where can I eat on campus?
Trinity does not operate a meal plan, however the Catering Department provides a number of food and snack outlets throughout the campus. There are three restaurants on campus for students: the Dining Hall, the Buttery and the Forum. In addition, the Perch Café and Aras an Phiarsaigh Café serve coffee, tea, and light bites. The Pavilion Bar serves hot food and drinks. You can also grab a sandwich, toastie, or great value coffee in the Students' Union Cafe in Goldsmith.
As Trinity is in the centre of Dublin, there are lots of cafes, restaurants, and bars within walking distance of the campus.
Please note that students housed in Trinity accommodation will have access to self-catering facilities if they wish to prepare their own meals.
7. What happens if I get sick?
All full-time registered students are eligible to use the College Health Service throughout the year. Student consultations are free of charge, with modest fees for additional services. Students can book appointments by phoning 01 896 1591; 01 896 8555; or 01 896 1556, Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. Visit the College Health Service website for more information: https://www.tcd.ie/collegehealth/
8. Where can I buy household items?
Aldi and Lidl will probably be the cheapest options when it comes to grocery shopping - unless you sign up to the rewards programmes at supermarkets like Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, or Tesco, and do larger shops less frequently. The closest supermarkets to Trinity are: Dunnes Stores in the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, Dunnes Stores on George's Street, Marks & Spencer on Grafton Street, Tesco on Fleet Street, Tesco on Upper Baggot Street, Lidl on Aungier Street, and Aldi on Parnell Street.
For household items like bed linen, crockery, etc., Dunnes Stores in the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre has an excellent, inexpensive range.
In general, there are excellent shopping facilities in and around Dublin. Shopping hubs include: Grafton Street, Henry Street, the Ilac Centre, and Dundrum Town Centre.
FAQs For Erasmus and Visiting/Study Abroad/Exchange Students Only
1. Am I an Erasmus student or a Visiting/Study Abroad/Exchange student?
Erasmus students are students who are enrolled at higher-education institutions within the European Union who visit Trinity for either a semester or a full academic year. Their study at Trinity is subject to an Erasmus Agreement.*
*Students from a select number of institutions outside the EU may also visit Trinity on an Erasmus Agreement, and thus be considered Erasmus students.
Visiting/Study Abroad/Exchange students are students who are enrolled at higher-education institutions outside of the European Union, whose one-semester or one-year visit to Trinity is not subject to an Erasmus Agreement. The terms 'Visiting,' 'Study Abroad,' and 'Exchange' are often used interchangeably at Trinity.
2. How can I find out who my Erasmus Co-Ordinator is? (Erasmus students only)
You will find the name and email address of your Erasmus Co-Ordinator on your Trinity College acceptance letter. Alternatively, you can call into the Academic Registry in the Watts Building (part of the Hamilton complex) on arrival.
3. How can I contact the International Tutor?
To contact the International Tutor, email: international.tutor@tcd.ie
4. Where can I find information on the modules available to Visiting/Study Abroad/Exchange and Erasmus students?
The Module Directory, available at https://www.tcd.ie/students/orientation/visiting-exchange/module-enrolment.php, provides information on the modules available to Visiting/Study Abroad/Exchange and Erasmus students. It includes the module code, title, duration, contact hours, and ECTS credits for each module, as well as a brief description of the module and how it is assessed.
5. How do I select / sign up for modules?
Students sign up for modules online, using the Module Enrolment form. This form, and further details about the Online Module Enrolment Process are available via https://www.tcd.ie/students/orientation/visiting-exchange/module-enrolment.php
Please note that information and Q&A sessions on the Online Module Enrolment Process will be held during Orientation Week should you have any questions.
6. How do I amend my module choices?
You can amend your module choices by submitting additional Module Enrolment and Module Removal forms during the Online Module Enrolment period. It is not possible to amend your choices outside of this period. More information will be provided during Orientation Week.