Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Trinity Menu Trinity Search

Study

You are here How to Apply > Making an Application > Undergraduate

How to Apply

Do you know if you should be making an application to Trinity directly or through the Central Applications Office?

This is determined by your EU/Non-EU status with the University. You can assess your status, and your application route, on our Fees and Finances page.

Applicants from EU/EEA countries would normally be defined as EU applicants and apply via CAO; this is based on residency rather than nationality. 

Non-EU students apply directly to Trinity. They apply directly through the page of the course they wish to study via the 'apply' button.

Your EU/Non-EU status is an important part of your application and it is your responsibility to determine your correct status before making an application, as the method of application and requirements will differ. 

Determining EU/Non-EU status (Undergraduate)

Determining EU/Non-EU Status (Postgraduate)

CAO Applications

Applicants from EU/EEA/UK countries would normally be defined as EU applicants and apply via CAO.

Overview

Standard applications for admission should be made online to the Central Applications Office (CAO) at www.cao.ie.

The CAO is independent of the University and administrates the application process for Trinity before an application is formally reviewed. If you have any queries on the online application process itself, please contact the CAO directly.

Normal application deadline

1st February

Late application deadline

1st May

Change of mind deadline

1st July

Note that applications to restricted entry courses, and by mature students must be made by 1 February.

For further information: View the CAO presentation 

 

Application deadlines for 2025

20th January 2025 (17:00)

Closing date for registration for the HPAT-Ireland test for entry to Medicine.

Final date for CAO online discounted application fee.

1st February 2025 (17:00)

Normal closing date for CAO

Applications to restricted entry courses and applications from mature students must be made to the CAO by this date.

Closing date for submission of mature-students supplementary application forms (for all full-time courses except Nursing or Midwifery).

DARE and HEAR applicants must have applied to CAO

16th - 25th February 2025 (17:00)

Date of HPAT-Ireland test for entry to Medicine

1st March 2025 (17:00)

Closing date for applications to sit the University matriculation examination.

DARE applicants must have disclosed their disabilities and/or specific learning difficulties in their CAO applications, and fully and correctly complete Section A of the Supplementary Information Form.

HEAR applicants must have applied to HEAR and finalised all elements of their HEAR online application.

Applications from EU and non-EU students wishing to study as a visiting student for up to one academic year should be submitted online.

15th March 2025 (17:00)

DARE applicants must have completed and returned sections B and C of the Supplementary Information Form

HEAR applicants must have submitted relevant evidence in support of their application to CAO.

23rd March 2025

Provisional date for Music  Education entrance examination.


1st May 2025 (17:00)

Late Closing Date for CAO


(Note: Late applications to restricted entry courses, and late applications from mature students will not be considered)

1st July 2025 (17:00)

Closing date for submission of a 'Change of Mind' (i.e. changes to the order of preference of the courses on your application) to CAO.

15th October 2025

Closing date for receipt of applications for the Reid Entrance Exhibition

Accepting an Offer

Accepting an offer (all applicants)

Applicants who wish to accept an offer of a place must submit a formal acceptance on-line, within the specified time period. If an acceptance is not submitted  in time the offer will lapse. Please note that if an applicant does not follow the instructions in full, the right is reserved to cancel the offer.

School leavers & standard applicants

Offers to all successful EU applicants (school leavers) are made through the CAO in August following the publication of Leaving Certificate and GCE A-Level results.

The University does not make conditional offers prior to the publication of examination results. However, the level at which entry was granted in the previous year may give an indication of the level of achievement required.

Applicants are advised that the competitive entry level may fluctuate from year to year.

Mature Students

Offers to successful mature student applicants and to candidates who have deferred entry from the previous year will be issued by CAO in early July.

DARE and HEAR students

DARE students: a condition of acceptance of a DARE place is that students must register with the Disability Service. Failure to register or attend scheduled meetings with the Disability Service without prior permission could result in the reduced points DARE place being withdrawn.

HEAR students: a condition of acceptance of a HEAR place is that students must attend the HEAR Orientation Programme. Failure to attend without prior permission from the TAP office could result in the HEAR place being withdrawn or in the withdrawal of other potential post-entry supports (e.g. financial supports).

Direct Application (my.tcd.ie portal)

Applicants who are not from EU/EEA/UK countries are defined as non-EU applicants and apply directly to Trinity via the my.tcd.ie portal.

So you've decided that Trinity College Dublin is right for your undergraduate career. How do you apply? An application can be created in Trinity's my.tcd.ie portal in a few simple steps.

Check out our undergraduate pathways infographic for a handy guide

  1. Go to the courses website and find the course you wish to study.
  2. Research the school and language requirements for your country on your Trinity country page.
  3. Research your course fees which can be found on our student finance webpage. Direct applicants will be paying non-EU course fees.
  4. Apply by selecting the 'Non-EU Application' link under the course description. You can save your application and return to it, but remember to submit it when you're finished!

An application fee of €55 is applicable for all direct applications to Trinity College Dublin. This payment must be made online following the instructions on the application form. The online application processing fee is non-refundable. The course application will not be submitted to Trinity until the application fee is paid in full.

Closing Dates

1 February for admissions decision by 1 April

1 February for Music Education Drama, Dental Science and Medicine

30 June for Advanced Entry (1 February for courses listed above)

30 June for rolling decisions

As part of the online application, applicants will also need to submit original or certified true* copies of:

  • Final second level qualification results
  • IELTS, Cambridge Advanced/Proficiency, TOEFL scores, for applicants whose first language is not English
  • Academic transcripts for each year of third level study and all third level qualifications awarded
  • SAT, AP or ACT scores (US and Canadian applicants only)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Passport
  • Application fee (non-refundable) and application fee payment form

Please note that where the statement of examination results is in a language other than English, applicants should submit a certified true translation of the statement along with a certified true copy of their original results with the application.

*A certified true copy is a photocopy of an original document that has been signed and stamped by a school principal or other official.

Managing Your Application

Once you have submitted an online application, you will be sent an acknowledgement email to the email address you provided when setting up your user account on the my.tcd.ie applicant portal. The applicant portal will allow you to send and receive communications regarding your application to Trinity.

You will be able to track the progress of your application at every stage of the admissions process, update your personal information, view decisions made on your application(s) and accept any offers you may receive. The application form provides a space to name an agent (usually a parent) who may communicate with the Applications and Admissions Team in Trinity's Academic Registry on your behalf.

You must nominate an agent if you wish anyone other than yourself to be permitted to exchange information about your application with the office.

Deferred Entry

Students who have received an offer may apply to defer their entry to Trinity for one year. Applicants should note that there is a limit on the number of deferrals that can be granted and therefore deferrals cannot be guaranteed. The procedures for deferral applications are set out below.

How to Apply to Defer a CAO Offer

  1. Do NOT accept the offer.

  2. Send an email, IMMEDIATELY to the Admissions Officer at academic.registry@tcd.ie, setting out the reason(s) for the request.  Please enter CAO Deferral Request as the subject of the email.

  3. The email must arrive in the Academic Registry at least two days before the "Reply Date" shown on the Offer Notice. Trinity will notify the applicant of the decision in writing. If the deferral is not granted, you may then accept the offer for the current year.

  4. In order to take up the deferred place, the applicant must reapply through the CAO by 1 February of the following year and the deferred course must appear as the first and only choice on this application.

  5. After reapplying, the applicant must send their new CAO application number to Applications and Admissions Team, (academic.registry@tcd.ie).

How to Apply to Defer a Direct Application Offer

Direct undergraduate applicants must request by email to defer their unconditional offer as soon as possible, by contacting the Admissions Officer, academic.registry@tcd.ie, setting out the reason(s) for the request. Please enter Deferral Request as the subject of the email.

If granted, applicants must notify Academic Registry by 1 February in the following year if they wish to take up the place. The deposit paid will transfer to the deferred year and applicants do not need to re-complete the application form in full.

Conditions

Applicants who have been given permission to defer entry must not in the intervening year:

  1. Attend a third-level institution, or
  2. Repeat the second level examinations (e.g. the Leaving Certificate) with the intention of applying for a different third-level programme.
  3. Attend a Higher Education Institution to complete a PLC or other Level 5 course.

If you do so, the deferral will lapse and you will then compete for a place in the normal way.

A place may be deferred for one academic year only.

CAO students who were permitted to defer their place will receive an offer of a place on the course in July of the following year.

Applying for Re-admission to Trinity College Dublin

  • EU Junior Fresh students who withdraw from Trinity before 1 February must re-apply through the CAO for admission in a subsequent year. 

    Non-EU Junior Fresh students withdrawing before 1 February must re-apply through the Academic Registry.

  • EU or non-EU students who withdraw from Trinity after 1 February should apply for re-admission through the Academic Registry by 1 August of the proposed year of re-entry.  EU students who submit an application to CAO should not also apply for re-admission.  Only one application will be assessed.
  • Students who are off the books without permission may be re-admitted to Trinity only at the discretion of the Senior Lecturer. They will be required to pay a fee of 358euro.
  • In cases of ill-health the fee may be waived by the Senior Lecturer, but students will be required to send a certificate of fitness to return to studies to the Senior Lecturer, through their tutor.
  • Students who have completed a course of study or who have been off the books for a number of years may be re-admitted to Trinity subject to the student satisfying the general admission requirements and agreement of the relevant School/Department (where applicable)
  • Students who are off-books for medical reasons need to submit a certificate of fitness to return to studying to the Senior Lecturer, via their tutor, before 1st August.
  • Students who are off-books with permission for personal or academic reasons  are not required to apply for re-admission and should register in the normal way.

Applying for a Transfer (Internal and Advanced Entry)

Applying for an internal transfer within Trinity College Dublin

Internal Transfer Form

Students may apply, through their tutor, for permission to transfer to another course. Transfer application forms , should be submitted to the Applications and Admissions Team via email to academic.registry@tcd.ie who will process the applications on behalf of the Senior Lecturer

While every effort will be made to allow adequately qualified students to change course, it will not be possible to permit a transfer into a course which already has a full complement of students. In the case of Junior Fresh transfers students will not be permitted to transfer if they do not have sufficient points for the course into which they are seeking to transfer.

All students who are being considered for a transfer to the first year of another course should register for the course to which they were admitted

Under no circumstances should students register or attend lectures for a course that they have applied to transfer to until their application to transfer has been formally approved by the Senior Lecturer.

Students making an application to transfer to the Columbia Dual B.A. should review available information on the Dual B.A. Transfer Entry process and make their application no later than 23rd May 2025.

Categories of transfer applicants


  • 1.1. Continuing Junior Fresh students and non Junior Fresh students seeking to transfer into the Junior Fresh year of a different course.

    • Closing Date: 1 August

Important Note: Drama, Medicine and Music Education all have special entry procedures and require application before 1st February so that they can be included in these procedures.

Further details below.

  • 1.2. Newly entered Junior Fresh students who in their first term are seeking to transfer into the Junior Fresh year of a different course.

    Closing Date: 4th October 2025.
    Further details below.

  • 1.3. Continuing Junior Fresh students and non Junior Fresh students seeking to transfer into a year other than the Junior Fresh year of a different course.

    Closing Date: 4th October 2025.
    Further details below.

1.1. Continuing Junior Fresh students and non Junior Fresh students seeking to transfer into the Junior Fresh year of a different course.


Closing Date: 1 August

Note: Students who miss this cut-off date may apply in the same way as newly entered Junior Fresh students i.e. by 4th October 2025.

These applications will be assessed solely on the basis of their original entry qualifications. Therefore no consultation with academic units takes place regarding requests in this category.  Decisions in this category are made at the same time as the publication of the CAO Round One Offers.

With the sole exception of mature students, Trinity examination results will not be taken into consideration. Applications from mature students will be sent to the academic unit for decision.

Note: Students who have re-applied for courses in Trinity via the CAO should not submit an internal transfer form as well.

 

Decisions

All students are notified in writing of the result of their application. Where the request has been turned down a copy of the email is also sent to the student's tutor.


Where the transfer is being permitted the student is informed, in writing, and requested to confirm acceptance by a particular date. Once a student has confirmed their acceptance, via email, to the Admissions Team a copy of their email  will be circulated to their tutor and all relevant academic and administrative offices. Only at this point will the Student Record File be updated


Note: Students in this category should be aware that if their transfer is successful, they will be liable for tuition fees as they are repeating a year.

1.2. Newly entered Junior Fresh students who in their first term are seeking to transfer into the Junior Fresh year of a different course.

Closing Date: 4th October 2025

All applications will be held until the closing date (with the exception of applications from students failing to satisfy the requirements or who do not have the points required for the course into which entry is sought. These will be notified immediately that they are ineligible).

Decisions on applications received by the closing date will be made on the basis of the following criteria:

  1. availability of places
  2. entry qualifications
  3. timetabling constraints

Applicants are ranked on the basis of the entry qualification and places allocated according to the number of places available.

Consultation with academic units does not normally take place when this category of applications is being assessed.

Schools and departments must not enter into individual arrangements with transfer applicants. Transfers will not be permitted at a level lower than the published cut-off point at which offers were made.

In no case can acceptance of a transfer be cited by students as grounds for poor performance at examinations.

Decisions
All students are notified in writing of the result of their application as soon as possible. Where the request has been turned down a copy of the letter is also sent to the student's tutor.

Where the transfer is being permitted the student is informed, in writing, and requested to confirm acceptance by a particular date. Once a student has confirmed their acceptance, via email, to the Admissions Team a copy of their letter will be circulated to their tutor and all relevant academic and administrative offices. Only at this point will the Student Record File be updated

1.3. Continuing Junior Fresh students and non Junior Fresh students seeking to transfer into a year other than the Junior Fresh year of a different course.

Closing Date: 4th October 2025

Applicants in this category will be assessed in consultation with the school(s) or department(s) concerned, on the basis of the total qualifications presented.

  1. Original entry qualifications and
  2. College examination results.

All academic requirements of a student's current course must be satisfied unless specified otherwise in the College Calendar under individual course regulations, i.e. to transfer into the SF year of a course JF students must be eligible to rise with their year.

Decisions

All students are notified in writing of the result of their application. Where the request has been turned down a copy of the letter is also sent to the student's tutor.


Where the transfer is being permitted the student is informed, in writing, and requested to confirm acceptance by a particular date. Once a student has confirmed their acceptance, via email, to the Admissions Team a copy of their letter will be circulated to their tutor and all relevant academic and administrative offices. Only at this point will the Student Record File be updated.

Applying to transfer to Trinity College Dublin from another institution (Advanced Entry)

2.1 .Transfer from another third-level institution to the first year of a course at Trinity

If you are currently an undergraduate student in any year in any one of the Higher Education Institutions (and entered that HEI through the CAO system), you may apply to transfer to the first year of a course at Trinity by applying to CAO by 1 February of the intended year of entry to the University.


However, there is also a late application facility, which allows applications (in paper form only) to arrive in CAO not later than 5:15 pm on 22nd July of the intended year of entry to the University.

See "Late Applications (Exception to Timetable)" in the CAO handbook for further details.

2.2 Advanced Entry

Advanced entry is admission to the second or a subsequent year of a full-time undergraduate degree course.

Students who have successfully completed one or more years in a similar, full-time, course at degree level or who have completed a recognised diploma or an ordinary degree in a related discipline to a sufficiently high standard may apply for advanced entry to Trinity.

2.2.1 Students in the first year of a full-time degree course at another institution seeking to apply for entry to the second year of a similar course at Trinity

  • In order to be eligible to apply to transfer to the second year of a course at Trinity, applicants must have attained the entry requirements of the rising class, e.g. to enter the second year in 2022, applicants must have attained the entry requirements that were necessary for that course in 2021."
  • Applicants must also meet the matriculation requirements for entry to Trinity and any specific course requirements that may apply (see Admission Requirements).
  • Applicants should apply directly to Trinity by selecting the 'Advanced Entry Applications' link on the relevant course's webpage.
  • See below for application deadlines.
2.2.2 Students in the second or a subsequent year of a full-time degree course at another institution seeking to apply for entry to the second or a subsequent year of a similar course at Trinity
  • All applicants should apply directly to Trinity by selecting the 'Advanced Entry Applications' link on the relevant course's webpage.
  • See below for application deadlines.
2.2.3 Students in the final year of (or who have successfully completed) a recognised diploma or an ordinary degree course seeking to apply for entry to the second or a subsequent year of a related discipline at Trinity
  • Applicants should apply directly to Trinity by selecting the 'Advanced Entry Applications' link on the relevant course's webpage.
  • See below for application deadlines.
Notes for all Advanced Entry applicants
  • Applicants should clearly state, on the Advanced entry application form, why they are applying for advanced entry to the course at Trinity. Applicants must include:
    • a certified copy of their school leaving results,
    • a syllabus of the course that they are taking, and
    • transcripts of their exam results to date.
  • Successful applicants must complete at least two full academic years at Trinity in order to be eligible for a degree from Trinity.
  • Applicants are assessed on the basis of the total qualifications presented (i.e. school leaving results and third-level examination results).
  • Clinical Speech and Language Studies:Due to differences in course structure/content and also requirements set out by the professional bodies, the Discipline of Clinical Speech and Language Studies is not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry. .
  • Dental science: Applications for advanced entry (to the second year of the Dental science course) will be considered subject to places being available. Note that successful applicants normally have a degree in Medicine, Veterinary Science or Dentistry.
  • Engineering/Science: Applicants for courses in Engineering or Science may be required to attend an interview.
  • Environmental Science and Engineering: Due to the multi-disciplinary, inter-school nature of the course with its essential foundation courses in both natural sciences and engineering taken in the freshman years, we are not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry to the Environmental Science and Engineering course.
  • Law: Due to differences in course structure/content and also requirements set out by the professional bodies, the Law School are not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry.
  • Medicine: Advanced entry to Medicine is only available to Dental science graduates, who may be considered for entry to the third year of the five year course. Applicants must have an honours Dental degree with a minimum grade of 2:1 and have completed the Membership (MFD/MFDS) or Fellowship (FFD/FDS) examinations of the RCS or equivalent. Research (publications/presentation) or suitable experience would be an advantage.
  • Music Education: Due to differences in course structure/content and also requirements set out by the professional bodies, Music education are not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry.
  • Occupational Therapy: Due to differences in course structure/content and also requirements set out by the professional bodies, the Discipline of Occupational Therapy is not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry.
  • Pharmacy: Advanced entry into integrated Pharmacy programme are considered only in exceptional circumstances and only if strong ad mis grounds can be proven, and only from undergraduates studying Pharmacy in other institutions within the State, as per S.I. No. 377 of 2014. Necessary admission requirements must be met and students must be in good standing. Applicants may be called for interview. Advanced entry can only be facilitated into the second year of our programme.
  • Physiotherapy - There is currently no option for recognition of prior learning and advanced entry for the BSc in physiotherapy. All applicants must enter at the Junior Freshman year (year one). No module exemptions across years are permitted.
  • Radiation Therapy: Due to differences in course structure/content and also requirements set out by the professional bodies, the Discipline of Radiation Therapy is not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry.
Application deadline for all Advanced Entry applicants
  • The normal closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1 February of the year in which the applicant wishes to enter the University.
  • Late applications to Medicine, Dental Science and Social studies will not be accepted. However, late applications to other courses will be accepted until 30 June. These applicants will be considered for any vacancies that may arise.

Admissions Appeals Process

Applications are assessed on the basis of the criteria published in the Trinity College Undergraduate Prospectus and on the College website at https://www.tcd.ie/study/apply/admission-requirements/

An applicant may appeal a decision on one of the following grounds:

  1. Where the applicant is of the view that their application has not be processed in line with the published criteria.
  2. Where the applicant is of the view that the decision is based on misinterpretation of information and/or data submitted as part of the application process.

The applicant must submit the appeal.  Appeals submitted by a third party will not be considered.

The initial appeal must be submitted in writing (either email or hard copy) along with any relevant supporting documentation to the Admissions Officer who will review the appeal and respond to the applicant. 

If the applicant wishes to appeal the matter further it is passed to the Senior Lecturer/ Dean of Undergraduate Studies for consideration.