Foundation Course - Mature Students
Foundation Course for Higher Education
The Trinity Access Programme offers mature students a Foundation Course for Higher Education. This course prepares mature students, personally and academically, to study for a degree. The Foundation course was set up in 1997 to tackle educational disadvantage. It offers another way to third-level education for mature students whose social, economic and cultural experiences have prevented them from going to college. Foundation Course students can enter into the Trinity College Dublin undergraduate degrees.
Applications for 2024/25 have closed. Applications for 2025/26 will open in November 2024.
Is this course for me?
Students can choose from two broad areas of study: arts and social sciences, or science. Throughout the course you have full access to all college supports and services. There are also TAP supports tailored especially for you. In addition to classes in Study Skills, Educational Guidance and Information Technology, students may choose from the following: English, History, Philosophy, Law, Politics, Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Business,Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Computer Science.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this course you must:- demonstrate a real desire to pursue a third-level course and the ability to do so
- be 23 years of age or older on 1st January of the year you apply
- be resident in Ireland
- come from socio-economic background(s) under-represented in third-level education
- be eligible for the Government Free Fees Scheme
- submit evidence of your English language proficiency, if English is not your first language
- There are no standard educational requirements such as the Leaving Certificate or an aptitude test
- One place is reserved each year for an applicant from the Traveller Community who meets the above criteria and who scores 30 or over at interview
- One place is reserved each year for an applicant who is a care leaver, meets the course criteria and scores 30 or over at interview
How do I apply?
- Complete the online application form
- Include a short essay with your online application (maximum 550 words), about any topic that is currently in the news that you are interested in writing about.
- Share link to the online referee forms with two referees.
- Attend an interview if we invite you to do so.
- Use the Application Guidebook to help you with your application and any questions you have
- Applications close on March 28th 2024. The deadline to submit supporting documents and references is March 28th 2024.
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