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Foundation Course - Young Adults

The Trinity Access Programmes offer young adults a Foundation Course for Higher Education. The course was set up in 1999 to offer another way into Trinity for young adults whose social, economic and cultural experiences have prevented them from going to college. This access course prepares students, both personally and academically, to go on and study at degree level. 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, as well as taking part in a professional development and mentoring programme with Grant Thornton - a chartered accountants and management consultancy firm. 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. While completing a foundation course at Trinity, students have full access to all college supports and services, plus additional TAP student supports.

Trinity Access Programme for Young Adults

Eligibility

To be eligible for this course you must:

attend a second level school in Dublin which has DEIS status/is linked to an access service
meet the same socio-economic criteria as set out for HEAR
achieve a minimum 5 Ordinary grade 6s/ Higher 7s and at least one Higher grade 5 in the Leaving Certificate. (Applicants must pass English and Mathematics. A pass means grade O6/H7 or above on ordinary or higher papers in the Leaving Certificate. A pass in foundation level Mathematics is acceptable for minimum entry requirements) We will also consider applications from applicants with a distinction in the Leaving Certificate Applied and applicants with a QQI-FET level 5 award
have taken the Leaving Certificate in the year of application or not more than two years prior to application
be 21 years of age or under on 1st January in the year you apply
be eligible for the Government Free Fees Scheme or EU Fees

Please note:

One place is reserved each year for an applicant from the Traveller Community who meets the above criteria and who scores 25 or over at interview
One place is reserved each year for an applicant who is in the care of the State/is a care leaver who meets the course criteria and who scores 25 or over at interview

How do I apply?

Complete the online application form
Include a short essay with your online application (maximum 750 words), telling us about yourself and why you want to go to university
Submit any supporting documents about yourself or your parents or guardian that we ask for on the application form. You should do this by uploading the documents to your online application
Share link to the online referee forms with two referees. At least one referee should be a teacher from your school; the other can be a youth leader, voluntary group organiser, employer or coach
Use the Application Guidebook to help you with your application and any questions you have
Applications close on February 7th 2024. The deadline to submit supporting documents and references is March 28th 2024
See more information on the Privacy Statement of Trinity College Dublin
If you have any questions please contact us by email: foundationcourse@tcd.ie or phone: 01 8963472