Northern Ireland

Undergraduate Requirements

Trinity is delighted to accept students who have completed the below qualifications from Northern Ireland:

Recognised School Leaving Qualifications:

GCSE/Advanced GCE (A-Level)

Minimum Requirements

To be considered for admission to the University you must:

• Present six subjects at grade C or above on GCSE or Advanced Subsidiary GCE (AS) papers. Two of these subjects must be at grade C or above on Advanced GCE (A-Level) papers.

The six subjects above must include:

A pass in English

AND

A pass in mathematics and a pass in a language other than English

OR

a pass in Latin and a pass in a subject other than a language

Additional Notes and Restrictions

1. A pass means grade C or above on GCSE or Advanced Subsidiary GCE (AS) papers.
2. Students may combine grades achieved in different sittings of their Advanced GCE (A-Level) examinations for the purpose of satisfying minimum entry and/or course requirements, but not for the purposes of scoring. This is not permitted for Medicine (See the full details of specific course requirements.).
3. Acceptable subjects:
   • Applied A-Level, Vocational Advanced Subsidiary, Vocational A-Level, National Vocational and Key Skills qualifications are not accepted for matriculation or scoring purposes.
   • GCSE/Advanced GCE (A-Level) subjects set by recognised examination boards are, in principle, acceptable for consideration with the following exceptions:
     • Physical education, General studies and Media studies are not acceptable.
   • Applicants who require advice about subject eligibility should contact the Academic Registry.
4. Combinations of A-Level subjects not permitted (for matriculation or scoring purposes, unless otherwise stated):
   • Art may not be presented with History of art
   • Biology may not be presented with Botany or Zoology
   • English literature may not be presented with English language
   • Environmental science may not be presented with Biology or Geography
   • Science may not be presented with Chemistry, Physics or Biology
   • Not more than one specialised endorsed programme in art may be presented
5. Art and music may not be offered as the two Advanced GCE (A-Level) grades for minimum entry requirements but both may be used for scoring purposes.

Advanced GCE (A-Level) scoring system

Bonus points for Mathematics: All students presenting Grade E or above in one of A-Level Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics will have 25 points added to their score for that subject. The bonus points will only be relevant where that subject is scored as one of a student’s four best subjects for points purposes.

*Extended Project (EQP) is scored as an AS level and an A* is available in this.

An applicant's score will be calculated on the basis of either of the following:

1. their best 4 GCE Advanced level (A2) subjects from one academic year
   or
2. their best 3 GCE Advanced level (A2) subjects from one academic year plus one Advanced Subsidiary level (AS) in a different subject from the same or the preceding academic year only.

Students may not combine grades achieved in different sittings of their GCE Advanced level (A2) examinations for the purpose of scoring. However, examinations taken in January and June of the same year are counted as a single sitting.

Cambridge Pre-U

Principle subjects will be accepted as alternatives to A-Levels in meeting general entry requirements. The scoring scheme for Principle Subjects, and Short Courses results is set out below.

Note: Global perspectives is scored at 5 points less than all other subjects in each case.

Subject Grade Comparison: 

Students who have not completed the above qualifications can apply using one of the international examinations recognized by Trinity.

Northern Ireland Feasibility Study

Feasibility Study in Admissions - Northern Ireland A Levels

Recognising that only 1 in 8 students in Northern Ireland do 4 A-Levels, Trinity has developed a feasibility study for A-Level admissions, which will continue for students from Northern Ireland seeking admission in 2025/26. The results will be shared with the other Irish colleges, to see if it could be used as a possible mechanism to admit all A-Level applicants from within the EU.

Students applying to Trinity from Northern Ireland in 2025/26 will be eligible for all of the places that will be filled in the normal way through the CAO system. However, a set number of places (maximum 3 per course) will be set aside for the purposes of the feasibility study, which will allow students to access any course* with only 3 A-Levels. Students taking 4 A-Levels are also eligible for places offered through the Feasibility Study - their best three subjects will be considered for places offered in the study.

*Medicine is not included due to HPAT requirements

IMPORTANT NOTES:

The majority of places per course will continue to be offered in the normal way through the CAO system.

The feasibility study will run for applicants seeking admission in September 2025, following this the study will cease.

How to apply for the feasibility study

1. All students applying to Trinity from Northern Ireland should do so through the CAO, the Irish equivalent of UCAS, at www.cao.ie

2. Students wishing to apply for entry through the feasibility study must submit this additional application form.

Notes:

1. Students applying for entry through the feasibility study must reside in Northern Ireland and be taking A-Level examinations.

2. All applicants to Trinity must satisfy the University's minimum entry requirements and specific course requirements.

3. For the feasibility study, places will not be allocated to students with less than ABB at A-Level.

4. 4. Feasibility Study places will only be offer in Round One of the CAO admissions process. If you have any queries regarding the Feasibility Study please contact School.Liaison@tcd.ie.

In addition, to qualify for admission to a degree course at the University you must:

1. Meet the minimum matriculation requirements (pass grades in English, Mathematics, a language other than English, and a full set of valid subjects for your examination system)
   
   
2. Display a high level of competence in the English language in one of the examination systems recognised by Trinity College Dublin.
   
   Details on accepted English proficiencies are available on our Admission Requirements page
   
   
3. Satisfy course specific requirements. Some courses will have additional requirements and restrictions for admission.
   
   They will be detailed on the relevant course page at and on our Admission Requirements page
   
   
4. Meet competitive standards for admission to the course.
   
    Please note that posted scores are minimum entrance requirements only and do not guarantee admission. Where places are competitive, a student must have excellent examination results to qualify for a place on their preferred course.

These standards are indicative only and final assessment will be made by Trinity's Academic Registry.

Important note on your application

Applicants from your country will normally be defined by Trinity as EU applicants; this is based on residency rather than nationality.

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)

There are many different ways to come to University and Trinity encourages applicants from all backgrounds and circumstances to apply. For more information on alternative paths to Trinity, such as advanced entry transfers, please see our guide to non-standard applications here

Postgraduate Entry Requirements

Postgraduate work in Trinity is academically challenging and the University has high academic entry requirements.

Applicants will need to:

• hold at least a 2.1 honors degree from an Irish university or equivalent result from a university in another country.

• display a high level of competence in the English language in one of the examination systems recognised by Trinity College Dublin. Details on accepted English proficiencies are available on our Admission Requirements page

Some courses may require higher standards or require you to take further tests or attend an interview. More detailed requirements for each course are listed on the relevant course page

If you have questions about the specifics of the admission requirements for a given course, or about the course itself, you should contract the course coordinator directly using the contact information available on the courses page.

Determining EU/Non-EU Status (Postgraduate)

Fees, Funding, Scholarships

The fees you will be expected to pay to attend Trinity College Dublin are determined by a number of factors.

For more information on how to determine your course fees, and methods of payment, please see our detailed information on Fees and Finances.

Undergraduate Fees and Finances

Postgraduate Fees and Finances

Trinity College Dublin offers a number of scholarship opportunities for prospective and current students interested in study or research at Ireland's leading university. Since its foundation in 1592, Trinity College Dublin has sought to assist students of limited means and reward academic achievement. Students are always encouraged to explore external funding options in their home countries.

For more information on scholarship, funding and grant opportunities, please see below.

General Undergraduate Scholarships and Funding

General Postgraduate Scholarships and Funding

International Scholarships

Visas

Do I need a Visa to come to Ireland to study at Trinity?

EU/EEA/UK/Swiss students do not require a visa to study in Ireland. If you are unsure about whether you are an EU/EAA national, see here for a list of all EU/EAA countries.

For general information on visas and immigration please visit our Visa Information section.

Meet us at your school or on campus

Our EU Recruitment Team is here to help you find out more about Trinity College Dublin, through on campus Open Days, visits to Trinity with your school, assistance for your guidance counsellors and more. For more information please see Visit Our Campus