Trinity College Dublin or Manchester?

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

DD is leaning towards Trinity. I have it in my head that employers will look more favourably upon Manchester. She is planning to do a Classical Civilisation/Ancient History type course.

Plus of course there is Brexit to consider.

Anyone have any words of wisdom for me?

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

We are English, by the way.

[senua]

Employers are lazy. They like Manchester because it is so big. Manchester has 27,000 undergraduates; TCD has 12,000. So a showing at milkround reaches more than twice as many possible applicants for the same effort. It's basic laziness economics, innit?

[eatyourveg]

There wouldn't be any maintenance loan for TCD which could be a deciding factor - why not apply for both? Ds did a UCAS and CAO application simultaneously. CAO offers come in just before A level results so she could wait until August before having to decide.

[FreeButtonBee]

I went to trinity (back in the day...) and employers LOVE it. There were some milk rounds but not many and I basically had to do all my own research for jobs and stuff as careers advice was shit (that may have changed). It's more akin to uni in London though. Expensive, not much uni accommodation, sports facilities are far from campus. So it's a different experience. Although it's not a massive city size wise and there are upsides to being in the capital as it does feel vibrant in a different way.

[eatyourveg]

CAO offers come in just before A level results afterthought - ds was in round 0 which is one of the first set of offers to go out - there are 2 or 3 rounds for sending out offers iirc - if your dd is waiting on results she may be in a later round but there was a very short reply window so there you won't wait long between rounds which means it might coincide with A level results day - it sounds complicated but the Irish system is actually so much easier and I would still recommend a joint application.

[booface]

Sorry to jump on your thead, but could I ask as I have a son considering Trinity for entry 2018, and we are also English, do they charge the lower EU fee? It makes a HUGE difference to us, my son wants to study medicine and it is 3,000 Euros for an EU student per year and 29,000 Euros for a non EU student. Just thought you might know?

[Decorhate]

Booface no one knows for sure what will happen after Brexit. It may be that Trinity will allow the lower rate for those who have already started. Have you asked them?

I'm sure you are aware that it's hard to get in to the most competitive courses with A Levels as Irish pupils do more subjects. When I looked for my dd you would not get the maximum points unless you did 4 subjects to A2 which most schools did not offer at that time. Don't know if the requirements have changed now that AS exams have gone.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Thanks for the replies. She has made Manchester her first choice on UCAS and also applied to Trinity.

At the Trinity open day she couldn't a firm commitment either way as to what is likely to happen to fees after Brexit, so we might be winging it.

We won't be eligible for much maintenance loan from student finance anyway even if she goes to uni in England, so finding the money for Dublin is less of an issue.

They seem to have adjusted the points system to accommodate kids who only take three subjects to A2. The points she needs are doable, looking at what they have been in the past, but likely to be higher than her Manchester offer.

Aaaarg! Is it terrible that I almost find myself hoping she doesn't make the TCD offer? I would rather have her in Manchester.

[3nationsfamily]

Are you aware of the accommodation crisis for students in Dublin? Trinity don't have halls for first year, rooms in college are for final year students. It is really difficult and hideously expensive to get flats for students in the city centre as landlords can easily get 12 month paying tenants and no risk of student parties etc. Best to contact the student accommodation office early on to get some advice and an up to date picture of the local market,

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

No I wasn't aware of that 3nations. DD was told she would get a place in halls in the first year as a non Irish student, but I guess there are no guarantees and second and third years could be difficult.

[Cel982]

Overseas first years should get priority for rooms in Trinity Hall, which is a bus-ride away from campus but pretty nice and comfortable.

I studied at Trinity and adored it, it's a great place. I guess nobody really knows what will happen after Brexit, in theory Irish unis will be entitled to charge the full 'international' fee to U.K. students, which would be an awful pity and another thing nobody thought about before voting out. I would guess that some special arrangement will be made, though - UK students are a huge part of Trinity life.

[user7214743615]

BEIS today announced that EU students will be treated as UK students for the whole of their course if they start in the 2018/2019 academic year. (This was already agreed for those starting this year.)

I would expect that reciprocal arrangements will be applied by EU universities to UK students - those that start in 2018/2019 and earlier will be treated (for fee purposes) as EU for the duration of the course.

[user7214743615]

BTW individual universities are unlikely to have a say in the arrangements for fees - decisions will be taken at government level both in the UK and the rest of the EU. That's why you can't expect to get a clear answer from anyone at TCD - the decision is not in their hands.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

That is really helpful user, Thankyou.

[junebirthdaygirl]

Trinity do have halls. Its a bus ride or long walk from colleve. My dd went there and made great friends from overseas in halls. Ryan air flights can be as low as 15 euro if you travel at an unsociable hour!. Im not familiar with Manchester but the setting in Trinity would be great for anyone interested in those subjects. My dd loved Trinity but we are in lreland.

[Dozer]

Dublin is very expensive.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Could you define expensive please Dozer. I have had two older kids at uni in the north of England. Student rents varied between £70 and £130 a week. My lot tended to go for the cheaper end of the range in order to have more money to spend drinking.

[Cel982]

This link might be useful, Tinkly: www.daft.ie/student-accommodation/

[JustCallMeDory]

Trinity College has the same standing as Oxford, Cambridge and the US Ivy League universities, surely?
If my DD was interested in going to Trinity I'd be celebrating!

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Thank you Cel. That is pretty pricey.

I know TCD has a fantastic reputation Dory, it's just that it is something of an unknown quantity.

[ADishBestEatenCold]

As Dory said, Trinity College is the Oxbridge of Ireland and is a member of the League of European Research Universities.

I would have thought employers would love it.

[justanotheryoungmother]

Isn't Trinity the 'equivalent' of Oxbridge? If so, wouldn't that be better?

[unfortunateevents]

Trinity College may be thought of as the Oxbridge of Ireland (particularly in Ireland itself) but it can in no way be compared to the top UK or US universities - in world rankings, Oxford and Cambridge come in the top 5 and Trinity College is no 131.

[PeterHouseMD]

Trinity College should not be compared with either Oxford or Cambridge.

However, the fact that Trinity College is now a member of the League of European Research Universities is likely to give it an advantage over Manchester in years to come.

In saying that, given the course of interest is Classical Civilisation/Ancient History, I'm not sure the above is entirely relevant.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Anyone have any thoughts about TCD being cliquey? I have been told stuff about students coming up to Dublin and getting a flat with their mates from home and assume it would be difficult to break into those sort of longstanding friendship circles.

Presumably there are enough non Irish students to mitigate this?

I have also heard it is very posh. But in my experience, Irish posh is much more inclusive than the English public school kind.