Trinity College Dublin or UCL?

[Friendshipgroup]

Hi all,

DD just received an offer to read history at TCD. She has an offer to read History at UCL. She has not been allocated accommodation….bit it might be possible but they can’t advise.

Does anyone have any experience of TCD? We are based near London, I do have some family in Ireland but we are not close. DD has been to school in London so is used to London. Obviously neither of us has lived in Dublin, but she did have a tour before applying and liked it. no one else from her school would be going. I’m excited for her but also not sure what to advise really. I’m happy for her to go and have an adventure away from home. She’s confident so I have no issues with that and has boarded at school so no issues there either.

At this point TCD is cheaper in terms of tuition and if she was awarded accommodation that would be cheaper too which are all factors to consider.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

@ealingwestmum has a daughter there and may be able to advise?

Thank you! I did jump on an old thread and she has been incredibly helpful.

I would advise TCD. It’s got far more of a wow factor these days since UCL has become much more focussed on churning students for the fees. The UCL history department has more than doubled in size in the last twenty years.

Our daughter went to UCL for a term for history and dropped out. Unfortunately it really isn’t as prestigious as it used to be. She stayed in touch with a few from her time there and none are doing particularly high flying things whereas her course mates from Cambridge are all doing exceptionally well.

In her finance grad programme, she commented at her surprise that there were zero UCL history grads. This is despite the university often being seen as a back up for Oxbridge. There were people from TCD though.

Is it still the case that a lot of Irish students go home for the weekend?

Yes, in DD’s opinion it is@RampantIvy though this suited her as much of the socialising was focused on during the week, with weekends for catching up on study, chores and being with other students. It was never a total clear out.

Dublin also tries to deter students from clubbing at weekends by making entry over 21, reserving space for tourist trade/higher wallet guests.

I wouldn’t be able to comment on which is better @culzean but your DD’s observation on grad scheme participation continues to be positive from our experience. All of DD’s peers across STEM/humanities have secured either Spring Weeks, summer internships and good work placements (Y3 for those not taking a YA), including mine that should, with no mess ups lead to first level job offers post graduation.

If you're near London surely the sensible choice is UCL?

I’ll be honest, I never really understand comments like above. It would be like saying if you lived in Salford, surely the sensible choice would be UoM? Much better to match a uni with your individual YP’s needs. Personally not driven by league tables ourselves but understand for others it is.

But happy to help with queries from a parent/YP who is first hand able to give their perspective, as there’s either very few of us or none that post on MN!

I think it’s a difficult choice, as they both have very strong faculties, including offering a Dual BA programme (TCD/Columbia and UCL/Science Po), for those a little more adventurously inclined.

Congrats on the offers!
I've a UK educated DC at TCD, not History but a joint Hons course. I'm going to be vague as they wouldn't want to be outed.

At the time, we positioned it as do 1st year, but said if by Christmas they didn't like it, could reapply with grades in hand to UCAS before Jan 31st. Has my family in Dublin which has helped. I think the biggest difference is size - UCL is huge, TCD is very small.

Loves it however. Sees themselves staying on after graduation.

What to know?
Finance: yes, overall Uni is far cheaper, but there's no finance. The cost of living, especially food, and accommodation is high (think €1000 a month for rent, maybe plus bills) as long as you can completely self-finance, plus part time jobs are possible and well paid. Public transport is cheap.

Accommodation is a nightmare. My DC was lucky to have a 1st year place in Trinity Hall, as long as they had a 1st Round offer (which they did). They met lots of people there and now live with them . Most 2nd years secure a place in eg The Point by Christmas. Don't underestimate this, and definitely don't rely on a place if you haven't one. Kavanagh had spaces a few days ago. Get on every waiting list. Lots of student halls in D7 and 8. Some places may free up when Round 2 offers are released next week, but these will be single figures. More chance if she will share a room.

Uni set up: 2 semesters. So finish late at Christmas, but have a month off, so go back way after everyone else, then early finish in May, and starts back Sept 9th. They don't therefore align well with UK student friends. Erasmus is an excellent opportunity, although my DC has Irish citizenship, so check it's open to all.
Also the terms has affected their ability to chase UK internships as the dates don't always align, but there are Irish ones too.

Culturally: Dublin is somewhat like, but also very unlike the UK- so be aware that there will be norms they will have to navigate. The Irish are very, very friendly and open. Everything can be bought there of course, contrary to what US parents believe- there's an Social Media group site for mostly US based Trinity parents that is helpful but also includes amusing tips like ' make sure you pack supermarket bags' for them and wild claims that things like stationery cannot be found easily.

Weekends/ social life: There are many societies to join, but outside of them, there isn't much of nightlife/activity beyond the library on campus at all. Just the Pav for drinks, no SU bar. Almost all sports are off site. At weekends, Dublin students live at home and go out with existing local and schoolfriends, non-Dublin go home, and the US ones (and there are many of them- 40% of TCD students are from overseas). The upside is that my DC was invited home by many friends.

Overall it has been fabulous for them. You can hold both places as late as possible. Have you considered hedging by deferring the UCL place or is it too late? I assume you would then declare the TCD 1st year if completed.

Happy to answer any other specifics. UCL is also amazing, what a brilliant dilemma.

That all reads as negative, and that wasn't the aim!
TCD is a brilliant option, no different really distance wise from going to St Andrews, Edinburgh etc and easier to get to

Dublin also tries to deter students from clubbing at weekends by making entry over 21, reserving space for tourist trade/higher wallet guests.

Half the experience of uni is the social life - I would go with UCL due to this reason! And get halls for her rather than commute from home or she won't benefit from the social life.

That's fair enough, flipping the week around doesn't work for all!

Wow, another parent @Mamiac !

DD also intends to stay on, not for post grad studies (but many of her friends will do that), she's secured a summer internship at an org with an All Ireland set up that unless she messes up, will mean staying on that side.

Thanks everyone.

Re:deferral of UCL. DD understands that in doing this you are financially committing to going next year (a bit like not giving a terms notice on school fees). Does anyone know the answer to this?

She won’t share a room in order to pay less at TH but now does have a place at KC which is a relief if not another £400pcm 😩

She could get an Irish passport as she would be entitled- we are undecided about this at the mo.

Re: London. She honestly feels like having been to school in London and having socialised there for years she fancies somewhere new. Hence the opportunity. Interestingly her teachers have all suggested she takes the place and has an adventure. I think she’d worried I’ll make her live at home in years 2/3 😂

I’m very proud of her for getting around 1 offer. It’s no mean feat to get onto the history course and I think the opportunity to go for scholarship exams is a fantastic goal to go for.

Downside is definitely no student loans but she was only entitled to a basic maintenance and has a CTF which matured to the value of UK tuition fees so realistically after the top up we would have to have paid plus her earnings from the summer it should be ok.

Does anyone have any advice about drop off? Is it allocated? I guess we’ll be driving over twice a year with all the gear…! 😩

Huge thanks to @ealingwestmum for the masses of advice! Really appreciated.

There has always tended to be a clear out of all cities for Irish uni students, at least Cork and Limerick are the same with most socialising mid week. But there are sports clubs playing at weekends, usually a debating society on a Saturday night, etc. And there are often lots of clubs and societies going on weekend trips of various sorts. So international students were not abandoned - just fewer people around.

Also accommodation in Dublin is in very short supply and very expensive - so while Trinity and Dublin are great, bear that in mind if she doesn't get Trinity's accommodation.

You're welcome @Friendshipgroup , if staying on at KC, you just let them know when you intend to arrive and they'll give you a window, not sure about car as we flew.

Passports, useful if YP intend to remain in Ireland/work in EU, and to bypass visa application processes for EU Erasmus. We did it, took years (from FBR to passport), but worth it, as DD has Irish family here are in Ireland/NI. So not just a passport of 'convenience' as some on here like to call it.

Dublin is expensive for sure, but it’s no where near as expensive as London. Yes it’s become more expensive but if you’re from the US or from London, it will feel cheaper.

Our other dd studied a masters at imperial and her room was £1,200 a month. Dublin is nothing like that.

As someone who has just moved back to Dublin after a decade in SW London, Dublin feels just as expensive. €1400 a month for a room in a shared house or student accommodation is not unusual.

Well done on getting KC, now the pressure's off. Have you decided then? She'll love it I am sure.

I hear KC is nicer, and a really easy short walk to college (or by taking Parnell Luas), which Halls was not. You'll appreciate the closeness to Dublin port and she'll be the better side for the Airport, IKEA etc

Deferrals- good point, not sure as mine didn't do that. I thought you can back out right up to the point of registration. You can't however reapply if you hold a place.

Drop off times- call KC. Ireland's generally really not like the UK in terms of fixed timed stuff (I apologise if that sounds patronising but I'm not clear how well you know it) so there'll be flexibility nb avoid parking your loaded car on the street in certain areas, just like you would in any big city- I'd use a car park.

My ferry tip is buy lounge access for the ferry, and join a loyalty scheme. Avoid booking the faster catamarans if time is critical because they are regularly cancelled if seas are rough and you'll get shunted to the later larger ferry.

The common travel area means UK students are treated the same as Irish anyway. She wouldn't be less British, but an Irish passport makes everything EU far easier, you get an EHIC not a GHIC. Mine travel on the passport that suits best depending on the destination.

Schols are taken January of 2nd year. They are really, really, really, really hard to get, so don't depend on that no matter how brilliant your daughter is, but the benefits are amazing.

Dublin can be as expensive as London depending on where and how you choose to live.

@ealingwestmum yes, there are a few of us, maybe not on MN. I met several at Halls move in. All their DC were doing Humanities/ Joint or multi Hons courses. DC's college friends are almost exclusively Irish, and hasn't met any other Brits on their course. Now I need to prod my DC to follow up the internships!

You have absolutely nothing to lose from getting her a passport. If you need the FBR certificate (grandparent route) first then passport application the whole process in a fair wind is about 12/14 months at the moment and about €400.

My child has also gotten a TCD offer to study BESS - deciding between this and university of Edinburgh.
Think she’s going to choose Dublin!

How fab! Has she been offered accommodation?

I realise I didn’t thank @Mamiac for her great tips. Thanks so much for sharing. We’ve decided to fly over. Frankly it’s a schlep if we drive.

The place at UCL was released, fees for TCD are paid so exciting times ahead!

Any Irish student bank account tips from anyone?

Get that Irish passport.

For summer job ops, J1s for working in the US are a very popular option for Irish students.