Applying from the UK to Trinity Dublin and UCD engineering/maths courses

[Becauseurworthit]

DC has applied from UK to Trinity College Dublin and UCD for various engineering and Maths courses. As we are outside the Irish system and missed the Open Days before they realised this might be an option to them, might anyone be able to give any advise or thoughts?

I've no idea of the pressure on places to get an idea of their chances (although they did do 4 A-Levels so should score the sufficient required points). Is it the same for UCD as Trinity? As only UCD does certain types of engineering. They hold offers from UK Uni's.

The difference in timing of results and offers between the UK and Irish system I imagine is going to make decisions tricky and we know no one who has any experience of applying via CAO rather than Ucas, but DC's heart is increasingly set on it. TIA

CAO offers run a week or two behind UCAS, usually so unless he reallllly wants Irish universities, it will be a stressful wait.
Irish universities have fewer places and places are awarded on the highest points in the applications that year, so points go up and down depending on popularity. If oversubscribed random allocation over the max points is used. Have a good read of the CAO guidance.
Beyond that, Dublin student housing is expensive and in very short supply and most students will be living at home. So its a very different experience.

This ugly list is the last admitted points for 2025 entry, which is a good guide. Trinity engineering was random selection at max points. Worth an application but chances are low.

www2.cao.ie/points/l8.php share.google/WzQYLhCXMYDN6IiXw

@turkeyboots has covered much information @Becauseurworthit , your DS running both UCAS and CAO applications parallel at least gives him wider choice, if he is able to hold his nerve to the end.

Mine has just graduated from TCD (from London), not a Maths but humanities student, so do feel free to ask any questions on experience if needed. The good thing is that A levels have recently been realigned better to CAO points, but as Turkeyboots has said, the heavy subscribed courses so have cut offs/lottery. Conversely, places can become available in subsequent offer rounds.

Accommodation is tough. Mine was in private for years 1 and 2, abroad for Y3 (so zero cost, Erasmus funded) and £6k campus accommodation cost for Y4. This tends to be prioritised for students who have participated well in student life - societies, scholars etc. Her campus flat was shared with 4th/5th year medics, engineers, maths students.

Student life was strong, lots of European/US in her cohort. And lots of Irish family homes to visit at weekends. Travel home and overseas very easy, it worked well for us.

Cost of living is high. No concessions for students in bars, tougher rules for under 21s etc.

Finally re different timings of offers/exam results, DD relinquished her UK place post Round 1 (around Sept 10th) but she had secured accommodation at both UK and Dublin, no penalties for letting go of either.

Forfeiting the access to Student Finance was a big deal, but net net she has ended up with a significantly lower overall cost of study, but only possible due to our parental support.

Good luck to him!

Thank you both so much. The past couple of years have flown and DC (now 18, so YP) basically filled out forms on their tod. They are now in the midst of exams and, as iit will be results before we know it, my mind is turning to the practicalities. We always knew it would be difficult to get in, costly, accommodation scarce and financing different - but so interesting to hear of your DD's experience @ealingwestmum😊.

My reading of the CAO forms is that if YP put UCD down first and achieves those points (Google says only one course last year went to lottery and it wasn't that course) then that would be the offer and they would not be offered anything else on their list.

Do the UCD and TCD students mix much?

Yes, you get offered in course order on the form. Caught my brother out badly many years ago!
Students do mix, Dublin is a small city and under 21s nightclubs are rare these days so they'll end up in Diceys. But UCD is out in the posh southern suburbs, so has its own vibe.

Oh, if DC screwed up the form or changes their mind, the "change of mind" period will open soon on CAO. Pre exam reality has usually kicked in round now and its handy to be able to tweak applications!

Crikey, does that mean UCD accommodation is even pricier? I was sort of thinking they had choosen the more practical institution and assumed it might be less. The whole thing is a bit fraught with things I have no clue about. YP currently all into thought of engineering (never having done it before, loves maths & physics certainly but doubt they have a great deal of interest in gears... if that is even a requirement... Maybe not... Maybe they will develop it... Who knows... A lot to invest if not certain).

Thanks for info on change of mind form.

Although I have zero idea on which way to advise them. Has to be their own decision really. Personally I'd go for a year out, but at some point a crunch decision has to be made, so maybe always a leap of faith.

My DC went this year from London. I had a lot of help on this forum from the PPs - so google “Mumsnet TCD Trinity College Dublin” and all the threads will come up.

Top tip is to only apply to Trinity Halls if you need to save money. Might need to do this soon? This is the only halls run directly by TCD - your application is invalidated if you apply to Kavanagh Halls (KH is private halls for TCD students only) - just have to hold your nerve. TH are very well appointed and in a beautiful area of Dublin. Mine now has a place in private halls next year where they were able to select the composition of their flat from their mates - so this is an easy way around private rental. As they are my 4th DC to go to uni I have already much painful experience of rogue landlords across 6 grim student houses we have rented over the years in the UK - so these nice private halls walkable to college are a much better option anyway.

I would be interested to know @ealingwestmum what level of contribution to uni life was required to secure on campus accommodation for 4th year.

Also just looking at year abroad options now - was your UK based DC able to get an Erasmus grant even if not a EU citizen - or did they have an Irish PP?

Financials are important. It’s about cash flow really - student can’t get a UK student loan (a blessing) or a student UK
bank overdraft if studying abroad - so need savings / financial support. I will say that having 3 older ones saddled with £50k+ debt to student loans company just for fees - paying €3000 per year feels like winning the lottery.

UCD is the second best university in Ireland after Trinity. Its a stretch for most DC. For a alternative look at Technical University Dublin, a good solid education especially in engineering with huge industry links. I know a few kids on their general engineering course which gives them a good taste of the various types before specialising. And its in less glamorous north Dublin.
Trinity and UCD has some of their own student accommodation though, TUD has none. But they all have links with private providers.

Another thing they can do is take a place in Dublin starting Sept 2026 (no deferrals allowed) but request to defer their UK place to Sept 2027 - would do this after results - and if it didn’t work out for them in Dublin then they could leave at any point (academic year ends v early in April) and still have a year out and a place in the UK. Don’t know about UCD but TCD courses are 4 years - so that’s an important consideration.

UCD accommodation is expensive and it’s not guaranteed for 1st years. All students who apply can rank their preferences, and then they are allocated a number - usually around July time (before results day). This number relates to the order applications are processed in - so the lower the number the better. My DS got a number in the low hundreds in 1st year and still didn’t get allocated his first preference. In 2nd year he had a number way up in the mid thousands and didn’t get a place on campus. Everyone who is applying to UCD, in any number on their CAO list, can apply so there are a lot of people who eventually don’t need their number as they aren’t going there, but it’s still not guaranteed you’ll get a room, or that it will be one you want.

In first year DS was in Village 1 which is up at the higher end. Much nicer halls than the likes of Merville or Belgrove for instance, and still nicer than the likes of Glenomena (known as the party halls) or Ashfield. They have ovens which is a bonus (nothing outside the Village has ovens - just hobs and microwaves!), but you definitely pay for the privilege. DS had a terrible experience in 1st year - was in with all international students who were totally antisocial and absolutely disgusting. It was truly awful. (Really gutting - the huge number of international students at UCD was a huge draw for him, but the reality of living with people who didn’t speak good english, had servants at home and had no interest in cleaning up after themselves, or who only socialised with people from their own country, was really far from the dream!)

In 2nd year he lived at Hubble which is in the financial district in town and much preferred being in the city. Being on campus really can make their world very small as they are about 3 miles out of the city. There are tons of private halls in the city. Check out Amber for the full range. A lot of them do sell out, but in the last year or so, I think it’s got easier to get places as people just aren’t prepared to pay the high costs. Hubble was better than being on campus, but not great.

He started 3rd year in LIV and I would highly recommend you avoid it at all costs. It looks great on the website but it was disgusting when he moved in (I had to clean before he could unpack anything) and the support staff were useless. The so called buzzy atmosphere with lots of social events was non-existent. Thankfully he got a space in a private house with friends before Christmas, which is half the price per month, and is now there until he graduates next year. He was able to get out of his LIV tenancy by getting someone else to fill it, but it was a nightmare - the whole LIV staff, (those on the ground and at Head office) were dire.

Any more questions about UCD fire them my way. We’re from the North so DS had UCAS offers too. UCD was his first choice and got in on Round 1. We are very fortunate here that we can still get student finance for ROI, but the maintenance loan still only covers less than half the rent on campus or in private halls, so we have to still pay a lot for him to be there

Hello again @Twisterr, so lovely to hear your DC enjoying their time, hope it continues!

Re on campus accommodation, most of DD’s friends did secure campus, with wide participation of society roles from chair to whatever committee posts were going. Add sport, music, laidlaw, editorial in subject publications etc, all enhanced the pecking order. But there was still more demand than supply and a few surprise no offers for some so Plan B was necessary. It is a horrid waiting game with no guarantees.

Ireland is so proactive in encouraging students to take a semester at minimum, to a full YA to broaden their university/global experience. All students at TCD could access funding (there are a few course exceptions like medicine I believe); offers normally subject to grades and places per host university. DD’s YA was mandatory but on the whole excluding possibly USA, Europe was funded through Erasmus, Partner university agreements fund or part fund non EU.

Good luck to them on their Australian application!

It’s worth also saying that TCD does not guarantee halls to 1st years either. DS had it 2nd on his list and so applied for accommodation there too, but was rejected (again, I think sometime in July) so we were very glad that he got into UCD as at least he had somewhere to live

UCD is not ‘second best’ as mentioned by à poster above . It’s a highly regarded university and more highly regarded than Trinity for a number of disciplines !
Have three there at the moment . Well one just finished Vet Med exams this week . But we live locally so accommodation was not an issue.
OP, best of luck to your child . They will love Dublin . Both universities are fantastic

I have kids doing Actuarial and Financial Studies and Economics and Finance in UCD , any questions DM me . Both courses are maths heavy and my boys love them .

I've just really had time to look this over and for what you said to sink in... So many courses random selection at maximum points. I wonder if it is more or less fair than the UK system which uses personal statements, extra tests and sometimes interviews to select, which may or may not contain bias.

High entry requirements anyway!

Just want to say a massive thank you to everyone ☺️!

These posts have been so helpful. I will check out the other threads mentioned. And may DM those who kindly offered once I have time to really digest all the info. Thank you.

Just wanted to say OP that if your child does get a place, they maybe eligible to apply for a SUSI grant, depending on your income.

It’s not a huge amount, but it might help towards to insane cost of accommodation in Dublin these days!

Are you sure ? I thought you had to be resident in Ireland for a minimum period to avail of SUSI grant ? May be wrong .

I don’t think you qualify for the full maintenance grant unless you’re an Irish resident, but I think OP could possibly get a tuition grant, which is open to UK and EU applicants - like I said it’s not much, but it’s worth looking into if her child gets a place.

Just to add to the very good info and correct a few bits of misinformation, as a parent of student about to graduate from TCD (waves to @ealingwestmum I've name changed and my kids would disown me if they suspected I ever post here!).

OP : have you fully read the CAO parents guide? It answers quite a few of your questions. Presumably your son has checked that he meets the matriculation requirements, particularly around modern European language, which catches out some people.

TCD engineering was 577* last year (and not ' maximum points'), same as at UCD.
UCD is generally been considered the more job-ready of the 2, for engineering.
UCD is definitely not the '2nd best Uni in Ireland' .....it's also an excellent Uni; its Smurfitt Business School is considered far better than TCD ( @Dublassie wow, your kids are stellar!) for starters!
I second considering TUD as another excellent job-market focussed engineering Uni, and also DCU, if the change of mind window is open.
I personally prefer the leafy UCD campus, its sports facilities are superb. I consider TCD is more like being at LSE, insofar as it is a city centre campus with lots of tourists by day!

UCD and TCD students mixing- variable. They are geographically several miles apart, but as a significant number are from Dublin, they will already know each other from school or home area (which is the only way mine has met people from UCD).

Mine is half-Irish, with Dublin family, and very used to visiting and holidaying there, but there are some small cultural norms and differences that took a bit of navigation at times. Just like you might have if you went to a different part of the UK I guess?
I'm not sure of the comparison with UCD, but TCD has a significant number of US students, who can bring their own flavour of expectations.. I've a different child at a UK Uni who has experienced the delightful ones as described by @NellyNoMates

Accommodation: Housing Crisis! Think London prices but without much supply.
Mine found Halls lonely at weekends, as most students went home to their non- Dublin counties every Friday, or if American, travelled overseas.
Mine did get 4th year campus accommodation randomly we assume, without being on any committees, societies, but those with those roles are apparently prioritised.

Cost of living, housing crisis: not to be underestimated! Food and going out are really expensive. Public transport is cheap though.
SUSI income thresholds are quiet low, and although they are grants (ie non-repayable) if you were to qualify, I would be concerned about how you would afford the rest of living in Ireland.

The Health system is very different, and you will miss the vastly superior NHS. Getting a GP required family connections and patience.

The deferral suggestion is a good one, but honestly, if they go, they'll probably fall in love with the place and may never come back!

Good luck to them!

For CAO, I’d make a one-page decision sheet now: points needed last year, matriculation requirements, subject-specific requirements, likely accommodation cost, offer timing, and the UK offer deadline risk. The awkward bit is not just whether he can get the points, but whether he can hold his nerve while UK and Irish timelines do not line up neatly.

@Becauseurworthit feel free to PM me with any questions about being a UK based parent of a TCD student. I’ve not much to add above the comprehensive advice given by others (waves at @ealingwestmum who was incredibly kind when we were making the decision and congratulations to your DD graduating!) but I have got recent experience of the KC accommodation.

The whole experience of deciding whether to take the place was a whirlwind tbh. There is very little time to decide on many variables so threads like this were extremely helpful for us. DD had accepted a place at a uk uni, had chosen accommodation etc when the offer came in round1 but without accommodation. Her school’s advice was that TCD would suit her learning style and personality. From memory, She did have uk peers who had been offered accommodation at TH earlier on before the results were known (not sure how that works tbh) After speaking daily with the accommodation office she managed to get an offer for KC a few days after offer. Practically speaking it is not realistic to think about going without secured accommodation but there are student houses looking for sharers to join because of Erasmus student schedules (there is a TCD parent FB group which has such posts about availability)She opted to stay at KC for y2. She will live off campus for part of y3 in a house share (€750pcm) as she is on Erasmus for the other part. As she was just made a scholar last month she is guaranteed on-campus accommodation for y3/y4 (along with the other benefits being a scholar confers). The work required to get a scholarship is not to be underestimated but it is incredibly rewarding if successful.

KC is not in the most salubrious area but the accommodation is good quality, single occupants in a flat set-up and modern with en-suite facilities. It is also mainly international students. It is also walking distance to campus. It is not cheap but can be paid monthly. You’ll need to guarantee for the contract term. TH is in a way nicer area has more UK /Irish students, but are largely shared rooms so bear that in mind. It is also a schlep away from the city centre so the logistics of getting back from a night out is to be considered. There are other private student accommodation providers (I can’t recall the name)

Obviously there are no student loans and they are 4 year courses which is a major barrier to access but DD had a CTF which was designed and due to pay for her UK uni tuition fees and we would give the same monthly allowance as her siblings who went to UK unis.. As the annual tuition cost was reduced from €3k to €2k in 2024 this sum has stretched further taking into account the cost of the accommodation. It has stretched even further now the scholarship benefit kicks in. Obviously getting schols was a bonus and not something to be relied upon.

In terms of living expenses, DD has found the food no more expensive than London. Travel for students however is extremely reasonable and I think capped at €13 a week (?) with the equivalent of an Oyster card. Buses to and from the airport are also very cheap for students (€2 each way). If they live off campus, student houses pay no council tax equivalent and water is nationalised. Energy costs seem reasonable given what is going on in the world. DD has always had a job whilst studying in Dublin. If your DS wants to work he’ll need the equivalent of an NI number (PSI?) which is only possible once he has a job offer. There is a bit of a chicken and egg situation in this regard as job offers can only be made to those with the NI number but it is not in unusual for the employer to hold payment which is released upon receipt of the number (IYSWIM). NMW is fair for the age group and as Dublin is an over 21 city on Friday/sat/sun DD figured she might as well work hospitality jobs as there was nowhere to go. It’s also a great way to meet people.

other top tips - make sure your DS has a GHIC card for basic medical care; get your DS to get a revolut card to avoid exchange rate issues; A UK sim plan transfers without additional charge whilst being used in Ireland - but an Irish number is helpful for setting up loyalty accounts (like a Tesco clubcard); If your DS is entitled to an Irish passport, get one as soon as you can - it helps with European travel no end. ;We use BA airmiles to get DD to and from uni so it has actually been quite cheap to and from Ireland (worthwhile getting a credit card which is affiliated with BA to max the points) but the budget airlines are fantastic if you don’t mind travelling with minimal luggage. The main advantage of Dublin is that your DS will have lots of visitors coming to see him as everyone wants a weekend in Dublin!

it’s a lot to think about but ultimately it has been the best decision for mine. Wishing your DS all the best for results day.

What fabulous updates! Congratulations to your DC @Monweed, are they done now or going to be continuing further post grad studies there?

@Friendshipgroup how wonderful that she has secured a Foundation Scholarship! I hope she enjoys all that it brings, it's an amazing achievement.

I do hope you are managing to navigate successfully through the process @Becauseurworthit. I agree that the points bar is high for many courses, but if you are in a cohort of applicants who do gain maximum points, they more than likely will have secured strong offers and options elsewhere too (i.e. non Ireland) so there is always lots of movement between rounds. The reference earlier to a GCSE level language being required is key, so easily missed. And the additional Maths extra points helps too if able to achieve in addition to their core subjects.

Mine is heading back to Dublin this tomorrow to participate in her last season of the 'summer music festivals' which is a nice finish. This last year was tough for her, partly due to having such a good YA, but mainly because 100% of her grading was based on Y4. But she graduates, ceremony wise in October with the Gold Medal which has eased the pain a little, from a very niche course of single digit firsts.

The feedback provided on these threads for prospective students has been great as so much does change year on year. I always wondered, other than finance and housing which is are ultimately a HUGE factors, why more Brits didn't consider Ireland as an alternative option, but then I was equally thankful (and selfish) that they didn't. Not all aspects were good, but, when my DD went into Y1 there were marking strikes with UK universities and now completing Y4, she has UK peers who don't know if they will receive their final classification and have future plans at risk. Risk/reward from both systems.

Already touched upon, but culturally, it could be a challenge for some, depending on what friendship groups they enter and how well they are prepared to integrate locally. Mine had the added factor of colour, but, she handled the odd challenge well, mostly coming from her being 'english' but it will be the same UK too. And the immigration politics are everywhere. There will be new nuances for her to navigate north of Ireland too as she heads to Belfast to start work from August, you just need your YP to be aware of a little history to handle themselves as well as they can. But the upside is that she has friendships now across the whole of Ireland to continue enjoying through post studies life.

Good luck with his exams @Becauseurworthit!

@Friendshipgroup congrats to your DD on getting Schols, just fab!

And @ealingwestmum congrats to your daughter- Gold Medal- !!!!
Don't forget that TCD grad dates aren't set in stone, so book cancellable things-mine had an email stressing they will get a month's notice and not to reply on past dates (which of course I have). Good luck to yours in Belfast, another great place.

Mine has a grad job in Ireland, as have almost all their friends. Their degree grade is a split of Years 2,3,4 and Capstone, so no big finals for them, which they preferred.

So confused. As a british citizen you are bound by the Common Travel Area rules, your child should be able to automatically get a PPS number, why would they need a job offer? Unless you are not British.

(I am british and moved to Ireland many years ago)

www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-travel-area-guidance/common-travel-area-guidance

PPS numbers are needed for other things besides jobs.