Page 2 | Applying from the UK to Trinity Dublin and UCD engineering/maths courses

Becauseurworthit · 2026-05-16T07:10:01+00:00

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

ealingwestmum · 27/05/2026 15:39

Thank you so much @Monweed re DD, and also the tips on Graduation, flexibility is the takeaway :)

And congratulations to your DC on their grad role, but more importantly for right now, a restful summer of recharge…

NellyNoMates · 27/05/2026 17:11

booksunderthebed · 27/05/2026 15:39

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.

Show quote history

My DS is a dual Irish/British citizen, whose home address is in the north, but lives in Dublin for college. He has just started a new job (first one he’s had since he moved to Dub) and was told he could only apply for a PPSN once he had a job offer. From what we can gather, he will be paid, but it will all be taxed at the highest rate as he’ll
be on the emergency rate, until his PPSN comes through. Once it’s through he can claim a refund on the tax. First pay is due next week so we’ll see what happens then. He doesn’t have an Irish bank account, nor a GP, so didn't have any reason to apply for a PPSN before

Friendshipgroup · 27/05/2026 19:14

NellyNoMates · 27/05/2026 17:11

My DS is a dual Irish/British citizen, whose home address is in the north, but lives in Dublin for college. He has just started a new job (first one he’s had since he moved to Dub) and was told he could only apply for a PPSN once he had a job offer. From what we can gather, he will be paid, but it will all be taxed at the highest rate as he’ll
be on the emergency rate, until his PPSN comes through. Once it’s through he can claim a refund on the tax. First pay is due next week so we’ll see what happens then. He doesn’t have an Irish bank account, nor a GP, so didn't have any reason to apply for a PPSN before

Show quote history

Yes this is what DD had although I think employer basically held the money on trust to avoid the emergency tax situation - @booksunderthebed we are British but based nr London and DD is entitled to a dual British/Irish passport too. She doesn’t have an Irish Bank account or GP either.

Tbf, DD does earn really well in comparison to the uk hospitality situation - she gets to keep all her tips as an example.

Friendshipgroup · 27/05/2026 19:22

ealingwestmum · 27/05/2026 14:31

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!

Thanks for the lovely wishes. We’re really proud of her. HUGE congratulations to your DD - a gold medal! 👏👏 I love Belfast - so vibrant. May the coming years bring her every success. DD is also staying over the summer for the festivals. And i think has the same challenge of everything hinging on Y4…!

Friendshipgroup · 27/05/2026 19:28

Monweed · 27/05/2026 15:05

@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.

Thanks for the lovely wishes!

DD only remarked yesterday about how complicated the graduation system is re: dates. Wishing you all a wonderful day celebrating and huge congratulations on the graduate position - anecdotally it does seem like a lot of DD’s peers have secured some interesting internships!

Original poster

Becauseurworthit · 27/05/2026 20:29

Oh, so lovely to hear everyone's updates and thank you so much everyone for such informitive posts. So incredibly kind, positive and useful.

DC in thick of A-Levels here, with exam weather appearing on cue. I will need some time to fully go through all the posts and respond properly, some by message. And I will update as to the final outcome, whatever it may be at end of the summer.

OP posts:

Original poster

Becauseurworthit · 27/05/2026 20:30

*informative

OP posts:

booksunderthebed · 28/05/2026 14:05

NellyNoMates · 27/05/2026 17:11

My DS is a dual Irish/British citizen, whose home address is in the north, but lives in Dublin for college. He has just started a new job (first one he’s had since he moved to Dub) and was told he could only apply for a PPSN once he had a job offer. From what we can gather, he will be paid, but it will all be taxed at the highest rate as he’ll
be on the emergency rate, until his PPSN comes through. Once it’s through he can claim a refund on the tax. First pay is due next week so we’ll see what happens then. He doesn’t have an Irish bank account, nor a GP, so didn't have any reason to apply for a PPSN before

Show quote history

I have this all the time with my employees. Your ds will be getting paid a much lower amount then he should while on emergency tax, once the PPS is sorted he will suddenly get a nice big amount of pay. Your ds won't have to do anything, it all gets sorted by the payroll software.

booksunderthebed · 28/05/2026 14:08

Friendshipgroup · 27/05/2026 19:14

Yes this is what DD had although I think employer basically held the money on trust to avoid the emergency tax situation - @booksunderthebed we are British but based nr London and DD is entitled to a dual British/Irish passport too. She doesn’t have an Irish Bank account or GP either.

Tbf, DD does earn really well in comparison to the uk hospitality situation - she gets to keep all her tips as an example.

Show quote history

regarding GP, the university might have one, but I've been told that if you apply to three GPs and they are all full, call the HSE and they will assign you automatically to one of the three.

Foraor · 28/05/2026 14:11

Becauseurworthit · 16/05/2026 22:09

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!

Show quote history

Much fairer! No one has the slightest interest in middle-class frills like grade 8 viola and D of E Gold. If you get the grades, you're in the course. And not the complete madness of predicted grades. How well you actually did.

NellyNoMates · 28/05/2026 17:11

booksunderthebed · 28/05/2026 14:05

I have this all the time with my employees. Your ds will be getting paid a much lower amount then he should while on emergency tax, once the PPS is sorted he will suddenly get a nice big amount of pay. Your ds won't have to do anything, it all gets sorted by the payroll software.

Show quote history

Oh he doesn’t have to do anything for the rebate? His employer sorts it out? That sounds much easier than he’d expected.

Just really hoping it all comes through quickly. He’s got an appointment next Tuesday but I think he said it could still take 3-6 weeks after that to get sorted. I really wish now that he had opened an Irish bank account years ago. He didn’t need it because he has revolut but if it would have got him the PPSN sooner then it would have been worth it.