Trinity College Dublin
Ireland's oldest and highest-ranked university, founded in 1592 on a walled campus in the heart of Dublin.
- Students
- 20,188
- International
- 40%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 19.4:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €20,630
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1592
About Trinity
Trinity College Dublin, the sole constituent college of the University of Dublin, was founded by royal charter in 1592 and is Ireland's oldest university. Its 51-acre city-centre campus (including the Trinity Technology and Enterprise Campus) mixes Georgian and Victorian squares with modern research buildings, and its Old Library has held the Book of Kells since 1661. The college grounds draw more than two million visitors a year.
Trinity is organised into three faculties: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; and Health Sciences. It is strongest in the humanities and health: QS ranks it 10th in the world for Nursing, 19th for English and 28th for Pharmacy and Pharmacology. Many degrees are four-year honours programmes, and students can combine subjects in joint honours and multidisciplinary pathways.
Trinity suits students who want a historic, compact campus in the middle of a capital city, a strong literary and debating tradition, and a very international community: THE counts about 40 percent of its roughly 20,000 students as international. Irish and EU applicants compete for places through CAO points, while non-EU students apply directly to the college.
Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam
“It will last into endless future times” — university motto
Why students choose Trinity
A walled historic campus on College Green in central Dublin, with the Old Library, the Long Room and the Book of Kells on site.
QS top-50 subjects include Nursing (10th), English (19th), Pharmacy and Pharmacology (28th) and History (50th).
More than 170 societies and sports clubs, including the Phil and the Hist (founded 1770), historic debating societies that meet weekly in the Graduates Memorial Building.
Trinity ranks first in Ireland for employer reputation and employment outcomes in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Admissions
Entry in September 2027
Selectivity
Irish and EU applicants are selected by CAO points: in 2025, Medicine (TR051) needed 739 points plus the HPAT, and Computer Science (TR033) 533 points. Non-EU applicants apply directly and are assessed on their school qualifications, personal statement and references, on a rolling basis.
Typical entry requirements
| Irish Leaving Certificate (CAO) | Points vary by course, e.g. 533 for Computer Science and 739 for Medicine (2025), plus subject minimums such as H4 Mathematics for Computer Science |
|---|---|
| A-levels (non-EU direct entry minimums) | Course-specific subject minimums, e.g. grade C in Mathematics for Computer Science; B and C in two sciences for Medicine |
| IB Diploma (non-EU direct entry minimums) | Course-specific, e.g. HL5 Mathematics for Computer Science; HL5 to 6 in two sciences for Medicine |
| English language | Non-EU applicants must meet Trinity's Band B (standard entry) English language requirement, shown on each course page. |
Deadlines
- CAO application opens Non-binding Next deadline · In 30 days5 November 2026
CAO's timetable states that the application facility opens for 2027 applications on 5 November 2026.
- CAO normal closing date Non-binding In ~4 months1 February 2027, 17:00
CAO's published timetable gives 1 February at 17:00 as the normal closing date each cycle (it lists 1 February 2026 for the current cycle). A late application facility follows and course choices can be changed until 1 July.
- Direct application, non-EU (Medicine, Dental Science, Music Education, Drama) Non-binding In ~4 months1 February 2027 (expected)
For 2026 entry the deadline for these courses was 1 February 2026; 2027 dates had not been posted at the time of checking.
- Direct application, non-EU (general) Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027 (expected)
Rolling admissions from 1 November; some courses fill early. For 2026 entry Computer Science closed early, on 1 May 2026.
CAO opening date for 2027 is confirmed; the 1 February 17:00 closing date follows CAO's standing timetable. Non-EU direct application dates shown are the 2026-entry dates, since 2027 dates were not yet published.
How to apply
Irish, EU, EEA, UK and Swiss applicants apply through the CAO. Non-EU/international applicants apply directly on Trinity's online portal from the course page, with a personal statement, academic references, school results and English test scores.
What admissions looks for
- For CAO applicants, Leaving Certificate points (or EU equivalents) above the course cut-off, plus any subject minimums.
- For Medicine, a strong HPAT-Ireland result combined with Leaving Certificate points.
- For non-EU applicants, school results meeting course subject requirements, a personal statement explaining why you chose Trinity and what you will contribute, and academic references.
- Proof of English proficiency (Band B) for applicants from non-English-speaking countries.
Tips for applying to Trinity
- 1 Non-EU applicants should apply early: admissions are rolling and popular courses like Computer Science can close months before the June deadline.
- 2 Check your fee status with Trinity's EU fee eligibility reckoner before choosing CAO or a direct application.
- 3 Referee emails must be official school addresses; personal Gmail or Hotmail addresses are not accepted.
- 4 EU applicants to Medicine must register for and sit the HPAT-Ireland in the year they apply.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
EU students pay a student contribution (2,500 euro in 2026/27) plus a tuition component (3,181 euro for most courses); Trinity's EU fee eligibility pages explain who qualifies for EU fees and state support. Trinity lists undergraduate scholarships and funding, including a University of Sanctuary scheme, and runs access routes such as HEAR.
- 2,500 euro
- EU student contribution 2026/27
- 29,570 euro
- Non-EU fee, Social Studies (Social Work) 2026/27
- 41,210 euro
- Non-EU fee, Clinical Speech and Language Studies 2026/27
Academics
English Studies
Ranked 19th in the world by QS, in the university of Swift, Wilde and Beckett.
Nursing
Trinity's highest QS subject result, 10th in the world.
Pharmacy
Ranked 28th in the world for Pharmacy and Pharmacology by QS.
Medicine (TR051)
A five-year degree combining biomedical science with clinical training; one of the most competitive CAO courses at 739 points in 2025.
Computer Science (TR033)
A four-year degree accredited by Engineers Ireland, with an optional fifth year for an integrated master's (M.C.S.).
Philosophy, Political Science, Economics and Sociology (PPES)
A multidisciplinary social science degree in a department ranked in the QS top 100 for politics.
Research
- The Library of Trinity College is Ireland's largest research library and a legal deposit library for Ireland and the UK, holding the Book of Kells since 1661.
- Trinity alumni and staff include Nobel laureates Samuel Beckett, Ernest Walton and William C. Campbell.
- Trinity is a member of LERU and the Coimbra Group of European research universities.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
- Faculty of Health Sciences
Ranked first in Ireland for employer reputation and employment outcomes in the QS World University Rankings 2026 (Trinity facts page).
Student life
Trinity's campus is the centre of student life, with more than 170 societies and sports clubs. The oldest societies, the Phil and the Hist, meet weekly in the Graduates Memorial Building for debates, and the Trinity Ball is held each year in Front Square. The campus sits right beside Grafton Street and Temple Bar, so Dublin's city centre is effectively your neighbourhood, though finding affordable accommodation takes planning. Traditions include the Trinity Regatta, held since 1898.
- The College Historical Society (the Hist), founded in 1770, is one of the world's oldest student societies.
- The Trinity Ball is held each year in Front Square and around campus.
- The Trinity Regatta has been held since 1898.
- Over 170 societies and sports clubs.
Location
Trinity sits on College Green in the centre of Dublin, Ireland's capital and largest city. Grafton Street, the River Liffey and the main bus and tram routes are a few minutes' walk away, and the city is compact enough to cross on foot or by bike. Housing in Dublin is expensive, so plan accommodation early.
Nearest airport: Dublin Airport (DUB)
Notable alumni
- OW Oscar WildePlaywright and novelist
- SB Samuel BeckettPlaywright, 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature
- JS Jonathan SwiftSatirist, author of Gulliver's Travels
- BS Bram StokerAuthor of Dracula
- EW Ernest WaltonPhysicist, 1951 Nobel Prize in Physics for splitting the atom
- SR Sally RooneyNovelist, author of Normal People
- ÉV Éamon de ValeraIrish statesman
- EB Edmund BurkePolitical philosopher and statesman
Frequently asked questions
What is Trinity College Dublin's QS ranking for 2027?
Trinity is 75th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and the highest-ranked university in Ireland.
How do I apply to Trinity College Dublin?
Irish, EU, EEA, UK and Swiss applicants apply through the CAO, which opens on 5 November 2026 and normally closes on 1 February at 17:00. Non-EU students apply directly to Trinity through the course page.
How much does Trinity cost for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU fees start at about 20,630 to 22,580 euro a year for arts, business and law courses and are higher for clinical and science courses. EU students pay a 2,500 euro student contribution plus a tuition component.
How many CAO points do you need for Trinity?
It depends on the course: in 2025, Computer Science needed 533 points and Medicine 739 points plus the HPAT.
Do non-EU applicants need SAT scores for Trinity?
US-system applicants submit SAT, ACT or AP results as part of their direct application, along with their school results, personal statement and references.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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