University College Dublin
An Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath
Ireland's largest university, on a 133-hectare parkland campus at Belfield, now inside the QS global top 100.
- Students
- 41,089
- International
- 35%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 19.1:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €22,600
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1854
About UCD
University College Dublin traces its roots to the Catholic University of Ireland, founded by John Henry Newman in 1854, and moved from the city centre to its parkland campus at Belfield in south Dublin in the second half of the twentieth century. With about 41,000 students including those on overseas programmes, it is Ireland's largest university, and around 35% of its students are international, drawn from 163 nationalities.
Teaching is organised into six colleges: Arts and Humanities; Business; Engineering and Architecture; Health and Agricultural Sciences; Science; and Social Sciences and Law. UCD entered the QS world top 100 for the 2027 edition, driven mainly by gains in citations and international research networks, and it is ranked in the global top 50 for Veterinary Science, English, Nursing and Petroleum Engineering in the QS subject tables.
Admission for EU students runs through the Irish CAO points system, with no personal statement or interview for most courses, so your Leaving Certificate or A-level grades do almost all the work. Non-EU students apply directly and are assessed on published grade equivalences. UCD suits students who want a big, self-contained campus with a strong sporting and society culture, a short bus ride from Dublin city centre.
Ad Astra; Cothrom na Féinne
“To the Stars; Justice and equality” — university motto
Why students choose UCD
UCD is ranked joint 100th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 47th in the QS Sustainability Ranking 2026.
Everything is on one 133-hectare campus at Belfield, including on-campus residences, two gyms and over 45 sports clubs.
The UCD Global Excellence Scholarship covers 100% or 50% of tuition fees for outstanding non-EU undergraduates.
Broad entry routes such as Science, Engineering and Liberal Arts and Sciences let you try several subjects before choosing a major.
Admissions
2027 entry (September 2027)
Selectivity
UCD does not publish an overall offer rate. For EU applicants, entry is competitive on CAO points: 2026 Round 1 cut-offs included 738 for Medicine (with HPAT), 625 for Economics and Finance, 602 for Actuarial and Financial Studies, 577 for Engineering, 559 for Law, 554 for Commerce, 540 for Science and 510 for Computer Science.
Typical entry requirements
| Irish Leaving Certificate (CAO) | Course-specific minimum subjects (e.g. O6/H7 in Irish, English, another language and three other subjects for Law; H4 in Mathematics for Economics and Finance) and competitive points: 2026 Round 1 cut-offs of 510 (Computer Science) to 625 (Economics and Finance), 738 for Medicine including HPAT |
|---|---|
| A-levels (non-EU applicants, 2027 entry) | AAC, ABBC or ABB plus an E at AS for Commerce, Law, Engineering and Computer Science; A*A*B or A*AA plus a D at AS for Economics and Finance and Actuarial and Financial Studies; A*A*A or A*AA plus a D at AS and an interview for Medicine; A*A*A* or A*A*A plus a D at AS for Veterinary Medicine |
| IB Diploma (non-EU applicants, 2027 entry) | Minimum 24 points; 33 for Commerce, Law, Engineering and Computer Science; 39 for Economics and Finance; 42 with Higher 6 Maths for Actuarial and Financial Studies; 39 plus interview for Medicine; 40 for Veterinary Medicine |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 90 IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band (retakes not accepted), or TOEFL iBT 90 with at least 21 in writing and 19 in every other section (4.5 overall and in each section on the new 1-6 scale from January 2026). Cambridge English 176+ with no paper below 169. |
Deadlines
- CAO normal closing date (EU applicants) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 months1 February 2027, 17:00
Date follows CAO's published pattern (1 February, 17:00 in the 2026 cycle); CAO's timetable page still showed the 2026 cycle on 29 September 2026, so confirm on cao.ie when the 2027 timetable is released. CAO also accepts late applications until around 1 May.
- Direct application (non-EU applicants) Non-binding In ~9 months1 July 2027 (recommended for visa-required students)
Applications for September 2027 open from 1 October 2026. Apply early to be considered for the Global Excellence Scholarship, which requires an offer.
CAO had not yet published its 2027 timetable as of 29 September 2026; in the 2026 cycle applications opened on 5 November and the normal closing date was 1 February at 17:00. Global Excellence Scholarship deadlines for 2026 entry were 1 February (North American undergraduates), 28 February (Middle East, Africa and Pakistan) and 31 March (all other regions); 2027 dates are to be confirmed.
How to apply
EU/EEA/UK applicants (and UK citizens who meet the residency rule) apply through the CAO and are ranked on Leaving Certificate points or equivalent; there are no personal statements or interviews except for Veterinary Medicine, which needs evidence of work experience. Non-EU applicants apply directly to UCD through the online course catalogue (€70 application fee), with predicted grades, transcripts and English test results.
What admissions looks for
- For CAO applicants, Leaving Certificate points (or the A-level/EU equivalent) are the deciding factor; personal statements and interviews are not used for most courses.
- Minimum subject requirements for each course, such as Higher Level Mathematics grades for Economics and Finance or Actuarial and Financial Studies.
- For undergraduate Medicine, HPAT-Ireland results combined with school-leaving results; for non-EU Medicine applicants, an interview.
- For Veterinary Medicine, evidence of practical work experience with animals.
- Proof of English at IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band) or equivalent for applicants who need it.
Tips for applying to UCD
- 1 Work out whether you are EU or non-EU for fee purposes first: it decides whether you apply through the CAO or directly to UCD, and what you pay.
- 2 Check last year's CAO points for your course, not just the minimum entry requirements, because places are allocated on points.
- 3 If you are unsure what to study, consider broad-entry routes such as Science, Engineering or Liberal Arts and Sciences, which let you choose your major later.
- 4 Non-EU applicants should apply soon after applications open on 1 October, since you need an offer before you can apply for the Global Excellence Scholarship.
- 5 Medicine applicants through the CAO must also register for and sit the HPAT-Ireland.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
EU students who qualify for the Free Fees scheme pay only the Student Contribution and levy. Non-EU undergraduates can apply for the UCD Global Excellence Scholarship (limited 100% and 50% tuition awards, after receiving an offer), and are automatically considered for UCD Global scholarships of 10% to 35% of tuition on eligible programmes. Non-EU fees are fixed at the rate of your starting year for the length of your programme, except for Veterinary Medicine.
- 100% or 50% of tuition fees (limited number, non-EU students)
- UCD Global Excellence Scholarship
- 10% to 35% of tuition fees on eligible programmes
- UCD Global automatic scholarships
- €2,754
- Student Contribution plus levy, 2026/27 (EU Free Fees students)
Academics
Academic calendar: Trimesters (two teaching trimesters from September to May)
Veterinary Medicine (DN300)
UCD's veterinary school is top 50 worldwide in the QS 2026 subject rankings; 589 CAO points in 2026 plus required practical experience.
Actuarial and Financial Studies (DN230)
One of UCD's most competitive courses: 602 CAO points in 2026, IB 42 with Higher 6 Maths for non-EU applicants.
Economics and Finance (DN670)
625 CAO points in 2026, the highest cut-off at UCD after Medicine.
Medicine (DN400)
Selected on Leaving Certificate points plus HPAT-Ireland (738 combined in 2026); non-EU applicants need IB 39 or A*A*A and an interview.
Law (DN600)
Variants include Law with French, Economics, History, Philosophy, Politics and Social Justice; 559 CAO points in 2026.
Commerce (DN650)
The flagship degree of the UCD Quinn School of Business, with an international variant; 554 CAO points in 2026.
Research
- UCD won €847 million in externally funded research over the last five years and is one of the top 20 universities in Horizon Europe, according to the university.
- UCD is first in Ireland for QS Citations per Faculty and International Research Network in the 2027 rankings.
- NovaUCD, the university's innovation and technology transfer centre, supports spin-outs and start-ups on campus.
- 13 UCD subjects are in the QS world top 100 for 2026, including Veterinary Science, English, Nursing and Petroleum Engineering in the top 50.
Schools & faculties
- UCD College of Arts and Humanities
- UCD College of Business
- UCD College of Engineering and Architecture
- UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences
- UCD College of Science
- UCD College of Social Sciences and Law
UCD stays in the global top 100 for Employment Outcomes in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and its QS Employer Reputation score rose 36 places to 168th.
Student life
Life at UCD centres on the Belfield campus, a large green site with a lake, woodland walks, on-campus residences, sports grounds and the Student Centre. Every student pays the Student Centre Levy, which gives access to two gyms and over 100 fitness classes a week, and there are more than 45 sports clubs. Rugby and Gaelic games have a strong tradition, and the university's debating and business societies are among the oldest in Ireland. With over a third of students from abroad, the campus has a genuinely international mix.
- Over 45 sports clubs, with UCD RFC and the university's Gaelic football and hurling clubs producing international and All-Ireland players.
- The Student Centre Levy funds two gyms and more than 100 fitness classes a week for all students.
- The Literary and Historical Society and the Commerce and Economics Society are long-running student societies.
- Students come from 163 nationalities, and 35% are international.
Housing. UCD runs on-campus residences at Belfield; 2026/27 licences for first-year students run from 1 September to 16 May, with a standard refundable deposit of €750.
Location
Belfield is in Dublin 4, a residential area in the south of Dublin, with frequent buses into town. Dublin is a compact capital with a large tech and finance sector, plenty of culture and easy access to the coast. Housing is the main challenge: UCD Global estimates median student living costs of about €2,445 a month in 2026, with rent the biggest item.
Nearest airport: Dublin Airport (DUB)
Notable alumni
- JJ James JoyceNovelist, author of Ulysses; set part of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man at the university
- SM Seán MacBrideCo-founder of Amnesty International and 1974 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
- PS Peter SutherlandFirst Director-General of the World Trade Organization
- GF Garret FitzGeraldTaoiseach of Ireland in the 1980s
- JM John McGahernNovelist and short-story writer
- DÓ Dara Ó BriainComedian and television presenter
- BO Brian O'DriscollIreland and British and Irish Lions rugby captain
- NF Niall FitzGeraldFormer CEO and chairman of Unilever
Frequently asked questions
How many CAO points do you need for UCD?
It depends on the course. In 2026 Round 1, cut-offs ranged from 510 for Computer Science and 540 for Science to 559 for Law, 602 for Actuarial and Financial Studies and 625 for Economics and Finance; Medicine needed 738 including the HPAT.
What A-levels do you need for UCD as an international student?
For 2027 entry, non-EU applicants typically need AAC, ABBC or ABB plus an AS for courses like Commerce, Law and Computer Science, and A*A*A or A*AA plus an AS and an interview for Medicine.
How much are UCD fees for international students?
Non-EU fees for 2026/27 range from €22,600 a year (Arts, Law) to €63,890 (Medicine), with Science and Engineering at €29,500. Your fee stays at your starting-year rate for the whole programme, except for Veterinary Medicine.
When is the UCD application deadline for 2027?
EU applicants apply through the CAO, whose normal closing date is 1 February at 17:00 (confirm the 2027 date on cao.ie). Non-EU applicants can apply directly from 1 October 2026, and visa-required students are advised to apply before 1 July 2027.
Does UCD offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. The Global Excellence Scholarship covers 100% or 50% of tuition for a limited number of outstanding non-EU students who already hold an offer, and UCD Global automatically considers applicants for 10% to 35% tuition scholarships on eligible programmes.
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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