Trinity College Dublin

Overview

Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, was founded in 1592 and is the oldest university in Ireland. Its walled campus sits in the middle of Dublin, a short walk from the main shopping streets and the River Liffey. Teaching is in English, and degrees typically take four years, which lines up neatly with a North American bachelor's timeline.

Trinity offers a wide range of subjects across arts and humanities, social sciences, science, engineering and health sciences. It also runs a dual BA with Columbia University in New York: students spend the first two years in Dublin and the last two in New York and earn a degree from each. It has its own application and an earlier deadline, so check the dual BA course page if it interests you.

Which route applies to you

At Trinity, fee status, not citizenship alone, decides how you apply. Canadian and US applicants living outside the EU are normally classed as non-EU and apply directly to Trinity. Irish and EU applicants apply through the CAO, Ireland's Central Applications Office, whose normal closing date for 2027 entry is 1 February 2027 at 17:00 Irish time. If you hold an EU passport but live in North America, check Trinity's EU eligibility rules before choosing a route.

Direct applications usually open in the autumn for entry the following September and are decided on a rolling basis through to the end of June. A few courses, including Medicine, Dental Science, Drama and Music Education, have had an earlier closing date in February, and some course pages list their own earlier dates. Trinity had not posted its dates for 2027 entry when we checked in October 2026, so confirm them on the direct applications page. Trinity notes that some programmes may reach capacity by early spring, so applying early is sensible.

Documents and requirements

A direct application asks for your school results, two letters of recommendation from academic referees using official email addresses, a passport copy, an application fee and a personal statement. US applicants write a one-page statement of about 500 words on why they want to study at Trinity.

• United States: a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.2 or better. For 2027 entry, Trinity will consider other evidence in place of standardized tests, and you may submit any SAT or ACT scores you have; its published minimums are 1250 to 1400 on the SAT and 27 to 32 on the ACT, depending on the course. AP, college and honors classes with strong grades are also considered.
• Canada: a high school diploma with six subjects that include English, mathematics and a language other than English, plus a minimum average set out on Trinity's Canada page. The published figures are minimums only, and competitive courses may require more.

Our Canadian GPA scales explainer helps if you need to describe your school's grading clearly.

Costs, loans and immigration

Non-EU tuition is listed on Trinity's undergraduate course fees page. Trinity is approved to certify US Direct Loans, including PLUS loans. Irish Immigration Service Delivery lists Canada and the United States among the countries whose citizens do not need an entry visa for Ireland, but students from outside the EEA who stay longer than 90 days must register with immigration after arriving; see Irish Immigration: coming to study in Ireland. Our Ireland guide explains the CAO points system and student life in Ireland.