You won’t need the luck of the Irish to have an unforgettable study abroad experience in Dublin. By directly enrolling at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), you’ll have the joy of befriending the Irish, who are known for their hospitality. You’ll feel more at home knowing that Dublin has a young population (more than half of the city is under 25).Trinity College Dublin offers a wide variety of challenging courses and appeals primarily to those students who are ready for the challenge of adapting to an entirely new academic culture that requires significant independent work.Dublin will also be your classroom. Take in an Irish play at Abbey Theatre, the country’s national theater. Learn about Dublin’s history by exploring Dublin Castle which was built in 1204. Visit Trinity College Dublin to see The 7th Century Book of Kells, a masterful example of an illuminated manuscript, that is housed in its own climate controlled archive in the university’s old library. Welcome to study abroad!We want you to feel at home in Dublin, so we will do everything we can to help you integrate into life in Dublin. Enrolling directly in an Irish institution through IES Abroad provides you with a chance to sample the local academic culture while still benefiting from the support of IES Abroad staff and housing.
After you are admitted, refer to the Travel Dates section of the Predeparture Information in your MyIESabroad account before booking travel.
Schedules for final exams or coursework deadlines are not available until students are on-site. For that reason, it is recommended that students purchase airline tickets with open-ended or flexible return date policies.
IES Abroad’s mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. That is why we partnered with Trinity College Dublin.
Trinity College Dublinwww.tcd.ieAs a 400-year-old university, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has a long history of high academic quality and scholarship. It is Ireland’s oldest and one of its finest higher education institutions. TCD also houses The 7th Century Book of Kells, a masterful example of an illuminated manuscript, in its own climate controlled archive in the university’s old library and open to the public during the day.
In recent years, the college has increased its enrollment and diversity. The current student population represents 70 countries over six continents and totals more than 16,000 students.
Because of TCD’s high academic standards, the college usually requires the students to have a cumuluative 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale. However, GPAs under 3.3 will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Trinity also requires one year of full-time enrollment at a bachelor's degree-granting institution.
CoursesSemester Start-Up ProgramYou start off your semester with TCD's Semester Start-Up Program (SSP), of the School of Histories and Humanities. The SSP provides you with a set curriculum, Understanding Ireland: An Interdisciplinary Module in History, Archaeology, Art, Architecture, and Literature.
The SSP covers approximately 2.5 credits in the fall term and you complete the remaining two-thirds of your credit through standard undergraduate courses. The five-day spring semester Start-Up Program does not carry credit.
Academic Year students do not enroll in the Semester Start-Up Program; they take a full course load and earn all of their credits from the standard undergraduate curriculum.
You take 15-19 credits per semester. Trinity College Dublin follows the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System), the standardized European Union credit system. Most classes are worth 5 ECTS which equates to 2.5 IES Abroad credits.
You have the opportunity to enroll in courses in the following faculties and disciplines. Visit Trinity's Course Directory for specific course information. If prompted to contact Trinity for module information, pease contact your IES Abroad advisor at [email protected] directly.
Broad Curriculum
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Science*
*Enrolling in a course(s) in the Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Sciences requires an additional fee of $3000.
Faculty of Health Sciences*
*Enrolling in a course(s) in the Faculty of Health Sciences requires an additional fee of $3000.
Trinity advises that students not take courses in both the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Science due to scheduling difficulties.
Please note that course offerings vary from semester to semester. Exact course availability is determined shortly before the start of each semester. For this reason, it will not be possible for you to officially register until your arrival in Dublin; however you will need to refer to current course offerings in order to preregister as part of your application.
LocationTrinity College Dublin is located in the heart of Dublin near St. Stephen’s Green. The campus’ buildings and open space span across 40 acres.
In a direct enrollment program, you are enrolled as a full-time student at one of our international partner institutions. Even though your local host institution is where you’ll take your classes, we’re still here to fully support you. AdvisingChoosing and directly enrolling in courses abroad can be confusing and overwhelming. This is why we offer you predeparture advising that’s specific to your needs. Our goal is to provide support and guidance throughout your application and enrollment process. But our advising services don’t stop there. While you’re in Dublin, our local staff is available to help you transition into your new home. SupportThe support services we offer IES Abroad direct enrollment students are specifically designed to help you achieve your study abroad goals as effectively and smoothly as possible. We know studying abroad is an adventure, and, at times, you may need help or just someone to talk to—that’s why our staff will be there for you. On-Site Staff As an IES Abroad student directly enrolled at a local university in Dublin, you have access to on-site IES Abroad staff who are specifically dedicated to your needs. Our on-site staff work with you and your local institution to answer any questions about academic requirements, housing, or wellbeing and safety.
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Dublin, it will feel like home.
Private Student Residence -You will live in Binary Hub, a private student residence in Dublin. You will live in a private fully-furnished single bedroom and bathroom, and will share a kitchen and common area with up to four other flat-mates which may be of mixed gender. However, you will be able to indicate on your IES Abroad Housing Form if you have any accommodation request in relation to this. The private student residence also has WiFi Internet access along with other amenities. No meals are included.
Part of making you feel at home in Dublin is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
The program begins with a two-day orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Dublin staff, your fellow students, and the city of Dublin. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, and health and safety are covered during this time.
You also take guided tours around the Center and areas of Dublin as part of your orientation.
Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home. You will also take guided tours around the Center and areas of interest in Dublin as part of your orientation.
You also participate in TCD's orientation program for international students.
TCD has an active student body, with over 90 college societies and 50 sports clubs. Joining one or more is a great way to integrate into the local campus culture.
Although your adventure begins in Dublin, our field trips take you to rural areas and Northern Ireland to provide contrast and context for what you are learning in Dublin. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad.
Northern Ireland3 daysTake in many of the filming sites of Game of Thrones, a famous “troubles tour’ of Belfast, and the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Causey Farm1 dayVisit an open farm where you will have the chance to try Irish dancing, bake traditional Irish bread, learn to play an Irish drum called the bodhrán, and see a bog.
Experience Gaelic Games1 dayTake a few hours to learn about Ireland's national sports, Gaelic football, hurling, and handball.
About the Center
Features include:
Take a virtual tour of what it’s like to be in Dublin and what the IES Abroad Dublin Center is like!
Megan Markey earned an MBA in Education Management from the Institute of Education, University of London and a Masters in Sociology from University College Dublin. Employed by IES Abroad since 2004, Megan teaches our service learning seminar, Service Learning: Youth Engagement and Education in Ireland. She has also taught qualitative research for the Sociology Department at University College Dublin. Megan was the Assistant Director of the Dublin Center from 2010-2014 and became the Center Director in 2015.
IES Abroad Dublin Staff
Chris Corcoran Internship Coordinator
Regina Fitzpatrick Academic Coordinator
Jackie KnowlesStudent Affairs Coordinator
Stephen McMahon Writer's Program Coordinator and Moodle Adminstrator
Mairéad WhiteAccountant Assistant
What is it really like to live in Dublin? Check out our virtual tour of all the places you’ll come to know and love when you study abroad there—GO!
Vertical Tabs