Student Support Services

Orientation for new entrants

During your first week in College (Freshers’ Week), Trinity College offers a comprehensive orientation programme to new entrants.
The programme includes general orientation meetings, specific meetings for your course, library tours, sports tours, advice sessions about issues such as managing your finances, and a range of nights out – organised by clubs, societies and the Students’ Union.
Trinity College has a vast array of clubs and societies for you to join during Freshers’ Week. They are a fantastic way to make new friends and to get a feel for the sense of community here at Trinity College. Also be sure to look up the Students’ Union to find out what is happening throughout the year.

Personal tutor

All incoming undergraduates are assigned a personal tutor on entry. Your College Tutor will provide confidential information, help and advice during your time in Trinity on topics such as:

• Changing course
• Exam results
• Taking a year out
• Family problems
• Financial difficulties
• Illness, bereavement
• Appeals
• Disability

In a word, anything that gets in the way of you achieving your full potential. They will also act as a portal and help you contact other student support services. Find out more at www.tcd.ie/Senior_Tutor

“My tutor made sure I could contact her anytime” – First year TSM student

“My tutor was excellent. He gave me advice when I needed to transfer course and was available at lots of different times to meet with me” – First year Science student

Peer mentoring programme

From the moment you arrive in College right the way through to your end of year exams Student2Student (S2S) is here to make sure your first year is fun, engaging and a great foundation for the rest of your time in Trinity. You’ll meet your Student 2 Student (S2S) mentors during Freshers’ Week (your first week in College) and they will make sure that you know other people in your course before your classes even start. They will keep in regular touch with you throughout your first year and invite you to events on and off campus. They will also give you useful information about your course and what to look out for.

Mentors are students who have been through first year and know exactly what it feels like, so you never have to worry about asking them a question or talking to them about anything that’s worrying you.

S2S also offers trained Peer Supporters if you want to talk confidentially to another student or just to meet a friendly face for a coffee and a chat. S2S is supported by the Senior Tutor’s Office and the Student Counselling Service.

http://student2student.tcd.ie, E-mail: student2student@tcd.ie

Careers Advisory Service

Trinity graduates are highly sought after and employer events on campus cover the full spectrum of opportunities from commercial to not-for-profit. The Careers Advisory Service (CAS) offers a range of services and resources to assist students in preparing for, making, and implementing informed decisions about their future careers:

Group and one to one guidance to help with careerplanning including support after graduation. In the case of the class of 2011, 89% of graduates were working, studying or both six months after graduation.
Assistance with the search for internships, employment or further study options. The VACWORK programme offers students the opportunity to secure work experience during the summer before their final year.
Access to specialist careers information resources including dedicated databases available exclusively from our website.
Extensive training in all aspects of the further study or job application process including CV preparation, completion of application forms and the preparation of personal statements.
Practice interviews on video.
Development of skills through volunteering in Ireland and abroad.

Find out more at www.tcd.ie/careers and www.tcd.ie/community

The careers Advisory Service continues to provide careers support after graduation and, in association with the Alumni Office, the very successful Trinity Alumni Career Network provides workshops to assist graduates seeking employment as well as those considering a career change. In addition, Front Gate Online is the web based alumni community, which allows graduates to connect with other alumni and support current students.

College Health Service

The College Health Service provides GP services for students.

• Student consultations are free of charge with modest fees for additional services.
• There are specialised clinics in physiotherapy, psychiatry, travel health, sexual health and minor surgery.
• It also focuses on the psychological and occupational aspects of student health and health education.

Health care provision in Ireland

All EU students from outside the Republic of Ireland pursuing a full degree programme should contact the Health Service Executive for advice regarding healthcare provision – see www.hse.ie

• All EU students should bring with them a European Health Insurance Card issued in their country of origin.
• Non-EU students are not entitled to free national health services in Ireland, and are advised to take out insurance cover for hospitalisation or to extend private health insurance before leaving their home country.
• Students without private health insurance who will be resident in the country for a minimum period of one academic year may apply to the Health Service Executive to be assessed for entitlements. These entitlements are means tested by the HSE.
  

Student Counselling Service

The Student Counselling Service is staffed by qualified professional psychologists and psychotherapists. It provides a range of free services to TCD students including:

• Short-term individual counselling for personal and psychological issues, including a daily emergency slot and lunchtime drop-in consultations.
• Groups, e.g. for anxiety, depression, bereavement, mindfulness, and support for international students.
• Wellbeing workshops e.g. self-esteem, body image issues, and relaxation.
• The Online Mental Health Portal, a TCD web community for obtaining self help information and getting anonymous counselling support: https://mymindmatters.ie
• An after-hours Niteline telephone service run by students for students. Free-phone: 1 800 793 793, 7 nights per week during term-time, 9 pm-2.30 am.

For more information and resources: www.tcd.ie/student_counselling

Chaplaincy

The ecumenical Chaplaincy team work closely together and represent three of the main Christian traditions in Ireland: Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland (Anglican/ Episcopal) and Methodist.

• It is a place of hospitality for all members of the College community; students of all faiths, or none, are welcome.
• A variety of worship gatherings & events are organised during the year – traditional, and non-traditional Christian services (denominational and ecumenical) take place daily on campus during term time.
• During term time, tea and coffee are available all day in the Chaplaincy Common Room (House 27) and students are invited to call in for a free lunch on Tuesdays – come early, it’s always full!

Find out more at www.tcd.ie/Chaplaincy

Day nursery

Trinity College’s day nursery takes care of children from 3 months to 4.5 years of age. There are five different rooms for children of different age groups.
See www.tcd.ie/about/services/daynursery for further details.

Mature students officer

Trinity College recognises the unique contribution and commitment that mature students make to College academic and social life. A full-time mature student officer provides guidance and support to both prospective applicants and current mature students.
Supports include:

• One-to-one guidance and support for prospective mature applicants.
• Further Education College visits and shadowing opportunities.
• An information seminar on preparing for College for all successful mature applicants each July.
• A tailored week long orientation programme for mature student prior to the start of term in September.
• Student support drop-in clinics for registered mature students.

For further information on studying in TCD as a mature student please phone +353 1 896 1386, e-mail: mature.student.officer@tcd.ie or visit www.tcd.ie/maturestudents

Access services

TAP (the Trinity Access Programmes) provide a range of supports and services through their Post-Entry Progression Programme. These supports are available to students who enter undergraduate programmes in TCD through the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR), Foundation Courses for Young Adults and Mature Students, and the CDVEC University Access Courses (in partnership with Pearse College, Plunkett College and Liberties College).

These supports include:

• A tailored week long pre-university orientation programme (the week before Freshers’ Week).
• Academic supports including extra tuition, a laptop lending service, a writing resource centre and maths help room, and the TAP studio – a designated study space equipped with IT resources.
• Social and personal supports – each Junior Freshman (first-year) student is linked to a member of the TAP staff, their TAP advisor. Advisors meet with students regularly and offer advice, guidance and support and assist students with any personal or academic issues. TAP also runs a number of social activities throughout
  the year for students.
• Financial support (when available and applicable) including a TAP scholarship, supported childcare scheme and the TAP emergency fund.

Comprehensive information about the full range of TAP services and supports is available from: web www.tcd.ie/Trinity_Access/current e-mail tapadmin@tcd.ie or by phone +353 1 896 2751 / 3598.

Disability Service

Trinity College Dublin is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in education and to ensuring that students with a disability have as complete and equitable access to all facets of College life as can reasonably be provided. Students with a disability are encouraged to register with the Disability Service to seek supports where the disability could affect their ability to participate fully in all aspects of the course.

Support available to students with disabilities includes:

Pre-entry advice for Leaving Certificate students on admissions, course choices and supports. www.tcd.ie/pathways-to-trinity e-mail pathways@tcd.ie
Needs assessment on entry to determine any additional learning requirements.
Assistive technology training and technology rooms in College libraries.
Liaison with your tutors/lecturers to help arrange accessible programme materials.
UNILINK: a practical occupational therapy support service for students registered with the Disability Service. Unilink supports students managing the academic and social demands of their student role.

For more information: www.tcd.ie/disability/services/Unilink/index.php
Comprehensive information about the full range of services is available from www.tcd.ie/disability e-mail disab@tcd.ie phone +353 1 896 3111, or drop in to see us in Room 2054, Arts Building.
Students with a disability should apply to the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE).