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Minimum entry requirements: GCSE/Advanced GCE (A-Level)

To be considered for admission to the University you must:

  • Present six subjects at grade C or above on GCSE or Advanced Subsidiary GCE (AS) papers. Two of these subjects must be at grade C or above on Advanced GCE (A-Level) papers.

The six subjects above must include:

  • A pass in English

AND

  • A pass in mathematics and a pass in a language other than English

OR

  • a pass in Latin and a pass in a subject other than a language

Notes:

  1. A pass means grade C or above on GCSE or Advanced Subsidiary GCE (AS) papers.
  2. Students may combine grades achieved in different sittings of their Advanced GCE (A-Level) examinations for the purpose of satisfying minimum entryand/or course requirements, but not for the purposes of scoring. This is not permitted for Medicine (see Course specific requirements).
  3. Acceptable subjects:
    • Applied A-Level, Vocational Advanced Subsidiary, Vocational A-Level, National Vocational and Key Skills qualifications are not accepted for matriculation or scoring purposes.
    • GCSE/Advanced GCE (A-Level) subjects set by recognised examination boards are, in principle, acceptable for consideration with the following exceptions:
      • Physical education, General studies and Media studies are not acceptable.
    • Applicants who require advice about subject eligibility should contact the Admissions Office.
  4. Combinations of A-Level subjects not permitted (for matriculation or scoring purposes, unless otherwise stated):
    • Art may not be presented with history of art
    • Biology may not be presented with botany or zoology
    • English literature may not be presented with English language
    • Environmental science may not be presented with biology or geography
    • Science may not be presented with chemistry, physics or biology
    • Not more than one specialised endorsed programme in art may be presented
  5. Art and music may not be offered as the two Advanced GCE (A-Level) grades for minimum entry requirements but both may be used for scoring purposes.

Advanced GCE (A-Level) scoring system for exams taken from 2010 to 2014

GradeASA2
A* - 150
A 65 135^
B 60 120
C 50 100
D 35 75
E 20 40
  • Bonus points for Mathematics:
    All students presenting Grade E or above in one of A-Level Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics will have 25 points added to their score for that subject. The bonus points will only be relevant where that subject is scored as one of a student’s four best subjects for points purposes.

An applicant's score will be calculated on the basis of either of the following:

  1. their best 4 GCE Advanced level (A2) subjects from one academic year
    or
  2. their best 3 GCE Advanced level (A2) subjects from one academic year plus one Advanced Subsidiary level (AS) in a different subject from the same or the preceding academic year only.

Students may not combine grades achieved in different sittings of their GCE Advanced level (A2) examinations for the purpose of scoring. However, examinations taken in January and June of the same year are counted as a single sitting.

The minimum entry levels (points) are available to download.

Notes:

^ Applicants presenting A-level examinations from pre-2010 will be scored based on the 2010 - 2014 scheme above, with the exception of the pre-2010 A grade, which will be awarded 145 points.

Cambridge Pre-U: Principle subjects will be accepted as alternatives to A-Levels in meeting general entry requirements. The scoring scheme for Principle Subjects, Global Perspectives, and Shorts Courses results is set out below.

Prinicipal Subjects

Short
courses

Global Perspectives

D1

150

75

145

D2

150

70

145

D3

135

65

130

M1

125

60

120

M2

120

60

115

M3

105

55

100

P1

95

50

90

P2

75

35

70

P3

40

20

40

 

Allocation of places

Trinity College treats equally all Leaving Certificate and A-Level students on the island of Ireland in light of their status under Article 2 of the Constitution of Ireland. Trinity College will allocate fixed points to A-Level grades for the purpose of determining a student’s ranking, allocating places in proportion with current demographic factors.

For all other applicants, in the first instance Trinity College allocates ranges of CAO points to A-Level grades (and other EU grading systems) in order that these applications can be compared with Leaving Certificate applications. Once this proportion is determined, places on the course in question are offered to applicants coming from each respective examination system group on the basis of ranking within that group. Trinity College reserves the right to make the final decision in all matters pertaining to the admissions process.


Last updated 22 August 2013 by admissions@tcd.ie (Email).