Matriculation 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
• 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 matriculation and/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 matriculation purposes but both may be used for scoring purposes.

Advanced GCE (A-Level) scoring system for exams taken from 2010 to 2013

• Bonus points for Mathematics:
  Students presenting A-Level Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics will be credited with an additional 25 points for achieving a grade E or above. Full details are available here.

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 - 2013 scheme above, with the exception of the pre-2010 A grade, which will be awarded 145 points.

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

Allocation of places

Trinity College applies a two-stage admissions procedure whereby it , in the first instance, allocates ranges of CAO points to A-Level grades in order that A-Level applications can be compared with Leaving Certificate applications. Places on courses are then determined based on the proportions of eligible applications coming from the Leaving Certificate, and A-Level examination systems or, in a small number of cases, equivalent EU systems. Once these proportions are 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 will continue to allocate fixed points to A-Level grades for the purpose of determining student's ranking only. These points will not be used to compare A-Level students against Leaving Certificate students.

Trinity College reserves the right to make the final decision in all matters pertaining to the admissions process.