As a Trinity Common Entry student, you will have choices to make at the end of your 1st Year and 2nd Year about what type of degree you want to finish with (Single Honours, Major with Minor, or Joint Honours) and which options you’d like to take to get there.
Students will be notified by email, via in-tray message in my.tcd.ie and social media when the pathway selection functionality is open.
Questions regarding pathway choices should be directed to your own School or course office. To find your school's contact details, you can visit this Trinity webpage.
Choices available to common entry students
At the end of Junior Fresh and Senior Fresh years, students on the following programmes have decisions to make regarding their pathways and exit awards:
- Economic and Social Studies (BESS)
- Philosophy Political Science Economics and Sociology (PPES)
- Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology (CLAHA)
First Year
In your first year, you must take 10 credits worth of modules from your four core subjects, and 20 credits from other prescribed modules.
Second Year
In your second year, there are four possible choices you can make.
Option one
Keep three subjects and drop the rest. This means taking 20 credits worth of modules each from your three chosen subjects.
If you choose this option, you will be on track to get a Major with Minor Degree or a Joint Honours Degree, depending on your choices the following year.
Option two
Keep two subjects and drop the rest, with 40 credits worth of modules in one subject and 20 credits worth of modules in the other.
If you choose this option, you will be on track to graduate with a Single Honours Degree OR a Major with Minor Degree OR a Joint Honours Degree, depending on your choices the following year.
Option three
Keep two subjects and drop the rest, plus take Trinity Electives and Open Modules, with 20 credits worth of modules for both core subjects and 20 credits worth of modules for the Trinity Electives/Open Modules.
If you choose this option, you will be on track to get a Major with Minor Degree or a Joint Honours Degree, depending on your choices the following year.
Option four
Keep one subject and drop the rest, with 40 credits worth of modules from your remaining core subject, and 20 credits worth of modules for the Trinity Electives/Open Modules.
If you choose this option, you will be on track to get a Single Honours Degree.
Third Year
Option one
If you chose option one in your second year, you can now choose whether you’d like to graduate with a Major with Minor Degree or a Joint Honours Degree.
1. For a Major with Minor Degree, you must decide on your major and minor subjects, and which subject you would like to drop. At the end of your third year, you can decide to take 30 credits of modules from your two core subjects OR to take 40 credits from one subject and 20 credits from the other.
2. For a Joint Honours Degree, you must decide on your two core subjects. You cannot change your subjects. These subjects are worth 30 credits each.
Option two
If you chose option two in your second year, you can now choose whether you’d like to graduate with a Single Honours Degree, a Major with Minor Degree or a Joint Honours Degree.
1. To graduate with a Single Honours Degree, you must take 50 credits of modules from your chosen core subject, and 10 credits of modules from your second subject.
2. To graduate with a Major with Minor Degree, you must decide on your major and minor subjects. You cannot change your subjects. At the end of your third year, you can decide to take 30 credits of modules from your two core subjects OR to take 40 credits from one subject and 20 credits from the other.
3. For a Joint Honours Degree, you will continue with your two core subjects. These subjects are worth 30 credits each.
Option three
If you chose option three in your second year, you can now choose whether you’d like to graduate with a Major with Minor Degree or a Joint Honours Degree.
1. For a Major with Minor Degree, you must decide on your major and minor subjects. You cannot change your subjects. At the end of your third year, you can decide to take 30 credits of modules from your two core subjects OR to take 40 credits from one subject and 20 credits from the other.
2. For a Joint Honours Degree, you will continue with your two core subjects. These subjects are worth 30 credits each.
Option four
If you chose option three in your second year, you must choose 50 credits of modules from your core subject and 10 credits of Trinity Electives and Open Modules.
Fourth Year
Depending on your choices in your previous years, you can graduate with the following degrees.
Major with Minor Degree
If you have taken a 40/20 credits split in your Subject 1/Subject 2 in your third year:
You must take modules as prescribed by your Major Subject 1 [20 credits]
You must take modules as prescribed by your Subject 2 [20 credits]
You must do a Capstone Project in your Subject 1 [20 credits]
OR
If you have taken a 30/30 credits split in your Subject 1/Subject 2 in your third year:
You must take modules as prescribed by your Subject 1 [40 credits]
You must do a Capstone Project [20 credits]
Joint Honours Degree
You must take modules as prescribed by your Subject 1 [20 credits]
You must take modules as prescribed by your Minor Subject 2 [20 credits]
You must do a Capstone Project in your Subject 1[20 credits]
Single Honours Degree
You must take modules as prescribed by your core subject [40 credits] and you must complete a Capstone Project in this subject [20 credits] to graduate with a Single Honours Degree.
Please note that some Capstone modules require you to have taken prerequisite modules in your earlier years before you can select a Capstone in a particular subject. Please consult your Course Handbook for any Capstone prerequisites.
How to make pathway selections
Accessing pathway selections
Log on to my.tcd.ie using your college username and password.
Go to the "My Programme" tab.
Click on the "Click here to select your programme " link.
Making your pathway selections
Depending on which course you are studying your pathway options will be listed.
You can choose one of the course options listed and then click on the "Select programme" button.
This is an important decision so take your time and seek academic advise if necessary. Your school or course office can help with this.
Confirming your pathway selection
To confirm your selection click on the ‘Confirm’ button. If you are unsure of anything go back to the previous screen using the ‘Reselect’ button.
Once you click on the "Confirm" button you cannot change your mind.
On the next screen the pathway you have selected will be noted.
You will then receive an Intray message confirming your decision on your portal home page of my.tcd.ie.
FAQs
What happens if I don’t make a pathway selection at the end of my first year?
You must make a Pathway Selection at the end of your first year as you must drop a minimum of one of your core subjects. Failure to select a pathway may delay your participation in module selection for your second year.
Is Pathway Selection mandatory
Pathway Selection is mandatory for the following students:
- All first year students.
- Second year students on the Major with Minor Pathway.
- Second year students on the 3-subject Joint Pathway.
Failure to select a pathway may delay your participation in module selection for your following year.
Can I continue all four subjects in Year 2?
It is only possible to take three of your four subjects in Year 2.
What are the implications of taking only two subjects in Year 2 – can I pick up subjects again?
If you take two subjects in Year 2, you can continue with these subjects and graduate with a Joint Honours or Major with Minor degree depending on the number of ECTS you take in each subject and the levels at which these ECTS are at. You can decide not to take the second subject in Year 3 and graduate with a Single Honours award in your first subject. You will need to check your options with your School or Course Office as these may vary.
What is the best pathway to take in Year 2 if I want to keep on most of my subjects?
To take three subjects in Year 2 you will need to select the pathway where you continue all three subjects and take 20 credits of modules in each. Talk to your School or Course Office about the subject options available to you.