Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Trinity Menu Trinity Search

Trinity Development & Alumni

You are here Community

Association and Trust

Musical Theatre Society

production of Chicago
Medical Overseas Voluntary

Electives (MOVE) and the

Developing World
Dublin University Football Club

(DUFC) USA Rugby Trip

The TCD Association and Trust was established in 1987 following the merger of the Association (est. 1928) and the Trust (est. 1955) and is governed by a committee of Trinity graduates who participate on a volunteer basis. The Trust provides grant support for a wide variety of College projects where funding is not available from mainstream resources. It supports a significant number of projects each year – the Trust supported 90 activities during the 2018/2019 academic year - covering a broad range of areas and groups across College including the activities of student clubs and societies, academic research, student welfare and travel, training and charitable activities. Examples of past projects that have received grants are highlighted in the banner above.

If you’d like to learn more or are interested in getting involved with the Association and Trust, please contact us at alumni@tcd.ie and follow us on Twitter at @TCDTrust. Membership to the Trinity Association and Trust is open to a number of different categories of Trinity affiliations, such as Fellows and Honorary Fellows, alumni, etc.

How to Apply for a Trust Grant

The following information explains the process of applying for a grant with more detailed inforamtion below in the FAQs on Funding Criteria section:

  • Students and staff have two opportunities per year to apply for grants.
  • Before submitting an application, please review the criteria for support.
  • Grants are not awarded retrospectively.
  • Normally, applications should be for projects which will take place within a year from the date of application.
  • We advise that you prepare your application in a document before filling out this form as you cannot save progress while completing the application.
  • You will receive an email copy of your application once you have successfully submitted it.
  • Applicants can expect to have a response on their application approximately four weeks after the deadlines.
  • Applications for funding support can be made using the online application form.

Applications are now open. There are two opportunities per year to apply for grants. Grants are not awarded retrospectively. Normally, applications should be for projects which will take place within a year from the date of applications. In the coming months, we will post closing dates for the next round of application submissions for grants awarded in 2024/25 academic year.


TCD Trust Grant Application Form

By submitting this webform, applicants agree that the application, including the applicant's contact details, may be shared with the Executive Committee of the Trinity Trust for the specific purpose of assessing and awarding grants.

TCD Affinity Credit Card

One of the main sources of funding for the TCD Trust grants comes from the TCD Affinity Credit Card. Each year Bank of Ireland donates a small percentage of the annual turnover on these cards back to the Trust at no cost to the cardholders. Click here for information on how to apply for a card.

FAQs on Funding Criteria

Who can apply?

Grants are available to students and staff.

When do I need to apply?

There are two opportunities per year to apply for grants. Grants are not awarded retrospectively. Normally, applications should be for projects which will take place within a year from the date of application. Closing dates for the current academic year are:

Closing Date for Round 1: Friday, 18 October 2024
Closing Date for Round 2: Friday, 21 February 2025

When will I know if I have been successful?

Applicants can expect to have a response on their application approximately four weeks after the deadlines.

What and how much can I apply for?

The Trust allocates funding for the ‘advancement of learning and education in the College and the University and the maintenance and development of the educational and other charitable activities of the College and University’. Categories include:

  • ‘Seed’ money to develop proposals that might help attract large grants from other bodies.
  • Grants to College staff to defray exceptional costs associated with caring responsibilities due to work related travel.
  • Grants to support publication of books by academic and other staff.
      Proof to show the book is being published must be produced before any money is released. Acknowledgement of the Trust’s support must appear in the publication and in due course a copy of the book must be sent to the Trust. Should the book be a commercial success, the applicant is expected to return the grant. Maximum grant: €1,500. The Trust does not give loans.
  • Grants for publications linked to student clubs and societies.
      Applicants must show that printing costs have been minimized. Successful applicants will be provided with a short advertisement which must appear in any publication supported by the Trust. Maximum grant: €500.
  • Grants to College Societies towards cultural and other educational events. The cost of accommodation or food and drink for receptions and similar occasions will NOT be covered.
  • Grants to cover course fees, training and educational projects will not be covered.
  • Contributions to student welfare and/or charitable projects.
      In some cases, such grants may be administered by a College Officer, e.g. Senior Tutor or Dean of Graduate Studies. In all cases the Trust reserves the right to consult with other relevant staff and bodies about the value of a project.
  • Grants to Sports Clubs to fund equipment and/or support travelling expenses for teams/individuals participating in significant sporting events.
      Consultation with staff in DUCAC is essential before the submission of an application.
  • Grants for postgraduate travel to conferences and research institutes or libraries are supported via a grant from the Trust which is administered by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Postdoctoral researchers may apply to the Trust for travel grants if they have the support of their Head of School or Department. For both groups, the relevant head must provide at least some small level of financial support. Other possible sources of funding will be taken into account in making an award.
  • Travel grants for students participating in recognized schemes such as DOVE and MOVE provide a fixed amount per student—up to €200 (UK), €350 (Europe) and €500 (rest of world). DOVE and MOVE schemes assume that participants will be going to Third World countries. Participants may not return to their country of origin.
  • Applications for travel grants for postgraduate students or postdoctoral fellows already in receipt of sponsorship from funding agencies such as IRC, IRCSET and SFI will not be entertained.

What is funding not available for?

  • Loans
  • Food and drink costs
  • Accommodation costs
  • College courses fees / administration costs
  • Grants for Postgraduates already being sponsored by a funding agency such as IRC, IRCSET, and SFI
  • Printing tickets for events - please consider online ticketless alternatives
  • Although support is not usually provided for repeated applications, it is recognised that different generations of students may benefit from such projects

What information do I need to include in the grant application?

  • A description of what you are applying for
  • A budget explaining how the grant would be spent
  • What other sources of funding have been applied for (if any), and the outcome from these requests
  • An indication of how you could increase awareness of the Trinity Alumni Affinity Credit Card should you receive a grant.

What are the terms and conditions if I receive a grant?

Should you receive a grant, you should raise awareness of:

  • The Alumni Affinity Credit Card
  • The Trust as a grant allocation body to which students and academics can apply

You can do this by:

  • Advertising the Trinity Affinity Credit Card in all publications
  • Tagging @TCDTrust on Twitter to acknowledge the grant
  • Distributing flyers at your event
  • Having a pop-up stand advertising the Trust
  • Other methods

Additionally, you must submit an activity report including photographs of the activity (cleared for use in an annual report and other Trust publicity) before funds can be drawn down.

Academic Publications - acknowledgement of support from the Trust and Association is required in the publication. Proof that the book is being published must be produced before any grant is released. Should the book be a commercial success, the author is expected to return the grant.