Bachelor in Civil Law

In Year 1 you will take 70 ECTS of modules.  You can expect to have approximately 8 hours of lectures per week per semester, thereafter plan for additional resource, research and smaller classes and seminars. 

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is an academic credit system based on the estimated student workload required to achieve the objectives and learning outcomes of a module or programme of study. It is designed to enable academic recognition for periods of study, to facilitate student mobility and credit accumulation and transfer. The ECTS is the recommended credit system for higher education in Ireland and across the European Higher Education Area. 

The ECTS weighting for a module is a measure of the student input or workload required for that module, based on factors such as the number of contact hours, the number and length of written or verbally presented assessment exercises, class preparation and private study time, laboratory classes, examinations, clinical attendance, professional training placements, and so on. 

1 credit represents 20-25 hours estimated student input, so a 5 ECTS module will be designed to require 100-125 hours of student input including class contact time and assessments, while a 10 ECTS module will require 200-250 hours of student input. 

The BCL is a full-time programme. Classes can take place between 9 – 7 pm, Monday – Friday.  The BCL may seem like it hasn’t that many hours of teaching, but you are taking an academically rigourous and challenging programme.  You will be required to spend considerable time conducting your own research, reading and writing. 

Expect a combination of both formal in-person examinations and coursework.  In-person examinations are required by the Honorable Society of King’s Inns.

Modules employ various assessment formats. Formal examinations take place at the end of each semester in December and April/May. Reassessment sessions, if required, are scheduled for August/September.

You are taking an accelerated programme.  In order to be eligible for the BCL and recognition of the programme as a qualifying law degree, the programme has been designed to focus on core foundational legal modules, which leaves limited scope for additional modules.   

In addition to these modules you will have an opportunity to take skills modules designed to enhance your career employability and lifelong learning skills.

We guarantee small class sizes.  Our BCL students will be taught as a separate and distinct cohort of students, acknowledging the advanced stage you are at in your careers. 

Trinity is the highest ranked University in Ireland.  Current QS subject rankings places Law no. 72 in the world, 26th in Europe and 9th in Europe for employability.   Trinity Law School is one of only two law schools in Ireland ranked in the top 100.  

Our students are exceptional!  We pride ourselves on producing students with exceptionally strong research skills, preparing them for a wide range of careers

Absolutely!  We strongly encourage all students to join not just Law specific societies and organisations (TCD Law Soc, FLAC (Free Legal Advice Clinics), ELSA, Trinity College Law Review, The Eagle) but also consider the huge range of student societies and sports clubs.  It is an excellent way to not only support your studies and well-being but also to make life-long friends and integrate with students from all over the campus and the globe! 

Generally timetables are released by the university in August.  They are released to you by the College portal my.tcd.ie.  We will send you a personal copy of your timetable in advance of this official release date.

You will not be eligible to transfer to another programme in Trinity, based on being accepted into the BCL.  Re-application to the programme of your choice for a subsequent year will be required. 

If you are unhappy with the course, make contact with your personal tutor who we will be assigned to you when you join us.  He/She/They can offer you advice and guidance. 

Assuming you meet the eligibility requirements – yes. We would encourage you to reach out to the LL.M. Programme Office.

• Campus Accommodation is limited so early application is needed.  Be sure and check the College’s Accommodation Office website for deadlines and application procedures. 

• The Student Union Accommodation Advisory Service provides useful information and support to those wishing to wishing to live in private rented accommodation for the duration of their studies here. 

• Third-party providers and sites - there are a number of private student accommodation – a Google search will provide you with options.  Don’t leave it too late to apply. 

• Another useful website used by locals is Daft.ie.   

Always use caution when looking for accommodation.  If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.  Don’t pay a viewing fee.  If the landlord isn’t available or willing to let you view the property think again.

Yes, you are welcome to apply.  You must provide all up-to-date transcripts at the time of your application.  If you are deemed suitable a conditional offer will be made.  This conditional offer will be subject to you attaining a minimum of a II.2 (or equivalent) in your final degree results.  Once you complete your studies and upon proof of your final grade your offer will change to unconditional. 

EU fees are based on residency in an EU country. An EU passport or citizenship does not grant automatic entitlement to EU fees. The criteria which must be met to apply as an EU applicant is available here.

As this is intended as a second undergraduate degree programme, though level 8, it is treated under the free fees initiative as a level nine.  Free fees are not available for this programme.

The programmes is an academically rigorous programme.  There can be no exemptions given for the English language requirements. 

Applicants who have studied their entire undergraduate degree through the medium of English and can provide proof of same from University are exempt from providing further English language certification, as detailed here. When applying, please upload document under the "Proof of English language" section on the application.

€55 – this online application processing fee is non-refundable.

Applications for the BCL programme will close on 31 March 2027 (tbc).  Early applications are advisable. 

The University’s online application system for academic year 2027/2028 will open on approximately 1 November 2025. Please see here for more information.

No, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  Consequently, early applications are advisable.  The School will strive to review all applications within ten working days of completion of the application and provision of all required supporting documentation.

Once the School reviews your application, a recommendation will be forwarded to the Admissions Team in the Academic Registry (AR).  At that point a secondary review will be conducted by them to verify all documents are in order.  They will then return the final recommendation to the applicant via the my.tcd.ie portal. 

When the review is complete, the University’s Academic Registry will update your application status via my.tcd.ie. An email will be sent to the email address you provide in your online application alerting you to this update. The School of Law cannot provide information relating to your application status. 

Congratulations! You can accept your offer upon payment of €500 non-refundable deposit via my.tcd.ie. This deposit will be deducted from tuition fees. 

If an offer is made, it must be accepted within 21 days. After this point, it will lapse and will no longer be valid

Please consult your my.tcd.ie portal to determine the exact condition/s of your offer. This offer will be valid for 21 days only.

Once you have reviewed conditions of your offer, you can accept your conditional offer upon payment of €500 deposit via my.tcd.ie. The deposit is non-refundable. However, if you hold a conditional offer and can provide evidence that you failed to meet outstanding requirements, a refund can be requested from Academic Registry. 

Please upload official documentation which proves you meet the condition/s of your offer to your application on my.tcd.ie as soon as they are available. The School of Law and University’s Admissions team will review this documentation to ensure it meets requirements. Your application status will be updated accordingly. 

Applicants who have accepted conditional offers must provide final documentation by late July (date to be confirmed shortly). We strongly encourage submitting documentation as early as possible but we want to highlight the above strict University deadline.

Your offer will be valid for 21 days only.  After this point it will lapse and your place will be lost and offered to waiting list applicants.

If you have received an offer from the University, you can generate a .pdf of your acceptance letter on my.tcd.ie, under 'Generate Visa/Immigration letter' section. If this does not work providing your TCD application number should work, you can send your request to Admissions at academic.registry@tcd.ie. 

We allow a limited number of deferrals, permitted for emergency situations only.  Requests are reviewed on an individual basis and without guarantee of approval.  Please reach out to the School on law.school@tcd.ie – subject line “BCL Deferral”.