Whether you are here for a single term or a full academic year, we hope your time at Trinity is both academically rewarding and personally memorable. This page covers everything you need to know to get started, from orientation and module registration to support services and key contacts.
Orientation and Departmental Meetings
At the start of each term, the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy holds a welcome meeting for all incoming exchange and visiting students. This is followed by departmental meetings where coordinators from Economics, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology are on hand to answer your questions.
Dates, times, and links for the current term’s orientation and departmental meetings will be published here when available.
You should also follow the full Trinity orientation timetable for visiting and exchange students, which covers all college-wide events and registration.
The Academic Year
Trinity’s academic year is divided into two semesters. Semester 1 runs in Michaelmas Term (MT) and Semester 2 runs in Hilary Term (HT). Students joining for one semester should select only the modules available in that semester. Full details of term dates, including public holidays and assessment periods, are available on the Trinity academic calendar.
Module Load and ECTS
Trinity uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). Most modules carry 5 ECTS, with some Senior Sophister (4th year) modules carrying 10 ECTS.
One-term students typically take between 25 and 30 ECTS, approximately 80 to 100 per cent of a full Trinity student’s module load. The maximum permitted is 30 ECTS per semester. Always check with your home institution to confirm their requirements before finalising your module selection.
Modules are available across four year groups:
- 1st year (Junior Fresh)
- 2nd year (Senior Fresh)
- 3rd year (Junior Sophister)
- 4th year (Senior Sophister)
Please note the following department-specific restrictions:
- The Department of Political Science does not accept visiting students in 1st or 4th year modules
- The Department of Sociology does not accept visiting students in 1st or 2nd year modules, and not all 4th year modules are available.
Registering for Modules
Before registering, review the list of available modules for your subject area using the links below. Some modules have quotas or prerequisites and module approval is not confirmed until your coordinator has approved your selection. You will not be permitted to take modules that clash on the timetable.
Submit your module choices with the correct module codes to the Academic Registry. Keep an eye on your timetable via my.tcd.ie, as module times and rooms can change.
If a module has prerequisites, you may need to provide evidence of equivalent study at your home institution. Contact your coordinator for guidance.
Support at Trinity
Trinity offers a range of support services to help you make the most of your time here. As a visiting or exchange student, you will be assigned an international tutor (international.tutor@tcd.ie) who is your first point of contact for any personal or academic queries.
Other useful services:
Contacts
For general queries about studying in the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy as a visiting or exchange student, contact the study abroad team.
For subject-specific queries, contact your incoming coordinator directly.