FAQs for all Undergraduate International Students
1. How do I open a bank account?
To open a bank account in Ireland, you are required by law to show valid proof of identity (complete with photograph), and proof of address. It is easiest to open a bank account with the Bank of Ireland branch on College Green or the Allied Irish Bank (AIB) branch on Grafton Street. These bank branches will typically accept a proof of registration letter which displays a term-time address in Ireland as proof of address. Such a letter can be generated in your my.tcd.ie portal once you have completed registration. The letter will also confirm to the bank that you are a registered Trinity student. This is important as there are normally no fees charged on student bank accounts, unlike some other accounts.
2. Can I get a letter confirming attendance so that I can set up an Irish bank account prior to arrival in Ireland?
The proof of registration letter which students may use to open a student bank account can be issued once students have completed registration. Remember that you will need to have provided an Irish term-time address during registration in order for the letter to display proof of your having an address in Ireland.
3. How do I connect my laptop to the College Wi-Fi?
Information on connecting your personal devices to the TCD Student Wi-Fi network can be found on the IT Services' orientation webpages.4. Where is the disability office?
The disAbility Service is located in Printing House Square. The Service holds drop-in hours from 12pm-2pm Monday-Friday during term-time. You can also get in touch with the Service through the ask.tcd.ie portal.
Students seeking support for their disability or learning difficulty will need to complete an Application for Reasonable Accommodations. We recommend that students complete their Application for Reasonable Accommodations, or make contact with the disAbility Service to explore support options, as soon as possible. Please see https://www.tcd.ie/disability/ for further information.
5. Where can I buy a student travel card (Leap Card) to get cheaper travel on public transport?
To purchase a Leap Card, visit: https://leapcard.ie/. Those aged 18 or younger should buy a Child Leap Card; those aged 19-25, a Young Adult Leap Card; and those aged 26 and older, a Student Leap Card. Those purchasing Student Leap Cards will need to verfiy their student status with a designated Leap Card agent, such as the Students' Union. This can be done in person, in House 6 (Front Square) on campus, or online. For further information, visit: https://about.leapcard.ie/about
6. Where can I eat on campus?
Trinity does not operate a meal plan, however the Catering Department provides a number of food and snack outlets throughout the campus. There are three restaurants on campus for students: the Dining Hall, the Buttery and the Forum. In addition, the Perch Café and Áras an Phiarsaigh Café serve coffee, tea, and light bites. The Pavilion Bar serves hot food and drinks. You can also grab a sandwich, toastie, or great value coffee in the Students' Union Cafe in Goldsmith Hall.
As Trinity is in the centre of Dublin, there are lots of cafés, restaurants, and bars within walking distance of the campus.
Please note that students housed in Trinity accommodation will have access to self-catering facilities enabling them to prepare their own meals.
7. What happens if I get sick?
All full-time registered students are eligible to use the College Health Service throughout the year. Student GP and nurse consultations are free of charge, with modest fees for additional services. Students can book appointments by phoning (+353) 01 896 1591; 01 896 8555; or 01 896 1556, Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. Emergency clinics are available. Visit the College Health Service website for more information: https://www.tcd.ie/collegehealth/
8. Where can I buy household items?
Aldi and Lidl will probably be the cheapest options when it comes to grocery shopping - unless you sign up to the rewards programmes at supermarkets like Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, or Tesco, and do larger shops less frequently. The closest supermarkets to Trinity are: Dunnes Stores in the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, Dunnes Stores on George's Street, Marks & Spencer on Grafton Street, Tesco on Fleet Street, Tesco on Upper Baggot Street, Lidl on Aungier Street, and Aldi on Parnell Street.
For household items like bed linen, crockery, etc., Dunnes Stores in the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre has an excellent, inexpensive range. The Trinity Sustainability team, in collaboration with various student groups, typically run a second-hand sale at the start of each semester. They call these sales 'Trash to Treasure' sales. Follow @tcdsustainability for updates.
In general, there are excellent shopping facilities in and around Dublin. Shopping hubs include: Grafton Street, Henry Street, the Ilac Centre, and Dundrum Town Centre.
FAQs for Visiting Students
1. Which Visiting Student cohort do I belong to?
Erasmus/EU Visiting Students
- Erasmus Students join us via an Erasmus Exchange Agreement that Trinity has with their home university. They are hosted by a specific School/Department and do not pay fees to Trinity.
- Consortium Students fall under the Erasmus programme but are not hosted by a specific School/Department. They do not pay fees to Trinity. Consortium examples are CHARM, COIMBRA, and ELAN.
- EU Visiting Students are direct entry applicants from an EU university with no Erasmus Exchange Agreement with Trinity. They are required to pay fees.
Non-EU Exchange/Study Abroad Students
- Non-EU Exchange Students come through a Non-EU Exchange Agreement that Trinity has with their home university and do not pay fees.
- Study Abroad Students are direct entry applicants from a non-EU university with no Exchange Agreement with Trinity. They are required to pay fees.
- Students Coming Through An Agency fall under the Study Abroad category, but the agent applies on their behalf and is invoiced for the student's fees.
2. How can I find out who my Erasmus Co-Ordinator is? (Erasmus students only)
You will find the name and email address of your Erasmus Co-Ordinator on your acceptance letter from Trinity. Alternatively, you can call into the Academic Registry in the Watts Building (part of the Hamilton complex) on arrival.
3. How can I contact the International Tutor?
To contact the International Tutor, email: international.tutor@tcd.ie4. Where can I find information on the modules available to Visiting Students?
The Module Directory, available at https://www.tcd.ie/students/orientation/visiting-exchange/module-enrolment.php, provides information on the modules available to Visiting Students. It includes the module code, title, duration, contact hours, and ECTS credits for each module, as well as a brief description of the module and how it is assessed.
5. How do I select / sign up for modules?
Visiting Students sign up for modules online, using the Module Enrolment form. This form, and further details about the Online Module Enrolment Process are available via https://www.tcd.ie/students/orientation/visiting-exchange/module-enrolment.php
Please note that information and Q&A sessions on the Online Module Enrolment and/or Amendment Processes will be held during Orientation Week should you have any questions.
6. How do I amend my module choices?
You can amend your module choices by submitting additional Module Enrolment and Module Removal forms during the Online Module Enrolment or Amendment periods. It is not possible to amend your choices outside of these periods. More information will be provided during Orientation Week.