Admission Requirements

How to Qualify for Admission to Trinity College Dublin

1) Meet the minimum matriculation requirements.

2) Meet the age requirement.

3) Meet English language requirements.

Students whose first language is not English, or who do not have a pass in English in their recognised school system, must display a high level of competence in the English language. Details on accepted English language qualifications are provided further down this page.

4) Satisfy course specific requirements
Some courses will have additional requirements for admission.
They will be detailed on the relevant course page at www.tcd.ie/courses as well as below.

5) Satisfy any additional requirements or restrictions as detailed in the sections below.
 

6) Meet competitive standards for admission to the course.

Please note that posted scores are minimum entrance requirements only and do not guarantee admission. Where places are competitive, a student must have excellent examination results to qualify for a place on their preferred course.

For applicants applying through the CAO you must meet the minimum "CAO Points" requirement for the course. Information on this is available at the bottom of this page.

Minimum matriculation requirements

The minimum matriculation requirements refer to the basic standard of application you must meet to be considered. Anything less than this will be unsuccessful outright - however meeting the matriculation requirements does not guarantee admission.

The standard matriculation requirements are pass grades in English, Mathematics, a language other than English, and a full set of valid subjects for your examination system.

Full details of the specific matriculation requirements for the country you're applying from are available on your country's admission page.

Age Requirement

Applicants seeking admission in 2025 must have a date of birth before 15 January 2009.

English Language Requirements

All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language.

Accepted/Permitted English language qualifications can be found here.

Course Specific Requirements

Please note that some courses will have additional requirements for admission.

They will be detailed on the relevant course page.

Irish Leaving Certificate

The minimum matriculation requirements for students presenting the Irish Leaving Certificate are:

1. six subjects, three of which must be at grade 5 or above on higher Leaving Certificate papers or at least grade 5 in the University Matriculation examination
   
2. These six subjects must include:

A pass in English

AND

A pass in mathematics (or foundation-level mathematics (see note 2)) and a pass in a language other than English.

OR

A pass in Latin and a pass in a subject other than a language.

Additional Notes and Restrictions

1. A pass means grade O6/H7 or above on ordinary or higher papers in the Leaving Certificate and grade 7 or above in the University Matriculation examination.
   
   
2. Mathematics at foundation-level is acceptable for minimum entry requirements only, for all courses except nursing or midwifery courses. Irish at foundation-level is not acceptable for minimum entry requirements, course requirements or for scoring purposes.
   
   
3. Students may combine grades achieved in different sittings of their Leaving Certificate/Matriculation examinations for the purpose of satisfying minimum entry and/or course requirements, but not for the purposes of scoring. This is not permitted for Medicine.
   
   
4. Combinations of Leaving Certificate subjects not permitted:
   
   
   • Physics/Chemistry may not be presented with physics or chemistry.
   
   
   • Biology and agricultural science may not be presented as two of the six subjects required for minimum entry purposes, and they may not be presented together to satisfy course specific requirements. However, both may be used for scoring purposes.
   
   
   • Art and music may not be offered as two of the three higher Leaving Certificate grades for minimum entry requirements but both may be used for scoring purposes. This applies where only three higher level Leaving Certificate grades are being presented.

 

Leaving Certificate scoring system

Grade Level	Higher Level	Ordinary
1	100	56
2	88	46
3	77	37
4	66	28
5	56	20
6	46	12
7	37	n/a

Bonus points for higher level Mathematics
All students presenting H6 or above in higher level Mathematics will have 25 points added to their score for Mathematics. The bonus points will only be relevant where Mathematics is scored as one of a student's six best subjects for points purposes.

An applicant's six best results from one sitting of the Leaving Certificate will be counted for scoring purposes. Applicants may combine results from the Leaving Certificate and the Trinity Matriculation examination of the same year for scoring purposes.

Leaving Certificate Vocational Program Link Modules

These modules are accepted for scoring purposes only and are awarded the following points: Distinction 66, Merit 46, Pass 28.

GCE A Levels

To be considered for admission to the University you must:

1. Present six subjects at grade C or above on GCSE or Advanced Subsidiary GCE (AS) papers. Two of these subjects must be at grade C or above on Advanced GCE (A-Level) papers.


2. The six subjects above must include:

A pass in English

AND

A pass in mathematics and a pass in a language other than English

OR

a pass in Latin and a pass in a subject other than a language

Additional Notes and Restrictions

1. A pass means grade C or above on GCSE or Advanced Subsidiary GCE (AS) papers.


2. Students may combine grades achieved in different sittings of their Advanced GCE (A-Level) examinations for the purpose of satisfying minimum entry and/or course requirements, but not for the purposes of scoring. This is not permitted for Medicine.


3. Acceptable subjects:
   • Applied A-Level, Vocational Advanced Subsidiary, Vocational A-Level, National Vocational and Key Skills qualifications are not accepted for matriculation or scoring purposes.
   • GCSE/Advanced GCE (A-Level) subjects set by recognised examination boards are, in principle, acceptable for consideration with the following exceptions:
     • General studies is not accepted.
   • Applicants who require advice about subject eligibility should contact the Academic Registry.
   
   
4. Combinations of A-Level subjects not permitted (for matriculation or scoring purposes, unless otherwise stated):
   • Art may not be presented with History of art.
   • Biology may not be presented with Botany or Zoology.
   • English literature may not be presented with English language.
   • Environmental science may not be presented with Biology or Geography.
   • Science may not be presented with Chemistry, Physics or Biology.
   • Not more than one specialised endorsed programme in art may be presented.
   • Physical Education May not be presented with Sports Studies.
   • Not more than two mathematics/statisics programmes may be presented.
   
   
5. Art and music may not be offered as the two Advanced GCE (A-Level) grades for minimum entry requirements but both may be used for scoring purposes.

Advanced GCE (A-Level) scoring system

Grade	Best 3 A Level subjects	4th A Level	AS Level/EPQ*
A*	192	24	24
A	165	24	24
B	142	20	20
C	120	18	18
D	100	16	16
E	67	14	14

*Extended Project (EQP) is scored as an AS level and an A* is available in this

Bonus points for Mathematics:
All students presenting Grade E or above in one of A-Level Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics will have 25 points added to their score for that subject. The bonus points will only be relevant where that subject is scored as one of a student’s four best subjects for points purposes.

An applicant's score will be calculated on the basis of either of the following:

1. their best 4 GCE Advanced level (A2) subjects from one academic year
   or
2. their best 3 GCE Advanced level (A2) subjects from one academic year plus one Advanced Subsidiary level (AS) in a different subject from the same or the preceding academic year only.

Students may not combine grades achieved in different sittings of their GCE Advanced level (A2) examinations for the purpose of scoring. However, examinations taken in one academic year are counted as a single sitting.

Cambridge Pre-U

Principle subjects will be accepted as alternatives to A-Levels in meeting general entry requirements. The scoring scheme for Principle Subjects, and Short Courses results is set out below.

Points Conversion Table
Cambridge Pre-U Grade	Main Subjects	4th Subject
		Main Subject	Short Courses
D1	185	45	31
D2	181	44	30
D3	164	40	27
M1	147	36	24
M2	130	32	21
M3	113	28	18
P1	96	24	15
P2	79	20	12
P3	62	16	9

Note: Global perspectives is scored at 5 points less than all other subjects in each case.

International Baccalaureate

Minimum Entry Requirements
3 subjects at grade 5 at Higher Level and 3 subjects at grade 4 at Standard Level, to include English, mathematics and another language.

NB  re Mathematics
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches and Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation are both acceptable. However, for courses with a Higher Level Mathematics requirement we strongly recommend Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches at HL as this is likely to be a mandatory requirement for those particular courses. Maths Studies only satisfies minimum entry requirements

English Language Competence
see full list of acceptable English Language qualifications above

Sample subject grades
This table shows what is required in terms of the IB to meet specific course requirements for entry to the various programmes.

Irish Leaving Certificate	IB
H6/02	6 at Standard Level, 4 at Higher Level
H4	5 at Higher Level
H3	6 at Higher Level

Indicative Points Equivalence 
As a guideline it is anticipated that points will be awarded as follows based on the overall IB score assuming sufficient recognised subjects are presented:

IB Score	IPS
45	600
42	566
36	496
30	420
27	389
24	360

 

 

 

European Baccalaureate

Minimum Entry Requirements
Overall 60%, including grade 5 in six distinct recognised subjects including English, mathematics and another language.

English Language Competence
The minimum acceptable level of English is 6 in 1st Language, or in 1st or 2nd Foreign language (i.e. L1, L2 or L3) or see full list of acceptable English Language qualifications above.

Specific course requirements
If a course has a requirement of a grade H4 at higher Leaving Certificate  level, students presenting EB must present the subject at grade 6 or better. To satisfy a requirement of a grade H3 at higher Leaving Certificate  level students presenting EB must present the subject at grade 7 or better.

Indicative Points Equivalence 
Students are ranked on the basis of their six best distinct recognised subjects from one sitting of the EB Exam. Points for each 3, 4 &5hr subject=the points awarded to the higher level Leaving Certificate grade in the same percentage range. Points for each 2hr subject=the points awarded to the ordinary level Leaving Certificate grade in the same percentage range.

*Advanced subjects will not be counted where there is already a result in the same subject. E.g. Advanced English and English.   Where there are only 5 distinct 3,4 or 5 hour subjects the best 2 hour subject will be counted.

Percentage Range	Grade	Points > 3hour subjects	Points 2 hour subjects
90  to 100	H1/O1	100	56
80 but less than 90	H2/O2	88	46
70  but less than 80	H3/O3	77	37
60 but less than 70	H4/O4	66	28
50 but less than 60	H5/O5	56	20

Bonus points for maths: 25 additional points will be awarded for a grade 6 or better on 3, 4 or 5 hour mathematics.

US High School Qualifications

In lieu of standardised tests, the admissions office will consider criteria including: GPA, academic transcripts, two references, a personal statement for your application.

We will also consider other academic criteria such as Advanced Placement courses (APs), college and honours level classes with strong grades where relevant to the programme / major for which you are applying. You may submit any SAT/ACT test scores you have been able to take if you also wish them to be considered.

SAT Reasoning Test	A minimum score of 1250 on any two of the Critical Reading, Math and Writing sections and no score less than 500.

Or

ACT	A minimum composite score of 27. Some courses may admit with a composite score of 28

1. SAT College Board number 2494


2. ACT Reporting number 5230

High School Diploma

Minimum Entry Requirement:

English, Mathematics and a second language, as well as three further subjects. Some courses will have specific subjects requirements e.g. mathematics for Engineering. See course lists for details. A cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better (B+ average) unweighted.

Minimum CAO Points

Minimum CAO Points for courses in previous years will are available for download below.

Please note that due to changes in the CAO points and Leaving Certificate grading system, these points will be useful as broad indications only and cannot be considered as direct equivalents.

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