Applying for a Transfer

Applying for an internal transfer within Trinity College Dublin

Application Routes

Students who wish to apply for an alternative course must reapply through the appropriate entry route, in most situations, this would be the route they applied through originally:

• EU Students entering JF year of a course: Apply via CAO (closing dates published on cao.ie) - The latest possible closing date is 1st May of year of entry but some courses will close earlier.
• Non EU Students entering JF year of a course: Apply direct via mytcd.ie (closing date for each course published on course page) - The latest possible closing date is 30th June of year of entry but some courses will close earlier.
• EU & Non EU Students entering SF & JS year: Advanced Entry Application via mytcd.ie (closing date for each course published on course page) - The latest possible closing date is 30th June of year of entry but some courses will close earlier.
• Newly entered Junior Freshman students, continuing Junior Freshman students and non Junior Freshman students who in their first term seek to transfer into the Junior Freshman year of a different course: Following the completion of all CAO rounds in October 2026 an online transfer form will be published allowing registered students to apply for courses with available places. This form does not need to be signed off by tutors and can be submitted by applicants directly. As most courses are filled during the CAO admissions cycle, we expect this to be a small number of courses.

Entry Requirements

Students who wish to apply for an alternative course must reapply through the appropriate entry route:

• EU Students entering JF year of a course (Applying via CAO) – Must meet same entry requirements as all other CAO applicants, including points
• Non EU Students entering JF year of a course (Apply direct via mytcd.ie) – Must meet same entry requirements as all other direct applicants. They can be found here.
• EU & Non EU Students entering SF & JS year – Advanced Entry Application
  • In order to be eligible to apply to transfer to the second year of a course at Trinity, applicants must have attained the entry requirements of the rising class, e.g. to enter the second year in 2026, applicants must have attained the entry requirements that were necessary for that course in 2025.
  • Applicants entering JS year will be assessed on the basis of the total qualifications presented (i.e. school leaving results and third-level examination results). Advanced entry applications are assessed by schools, who will determine if the applicant has covered enough relevant material to join the second or third year of a course.
  • In addition the course must have space to take additional applicants, schools will confirm if they have space available. Information on courses that do not accept advanced entry applications or have restrictions can be found here.
• Newly entered Junior Freshman students, continuing Junior Freshman students and non Junior Freshman students who in their first term seek to transfer into the Junior Freshman year of a different course - Apply via online transfer form for available places
  • Must meet CAO points requirement for entry in 2026, must meet all specific course requirements. If multiple qualified students apply, applications will be assessed on highest points. HEAR/DARE will only be taken in to account if HEAR/DARE places remain available within the course.

Applying to transfer to Trinity College Dublin from another institution (Advanced Entry)

If you are currently an undergraduate student in any year in any one of the Higher Education Institutions (and entered that HEI through the CAO system), you may apply to transfer to the first year of a course at Trinity by applying to CAO by 1 February of the intended year of entry to the University.

2.2 Advanced Entry

Advanced entry is admission to the second or a subsequent year of a full-time undergraduate degree course.

Students who have successfully completed one or more years in a similar, full-time, course at degree level or who have completed a recognised diploma or an ordinary degree in a related discipline to a sufficiently high standard may apply for advanced entry to Trinity.

2.2.1 Students in the first year of a full-time degree course at another institution seeking to apply for entry to the second year of a similar course at Trinity

• In order to be eligible to apply to transfer to the second year of a course at Trinity, applicants must have attained the entry requirements of the rising class, e.g. to enter the second year in 2022, applicants must have attained the entry requirements that were necessary for that course in 2021."
• Applicants must also meet the matriculation requirements for entry to Trinity and any specific course requirements that may apply (see Admission Requirements).
• Applicants should apply directly to Trinity by selecting the 'Advanced Entry Applications' link on the relevant course's webpage.
• See below for application deadlines.

• All applicants should apply directly to Trinity by selecting the 'Advanced Entry Applications' link on the relevant course's webpage.
• See below for application deadlines.

• Applicants should apply directly to Trinity by selecting the 'Advanced Entry Applications' link on the relevant course's webpage.
• See below for application deadlines.

Notes for all Advanced Entry applicants

• Applicants should clearly state, on the Advanced entry application form, why they are applying for advanced entry to the course at Trinity. Applicants must include:
  • a certified copy of their school leaving results,
  • a syllabus of the course that they are taking, and
  • transcripts of their exam results to date.
• Successful applicants must complete at least two full academic years at Trinity in order to be eligible for a degree from Trinity.
• Applicants are assessed on the basis of the total qualifications presented (i.e. school leaving results and third-level examination results).

• Clinical Speech and Language Studies:Due to differences in course structure/content and also requirements set out by the professional bodies, the Discipline of Clinical Speech and Language Studies is not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry. .

• Dental science: Applications for advanced entry (to the second year of the Dental science course) will be considered subject to places being available. Note that successful applicants normally have a degree in Medicine, Veterinary Science or Dentistry.

• Engineering/Science: Applicants for courses in Engineering or Science may be required to attend an interview.

• Environmental Science and Engineering: Due to the multi-disciplinary, inter-school nature of the course with its essential foundation courses in both natural sciences and engineering taken in the freshman years, we are not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry to the Environmental Science and Engineering course.

• Law: Due to differences in course structure/content and also requirements set out by the professional bodies, the Law School are not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry.

• Medicine: Advanced entry to Medicine is only available to Dental science graduates, who may be considered for entry to the third year of the five year course. Applicants must have an honours Dental degree with a minimum grade of 2:1 and have completed the Membership (MFD/MFDS) or Fellowship (FFD/FDS) examinations of the RCS or equivalent. Research (publications/presentation) or suitable experience would be an advantage.

• Music Education: Due to differences in course structure/content and also requirements set out by the professional bodies, Music education are not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry.

• Occupational Therapy: Due to differences in course structure/content and also requirements set out by the professional bodies, the Discipline of Occupational Therapy is not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry.

• Pharmacy: Advanced entry into integrated Pharmacy programme are considered only in exceptional circumstances and only if strong ad mis grounds can be proven, and only from undergraduates studying Pharmacy in other institutions within the State, as per S.I. No. 377 of 2014. Necessary admission requirements must be met and students must be in good standing. Applicants may be called for interview. Advanced entry can only be facilitated into the second year of our programme.

• Physiotherapy - There is currently no option for recognition of prior learning and advanced entry for the BSc in physiotherapy. All applicants must enter at the Junior Freshman year (year one). No module exemptions across years are permitted.

• Radiation Therapy: Due to differences in course structure/content and also requirements set out by the professional bodies, the Discipline of Radiation Therapy is not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry.

• Social Studies: Due to differences in course structure/content and also requirements set out by the professional bodies, Social Studies are not in a position to consider applications for Advanced entry.

• The normal closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1 February of the year in which the applicant wishes to enter the University.
• Late applications to Medicine, Dental Science and Social studies will not be accepted. However, late applications to other courses will be accepted until 30 June. These applicants will be considered for any vacancies that may arise.