Metadata
Title
Admission Requirements
Category
undergraduate
UUID
cce1fc89f5b94743a7005c05fa428eec
Source URL
https://www.tcd.ie/study/apply/admission-requirements/undergraduate/
Parent URL
-
Crawl Time
2026-03-16T06:56:00+00:00
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Admission Requirements

Source: https://www.tcd.ie/study/apply/admission-requirements/undergraduate/

You are here How to Apply > Admission Requirements > Undergraduate

Admission Requirements

Entry to undergraduate programmes at Trinity is competitive and based on academic merit. The information below will give you guidelines on assessing whether your previous qualifications and experience will meet the admissions standards required for entry into your preferred course.

Remember that all undergraduate students must meet these entry requirements when applying to Trinity:

Trinity College Dublin reserves the right to make the final decision in all matters pertaining to the admissions process.

Requirements for Irish Leaving Cert, GCE, Baccalaureate and U.S high school exams can be found here.

A more detailed breakdown on admission requirements can be seen below.

Minimum Admission Requirements

  1. Meet the minimum matriculation requirements
  2. Meet the age requirement
  3. Meet English language requirements*
  4. Meet course specific requirements**
  5. Satisfy any additional requirements or restrictions as detailed in the sections below
  6. Meet competitive standards for admission to the course

*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.

**Some courses will have additional requirements for admission. They will be detailed on the relevant course page on our courses website.

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 2026 must have a date of birth before 15 January 2010.

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.

School Leaving Exam Requirements

Admission Requirements

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, mathematics* and a language other than English OR
  3. A pass in Latin and a pass in a subject other than a language.

*Or foundation-level mathematics (see note 2).

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:\ \
  5. Physics/Chemistry may not be presented with physics or chemistry. \
  6. 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.

Admission Requirements

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:
  4. Applied A-Level, Vocational Advanced Subsidiary, Vocational A-Level, National Vocational and Key Skills qualifications are not accepted for matriculation or scoring purposes.
  5. 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.
  6. Applicants who require advice about subject eligibility should contact the Academic Registry. \
  7. Combinations of A-Level subjects not permitted (for matriculation or scoring purposes, unless otherwise stated):
  8. Art may not be presented with History of art.
  9. Biology may not be presented with Botany or Zoology.
  10. English literature may not be presented with English language.
  11. Environmental science may not be presented with Biology or Geography.
  12. Science may not be presented with Chemistry, Physics or Biology.
  13. Not more than one specialised endorsed programme in art may be presented.
  14. Physical Education May not be presented with Sports Studies.
  15. Not more than two mathematics/statisics programmes may be presented. \
  16. 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.

Admission Requirements

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.

All 6 subjects must be taken in a single sitting of the International Baccalaureate.

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

Bonus points for maths: 25 additional points will be awarded for a grade 4 or better on higher level Mathematics ONLY

Admission Requirements

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.

Admission Requirements

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.

If your school/education qualification requirements from your country are not listed here then these can be found on your Trinity country page.

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.