Apply to UCD

You can apply directly on the course page on ourcourse catalogue.

Applications are accepted from October of the previous year of study and candidates will usually be notified of the status of their application within 4 weeks of application.

Please note: Undergraduate applicants are required to apply before the 1st July.

In certain cases a ‘conditional offer’ may be made while you are waiting on your final results. You would need to submit a copy of all of your academic transcripts to date in order to be considered for a conditional offer without a final grade.

Yes, an application fee is required for most application types.

Non-payment will mean that the application is not presented for assessment. This is payable during the application process using Mastercard, Visa or Laser.

The fee is €60. It is also possible to pay the application fee online after you have submitted the application.

After you submit your online application, a list of required documents will be emailed to you. The documentation required varies depending on the programme you have applied for. The preferred method of document submission is via the upload facility which is available once the application has been submitted. Required documents must be uploaded. Official translations must be provided with the original/copy documents where documents are not in English. 

Additional information is available at Submitting Supporting Documents and Qualification Check.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

UCD has two categories of international students: EU and Non-EU. If you are not sure which category you belong to, visit UCD's EU Fee Assessments page to find out. If you appear to be eligible for EU fees, please contact the Student Desk for information.

All non-EU applicants will need to apply through the course page on our course catalogue.

If you are planning to apply to an MLitt, PhD, or other research-oriented programme in UCD, you must research your target programme and contact a potential supervisor before you begin the application process. You can find more information about research programmes at www.ucd.ie/research

UCD Global only oversees applications to full-time taught programmes from Non-EU applicants.

Normally, non-EU applicants should apply to Stage 1 (Year 1) of their preferred programme. 

Successful applicants with appropriate qualifications may be considered for exemption from compatible modules by applying to have their prior learning accredited. RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) applications are approved at the discretion of the Programme Board and are subject to the availability of places. The full policy, together with the RPL form, is available on the Academic Secretariat website.

From 01 October, you can submit applications at https://www.ucd.ie/courses/apply for the following September.

Undergraduate applications typically close on 15 July, while Graduate applications will close once all places on a programme have been allocated. Competitive programmes may close early due to demand, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. 

Only complete and submitted applications will be considered. Applications are processed in the order they are submitted. In all cases, we recommend you apply to your chosen course early, especially if you are applying to a competitive programme or if you require a visa to study in Ireland.

For visa and immigration purposes, generally non-EU applicants must be registered to a full-time programme.

Please see the(opens in a new window) Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website for further details.

UCD works with representatives overseas to promote the University and the programmes we offer. You can find a list of our official agents in your country on our agent's page.

To support our future international students and partners, we regularly travel overseas to participate in fairs and exhibitions, institutional visits, and meet our agent network and prospective students.

Please find information regarding our upcoming trips on our Events page.

You can view the undergraduate entry requirements by country on the UCD Global undergraduate entry requirements page.

For graduate programmes, a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree with Second Class Honours is typically required. If you would like to find out the equivalent qualification in your country, please contact the UCD Global team.

Teaching in Irish Universities is normally through English. All applicants are required to demonstrate a high level of competence in the English language, and must provide evidence of this through a recognised language test.

You can find a list of our recognised tests on Registry's website.

You can find a full list of UCD College and School contact details on the UCD Colleges and Schools page.

Yes, you can apply before you have taken your English language test. However, you will need to submit your results before an unconditional offer is made. Conditional offers can be issued in instances where students have not submitted their English language test, but have submitted all the necessary documentation.

If you are still waiting for your final results, you may still submit your application. If the application does not contain all documents/results, it will still be processed as far as possible. However, it is your responsibility to provide the University with a certified copy of your final results as soon as they become available so that the assessment of your application may be completed.

If you have not yet received your final transcript, please upload the most recent transcript available to you. 

If you are a current high school student, please include your official predicted grades, provided by your school, on headed paper.

Most of our Taught Master’s courses begin in September, with some courses offering an alternative start date in January. Start dates can be found on our Graduate Studies website. Research courses have more varied start dates throughout the year. There is no January intake for full-time undergraduate programmes.

The International Foundation Year is a 1 year programme, specifically designed for international students who do not meet the requirements for direct entry to UCD Bachelor (undergraduate) programmes. The programme combines study skills, English language training and academic study to prepare you for degree-level study. 

Further information is available online (opens in a new window)http://www.ucdisc.com/international-foundation-year

UCD has developed an International Pre-Master's Pathway Programme enabling you to benefit from a preparatory course that enhances your English language skills, allowing you to adjust to a different learning culture and helping you to get used to a new way of life.

Please contact (opens in a new window)premasters@ucd.ie for information on programmes and how to apply.

In order for your application to be reviewed, you must pay the application fee. 

You can apply to multiple programmes for the same intake after you have paid the €60 application fee.

To pay the application fee, you must log in to your application. Select ‘My Applications’, then ‘sign into existing account’. To log into your account, your ID can be your Email Address or ID Number. Your password will be your date of birth in the format of ddmmyy (unless you have changed your password).

Under ‘checklist’ items, next to ‘application fee,’ select the button to ‘pay application fee’.

From there, you will be given further instructions on how to pay. You can pay by credit or debit card.

University fees are fixed for each academic year and are subject to annual increases. For full details and the official fee listings, please visit the UCD Fees website.

In addition to your programme fees, it's important to budget for living costs, including accommodation, food, and other daily expenses.

You can find useful guidance to help you estimate your cost of living in Dublin on the UCD Living Costs page.