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General Requirements

Award of Regional Ministry of Education/Municipal Education Commission (or equivalent) approved Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate (全日制普通高中毕业证书／普通高级中学毕业证书) and GaoKao (高考) result. In some circumstances, the Huikao (会考) may be acceptable. Please contact chinaoffice@ucd.ie for consultation.

The grades shown below are percentages based on the overall Gaokao score. The Subject Requirement scores are based off the High School Diploma (SSSGC), unless stated otherwise.

The requirements listed below are guidelines only. Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee entry to the course.

UCD accepts a wide range of international education examinations and qualifications. If you are studying one of the following, please contact chinaoffice@ucd.ie for a consultation on the entry requirements.

If you have any questions about our requirements and the system you are studying, please contact chinaoffice@ucd.ie for consultation.

English Language Requirements

At UCD, all teaching is delivered through English, so applicants must demonstrate a high level of English language proficiency to be admitted. The minimum requirements are set by the University Programmes Board and apply to all applicants at every level of study.

Please refer to UCD Minimum English Language Requirements.

If you're following an international curriculum, please see the following links for entry requirements:

In some cases, entry via (opens in a new window)UCD's International Foundation Year is also available for many programmes.

If you are unsure, please contact us for further information.

 

This page provides information and guidance on entry requirements for international (non-EU/ non-EEA) students only.

Please be advised that your fee assessment status determines how you should apply.

In all cases, UCD applicants who are granted EU fee status will only be admitted through the Central Applications Office ((opens in a new window)CAO) system and in line with CAO policies and procedures and National University of Ireland ((opens in a new window)NUI) matriculation regulations.

If you are eligible for EU fees please contact UCD Registry-Admissions for further advice (www.ucd.ie/askus).

Students with UK citizenship and who meet the residency requirement will continue to be assessed for EU fees in the normal manner and should apply via the Central Applications Office (CAO). All other prospective applicants with UK citizenship who are assessed for non-EU fees should apply direct to UCD. For more detailed information on the EU fee assessment process and the conditions which require a formal assessment to be submitted to UCD Registry, please refer to the EU Fee Assessment webpage.

Specific subjects and grades required for programme are detailed below.

The equivalences are provided as guidance and are indicative only. In addition, please note that the equivalences shown are the minimum required to be eligible for consideration on a competitive basis.

The information provided below is subject to change and annual review.

‡ Indicates course has alternate entry pathway through Liberal Arts & Sciences (LBS1)

Select Subject

Business

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Maths

Other Language 

Business  

BSS1

Commerce ‡‡

72%

C Huikao or 75 SSSGC

BSS2

Economics & Finance

81%

B Huikao or 85 SSSGC

BSW1

Commerce International

72%

C Huikao or 75 SSSGC

If choosing a language at Beginners Level, V in Other Language is required. If at Advanced Level, a B Huikao or 85 SSSGC in that language is required. French is only available at Advanced Level

B722

BSc Business ‡‡

72%

C Huikao or 75 SSSGC

Law

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Maths

Other Language

Law

BSJ4

Business & Law

72%

C Huikao or 75 SSSGC

LWS2

Law with French

72%

A Huikao in French 

LWS6

Law

72%

LWW1

Law with Philosophy

72%

LWW2

Law with History

72%

LWW3 

Law with Politics 

72%

LWW4

Law with Economics

72%

C Huikao or 75 SSSGC

 LWW9

Law with Social Justice 

72%

LWWD 

Criminology with Psychology 

72%

Arts & Humanities

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Other Language 

Arts & Humanities

BAU4

BA Modern Languages

66%

At least one Advanced Level language must be selected, B Huikao or 85 SSSGC in that language required. If studying two at Advanced Level, B Huikao or 85 SSSGC required in both.

BAU5

BA Arts (2 subjects) ‡‡

60%

If choosing a language at Beginners Level, C Huikao or 60 SSSGC in Other Language is required. If at Advanced Level, a B Huikao or 85 SSSGC in that language is required. French is only available at Advanced Level

For Mathematics subject combinations, we strongly recommend that you also have at least a B Huikao or 85 SSSGC in Mathematics.

AYS1

Languages, Linguistics and Cultures

60%

If choosing a language at Beginners Level, C Huikao or 60 SSSGC in Other Language is required. If at Advanced Level, a B Huikao or 85 SSSGCin that language is required. French is only available at Advanced Level

CCS2

Creative & Cultural Industries 

60%

CAS1

Classics, Art History and Archaeology

60%

CAS2

Classics, English and History

60%

ENS5

English Literature

60%

ENS6

English with Creative Writing

60%

ENS7

English, Drama and Film

60%

HPS1

History And Politics

60%

HSS3

History

60%

HSS5

Global Studies

60%

If choosing a language at Beginners Level, C Huikao or 60 SSSGC in Other Language is required. If at Advanced Level, a B Huikao or 85 SSSGC in that language is required. French is only available at Advanced Level

HSS6

European Studies

60%

If choosing a language at Beginners Level, C Huikao or 60 SSSGC in Other Language is required. If at Advanced Level, a B Huikao or 85 SSSGCin that language is required. French is only available at Advanced Level

ISS1

Irish Studies

60%

MCS4

Music, Film and Drama

60%

MCS5

Music

60%

  

Liberal Arts & Sciences

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements 

Liberal Arts &

Sciences

LBS1

Liberal Arts and Sciences

60%

Sustainability

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Maths 

Sustainability

STS1

BSc Sustainability

72%

C Huikao or 75 SSSGC

Social Sciences

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Maths

Other Language 

Social

Sciences

COS1

Philosophy, Politics & Economics

66%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

ECS4

BSc Economics

66%

B Huikao or 80 SSSGC

EMS1

Economics, Mathematics & Statistics

66%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

PCS2

BSc Psychology

78%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

PTS5

BSc in Politics and International Relations

66%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

  

SBU2

BSocSc Social Policy & Sociology

66%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

SBU3

BSc Social Science (2 Subjects) ‡‡

66%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

Please Note: In order to study Mathematics, a B Huikao or 85 SSSGC in Mathematics is required.

In order to study Economics, a C Huikao or 60 SSSGC in Mathematics is required.

German: In First Year two streams are offered, one for absolute beginners and another for non-beginners. For the non-beginners level a minimum of B Huikao or 85 SSSGC or equivalent is required.

 SCS1

Computational Social Science

66%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

Engineering

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Maths

Lab Science

Engineering ‡

NUS1

Engineering Omnibus‡

72%

B Huikao or 85 SSSGC

Pilot for 2026/27

(opens in a new window)Ecctis OMPT-D: 55%

C Huikao or 75 SSSGC

Architecture

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Maths

Architecture  

LDS2

Landscape Architecture

60%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

RCS3

City Planning & Environmental Policy ‡‡

60%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

ATS4

Architecture ‡‡

72%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

Science, Computer Science & Actuarial Science

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Maths

Lab Science 

Science,

Computer Science

&

Actuarial Science  

BSS3

Actuarial and Financial Studies

81%

A Huikao

CSSA

Computer Science

72%

C Huikao or 75 SSSGC

Science programmes, including:

SCU1

Science - Explore Multiple Streams ‡‡

72%

C Huikao or 75 SSSGC

C Huikao or 75 SSSGC

BLS1

Biological, Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences ‡‡

CHS2

Chemistry ‡ (includes Medicinal/Sustainable/Biophysical)‡

EES1

Earth & Environmental Sciences ‡‡

MHS2

Mathematics ‡ (includes Applied/Financial/Statistics)‡

PYS2

Physics ‡ (includes Theoretical/Astronomy & Space Science)‡

Check out theScience Brochurefor details!

Agricultural Science

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Maths

Lab Science

Agricultural

Science

ANS1

Animal Science ‡‡

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

CPS1

Animal & Crop Production ‡‡

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

CPS3

Crop Science ‡‡

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

DBS1

Dairy Business ‡‡

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

EQS1

Animal Science - Equine ‡‡

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

ESS1

AgriEnvironmental Science ‡‡

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

ETS2

Agricultural Systems & Technology

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

FAS1

Food and Agribusiness

Management ‡‡

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

FAW1

Food Business with Chinese

Studies ‡‡

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

FOS1

Forestry ‡‡

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

FSS2

Food Science ‡‡

66%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

FSS6

Sustainable Food Systems

66%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

HLS6

Horticulture ‡‡

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

HMS1

Human Nutrition ‡‡

78%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

UAS1

Agricultural Science - Omnibus

(You can decide on your area of

study during first year).

62%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

Health Science

 

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Maths

Lab Science

Health Science

BHS1

Biomedical, Health & Life Sciences

78%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

MDS2

Medicine 

81%

+ Interview

Successful applicants often present with a stronger academic background

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

MDS4

Radiography

76%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

MDS5

Physiotherapy

81%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

MDSS

Diagnostic Radiography

(Graduate Entry)

The 2.5-year graduate entry programme is open to applicants who hold a 4-year Bachelor degree ((opens in a new window)NFQ Level 8) with a minimum of Second Class Honours and above, or equivalent. 

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

MDS9

Medicine (Graduate Entry)

The 4-year graduate entry programme is open to applicants who hold or are expected to hold a 4-year Bachelor degree((opens in a new window)NFQ Level 8) in any discipline with a minimum overall Second Class Honours (Upper Division) and above, or equivalent.  Additionally, all applicants are required to submit a current GAMSAT* or MCAT* score (minimum 57 and 503 respectively). Although only graduates are eligible to apply for this programme, the graduate Medicine degree is equivalent in standard to the undergraduate Medicine degree.

*Currency of Results: GAMSAT: must have been taken within two years from 01 September prior to the start of programme (i.e. for admission in September 2026, the earliest acceptable test date would be 01 September 2024). MCAT: must have been taken within two years from 01 August prior to the start of programme (i.e. for admission in September 2026, the earliest acceptable test date would be 01 August 2024).

Students who have previously been unsuccessful in any Medicine programme (i.e. have not met academic or other requirements within the programme) or have any issues which would affect their registration with the Irish Medical council will only be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances, to be considered by the Medicine programme board.

Sports & Performance

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Maths

Lab Science 

Sports &

Performance

MDSK

Sport, Health & Exercise Science

76%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

SMS2

Sport & Exercise Management

72%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

Veterinary Medicine

Code

Description

2026 Entry Requirements

Maths

Lab Science

Veterinary Medicine

VTS1 

Veterinary Medicine

83%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

Chemistry B Huikao or 80 SSSGC

Applicants must normally have at least 60 hours practical experience relevant to animal handling. This must have been undertaken in the last three years i.e. for entry in 2026, between 1st February 2023 and 5th July 2026, and all details must be submitted by 5th July 2026 to be taken into consideration. This must include experience with at least two of the following four animal categories: Pets, Horses, Farm Animals, Wildlife/Zoos. For full details and to complete your records of experience, please click here for more information.  

VTS2

Veterinary Nursing

72%

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

C Huikao or 60 SSSGC

VTS3

Veterinary Medicine (Graduate Entry)

The 4 year graduate entry programme is open to applicants who hold or are expected to hold a 4-year Bachelor degree in a biological / biomedical / animal science discipline with a minimum of Second Class Honours (Upper Division) or above [or equivalent]. For full details about the application and assessment procedures, including information about pre-requisites, please refer to the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine website: www.ucd.ie/vetmed

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