Information for Applicants

UCD has a lively campus community and is well serviced by a public transport network that connects the campus to Dublin city centre and Dublin International Airport.

As an International Student

• Over 30% of the student body are international students coming from 150 different countries
• Robust student support including:
  • In-country staff to work with you in person or by phone and video call
  • Pre-departure outreach so you know what to expect
  • Airport welcome on arrival
  • International student orientation prior to academic orientation with other first year students
  • Events on throughout the year just for you - including a legendary Thanksgiving celebration and Super Bowl Party!
• International student centre (the UCD Global Lounge)
• Active international student society organizing trips, parties and cultural outings
• No visas are required for North American students to study
• Work up to 20 hours per week in Ireland during term and up to 40 hours per week during summer or winter break

As a UCD Student

• UCD has modern, on-campus housing. Please see the UCD Residences website for more information.
• 140 student societies and clubs to join:
  • Academic and professional societies
  • Athletic teams at all competition levels
  • Performing Arts groups
  • Civic and volunteering organizations, such as (opens in a new window)UCD Volunteers Overseas
• Exceptionally interactive (opens in a new window)Student Union (Student Government)
• One of the best sports and student centres in the country, featuring a 50M swimming pool, rock climbing wall, black-box theatre, and movie cinema. Please see the UCD Student Centre website for further information
• Student Health Centre with confidential service for all students

As a Dubliner

• Soak in being in the modern centre of education, the arts, administrative function, economy and industry of Ireland
• Be part of one of the youngest cities in Europe with 50% of the population under the age of 25
• Utilize the robust public transportation to see the beautiful Irish countryside
• Consider an internship at one of the major companies who call Ireland home, including Google, Intel, Facebook, and Pfizer- just to name a few
• Push off and spend breaks and weekends traveling Europe – even on a student budget thanks to student discounts and budget airlines at Dublin Airport!

Applications can be submitted via the (opens in a new window)Common App or directly to UCD - there is no preference for one application method. Applications made to UCD are online and you can upload your documents directly to our system as well as pay the €60 application fee online once complete. UCD is unable to accept Common App application fee waivers in all cases. Additional information on paying your application fee is available on the UCD Registry website.

It is important to note that in the UCD application system students are able to apply to multiple academic programs of their choice. Please note that each different course (major) must be applied to separately and that you can apply to up to four courses. Liberal Arts and Sciences may be one of your choices here, which provides an opportunity to explore before finding your best degree fit.  It is possible for you to receive offers of admission to multiple programs!

The following materials will be considered as part of your application (see our Entry Requirements page for detailed testing and grade requirements):

• Up-to-date high school transcript
  • Copies of transcripts will suffice for assessment purposes
  • Original transcripts must be provided to Admissions and verified prior to registration
• Standardized test scores - either ACT or SAT is accepted (no preference). UCD Superscores multiple test results:
  • College Board SAT & AP
    • AP scores of 2 or better will be considered positively in your application review
    • UCD College Board DI Code: 6675
  • ACT scores
    • ACT College Code: 5512
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diplomas are welcomed
  • Minimum score of 24 is required across the degrees with many programs being more competitive
  • Students should request a Predicted IB Score from their counselor/teacher for application purposes
  • IB Certificates are not accepted at this time
  • See our IB Entry Requirements Page for more information

Standardized Testing Policy

Standardized tests are not required for all programmes, but will be considered if submitted. UCD encourages all applicants to apply for their programmes of choice regardless of your access to standardized testing upon applying.

Refer to our testing policy FAQs for more information.

Mature Applicants 

If you are at least 23 years of age on 1 January of the year you apply to enter, you may be assessed as a mature student. Mature students may be required to provide additional items such as a personal statement, résumé/CV, letters of recommendation, or be asked to interview with programme boards, depending on the course. If you think you may qualify as a mature student, please submit your application to UCD with all available academic credentials, transcripts, and exam scores, and then reach out to (opens in a new window)NorthAmerica@ucd.ie with any questions.

Physical Transcripts  

Physical transcripts are not recommended, but if required can be sent to our International Admissions Department at the following address:

University College Dublin
575 5th Ave Floor 14
New York, NY 10017

The Admissions team will assess your credentials and contact you promptly with a decision once all materials are received. Applications are processed on a rolling basis with an average 4-6 week return decision.

• Applications open: October 1 (Common App opens early September)
• Application priority deadline: December 1
• Final deadline: July 1

Please note that students awaiting results of high school examinations may apply and could be made a 'conditional offer', requiring that you maintain academic performance similar to that which was presented in your application.

UCD School of Medicine also consider applications submitted via our partner, the (opens in a new window)Atlantic Bridge Program. Please reach out to them directly for more information.

If you are applying to the Veterinary Medicine program, please contact the Veterinary Medicine program office directly at (opens in a new window)vetprogrammes@ucd.ie for advice on application procedures and entry requirements.

• US curriculum students must achieve a C grade in high school English in Grade 11 or 12 to be eligible for entry
• International applicants are exempt from the Irish Language requirement
• All students are required to meet the Other Language requirement for courses that involve the study of a language. For US curriculum applicants this means at minimum a passing grade in a Grade 11 language. This includes the study of a language in any of the following courses:
  • BAU5 BA Arts Joint Honours
  • BAU4 BA Humanities Modern Languages
  • HSS5 Global Studies
  • HSS6 European Studies
  • AYS1 Languages, Linguistics & Cultures
  • BSW1 Commerce International
• Some courses require evidence of advanced language study, typically with an AP language score of 3 or better. This includes:
  • BAU4 BA Humanities Modern Languages - must meet advanced language score in one of chosen languages
  • BSW1 Commerce International - when Spanish and German combination is selected, must meet advanced language score in one of chosen languages
• French is not taught at beginner level and all applicants seeking to study French must show advanced proficiency, typically with an AP French score of 3 or better. The following academic programmes require evidence of advanced French language proficiency:
  • LWS2 BCL/Maîtrise
  • LWS2 Law with French Law
  • BAU5 BA Arts Joint Honours when French language combination selected
  • BAU4 BA Humanities Modern Languages when French language combination selected
  • BSW1 Commerce International when French language combination selected

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are based on the course of studies chosen. Tuition and fees are published yearly and can be found on the UCD Fees and Grants website.

*Note that all fees are charged in Euros - check current exchange rates to get accurate conversions to other currencies

Eligibility for Irish or EU Fees

EU fees are based on EU citizenship and EU residency and income tax status

• Parents must be working full-time in the EU for 3 of the 5 years before you apply to UCD to be eligible for EU Fees
• If students have questions about their status, please check the Fees Office website for clarification, as the international office is not involved in this assessment, nor able to make comment on individual cases.
• Students who are ultimately assessed by the UCD Fees Office and confirmed as EU/Irish will be classified as such for fees as well as application process and timeline.
• To be most fair to all students in the EU or Irish intake, the admissions process and timeline for students classified as EU or Irish for fees purposes is divergent from the process outlined on the UCD International webpage for students classified as Non-EU.

On-campus Housing Fees

North American students may expect:

• Modern single occupancy, fully furnished bedrooms in apartment style residences
• “Catered” or independent meal choice 
• For the 2019/20 academic year there are a limited number of on-campus housing set aside for graduate students (living on-campus is not required)

The fees for rooms on campus range from €6,745 to €11,591 (approximately USD$7,600-$13,000) depending on the residence students choose to live in. Further information regarding the types of residences, including virtual tours, may be found on the UCD Residences website.

UCD offers many merit based scholarships for US students studying full degrees.  For a full listing of international scholarship and funding opportunities is available on our International Scholarships and Funding pages.

Please note: Applications for the Global Excellence Graduate Scholarship are due by February 1 of the year of entry. To apply for this scholarship, students must already have an offer to study at UCD; therefore, applicants are required to submit their completed application to the university no later than December 1 for full scholarship eligibility.

North America Global Center

Tel: +1 646 690 9024
Skype: UCDublin_NAmerica
Twitter: (opens in a new window)@UCD_NAmerica
Email: (opens in a new window)NorthAmerica@ucd.ie

[NOTE: All scholarship and funding schemes are subject to availability of funds, and details given here are subject to change at any time. Potential applicants are urged to check information regularly to ensure they are aware of current procedures, deadlines etc.]

American citizens and permanent residents attending UCD are eligible to receive Federal Student Aid from the US Department of Education. UCD participates in the Direct Loan and PLUS loan programs, and most students are able to finance their entire education costs (including tuition, fees, room and board, transportation and books) through a combination of these programs. Private educational loans are also available. For further information on financial aid, please see the UCD International US Loans webpage.

UCD offers exceptional, high quality on-campus accommodation to international students. On-campus living means single rooms in apartment style suites, with a variety of living options all right on campus!

UCD seeks to guarantee on-campus accommodation for all first-year undergraduate international students, and accommodation is also available for graduate students on a limited basis. Our Residences website with information on accommodation types and availabilities can be found at http://www.ucd.ie/residences/

Accommodation booking happens online in early summer. After accepting their offer, students should check the email used when applying to UCD often, as we will be sending important information to that email.

Virtual tours of all residences can be seen online here.

*Please email all questions about accommodation booking to (opens in a new window)residences@ucd.ie

Many postgraduate students and some undergraduate students choose to live off-campus during their time at UCD. We suggest starting your search by visiting (opens in a new window)http://www.ucdaccommodationpad.ie/Home (more details here). UCD also advertises these websites as good for off-campus housing search:

(opens in a new window)www.daft.ie
(opens in a new window)www.independent.ie
(opens in a new window)www.let.ie
(opens in a new window)www.myhome2let.ie
More found here.

Areas close to campus to search:

DUBLIN 4: Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Sandymount
DUBLIN 6: Ranelagh, Rathgar, Rathmines
DUBLIN 14: Clonskeagh, Dundrum, Goatstown
DUBLIN COUNTY: Blackrock, Booterstown, Mount Merrion, Stillorgan, Dun Laoghaire

Taught Masters

The normal requirement for entry to a taught Master’s Degree program is a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject (approx. 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale). However, prospective applicants should check the individual requirements listed on the School website, since some degrees may require a higher standard for entry. Communications regarding the program itself should also be directed to the School.

For applicants who do not have the required minimal entry standard, a year-long qualifying course may be available. In this case relevant work experience may be a requirement.

Please refer to the relevant UCD School or program for more specific information on entry requirements for your chosen program.

Research Masters

The normal requirement for entry to a Research Master’s Degree program is a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject (approx. 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale). However, prospective applicants should check the individual requirements listed on the School website, since some degrees may require a higher standard for entry. A research proposal must be submitted. In addition course work and examinations may also be specified by the College at entry; normally these have to be satisfactorily completed in the first year of a Master’s degree program.

Please refer to the relevant School or program for more specific information on entry requirements for your chosen program.

PhD Programs 

To be eligible to enter one of UCD’s PhD programs, a candidate must have reached a high honors standard at bachelor’s level. In some cases, a master’s degree may also be required. In certain cases, a candidate may be able to provide other evidence to the School in order to satisfy the entry requirements of the program.

It is recommended that applicants interested in research at Masters and PhD level should, in the first place, read the information available on the UCD website.

Secondly, applicants should review the website of the relevant School and College to ensure they are fully informed about the research objectives of the academic course concerned. Prior to submitting an application it is essential that candidates make contact with potential supervisors.

Please refer to the relevant School or program for more specific information on entry requirements for your chosen program.

Congratulations, you have accepted your offer to Ireland’s largest and most global university! Please use the information available on the Accepted Students page.

Upon graduation, students must submit an official copy of their final high school transcripts. The transcripts can be sent:

Via email to (opens in a new window)northamerica@ucd.ie directly from a school counselor or university

Via mail to:

University College Dublin
575 5th Ave Floor 14
New York, NY 10017

If students have a condition of receiving specific AP exam scores, please make sure to send a copy of your test scores to UCD when they become available. Our College Board AP exam code is 6675.

You're sure to have a lot of questions about what the student experience is like at UCD. If you'd like to connect with a current US student studying at UCD, please fill out the following form and a student will reach out to you soon.

(opens in a new window)Complete the "Chat to a Student" Form

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are based on the course of studies chosen. Tuition and fees are published yearly and can be found on the UCD Fees and Grants website.

*Note that all fees are charged in Euros - check current exchange rates to get accurate conversions to other currencies

Eligibility for Irish or EU Fees

EU fees are based on EU citizenship and EU residency and income tax status

• Parents must be working full-time in the EU for 3 of the 5 years before you apply to UCD to be eligible for EU Fees
• If students have questions about their status, please check the Fees Office website for clarification, as the international office is not involved in this assessment, nor able to make comment on individual cases.
• Students who are ultimately assessed by the UCD Fees Office and confirmed as EU/Irish will be classified as such for fees as well as application process and timeline.
• To be most fair to all students in the EU or Irish intake, the admissions process and timeline for students classified as EU or Irish for fees purposes is divergent from the process outlined on the UCD International webpage for students classified as Non-EU.

On-Campus Housing Fees

North American students may expect:

• Modern fully furnished bedrooms in apartment style residences
• “Catered” or independent meal choice 

The fees for rooms on campus range depending on the residence students choose to live in. Further information regarding the types of residences, including virtual tours, may be found on theUCD Residences website.

UCD offers many merit based scholarships for Canadian students studying full degrees.  For a full listing of international scholarship and funding opportunities is available on our International Scholarships and Funding pages.

Please note: Applications for the Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship are due by February 1 of the year of entry. To apply for this scholarship, students must already have an offer to study at UCD; therefore, applicants are required to submit their completed application to the university no later than December 1 for full scholarship eligibility.

North America Global Center

Tel: +1 646 690 9024
Twitter: (opens in a new window)@UCD_NAmerica
Email: (opens in a new window)NorthAmerica@ucd.ie

[NOTE: All scholarship and funding schemes are subject to availability of funds, and details given here are subject to change at any time. Potential applicants are urged to check information regularly to ensure they are aware of current procedures, deadlines etc.]

Students of UCD who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents may be eligible for loans funded by the Government of Canada under the Canadian Student Loan Program. See detailed information at ourScholarships & Living Costs page.