Information for US Applicants
The following information will help you prepare to apply to UCD - everything from starting an application to financial aid to registration and beyond will be covered on this page. If you have any questions once you've looked through everything, feel free to contact the representative for your region!
Welcome to University College Dublin, Ireland’s global university, and most popular destination for international students. UCD is home to over 34,000 students, including over 9,000 graduate students, 25% of whom hail from outside of Ireland. Ranked in the top 1% of higher education institutes worldwide, and located in one of the safest and most welcoming cities in the world, UCD’s main campus offers state-of-the-art learning and living facilities, near to the bustling city centre and Ireland’s major business hubs.
Filling Out Your UCD Application
You can apply directly using the online application system.
Please note that applications are accepted from November of the previous year of study and candidates will usually be notified of the status of their application within 4 weeks of application. Please check with the School concerned to verify application times.
The following materials may be considered as part of your application:
- Personal/Academic statement
- Open topic, capped at 300 words
- Up-to-date official university transcripts
- Copies of transcripts will suffice for assessment purposes
- Original transcripts must be provided to Admissions and verified prior to registration
- Two letters of recommendation from academic sources
- Some programs may require a portfolio, writing sample, or research sample. For specific requirements please contact the School that manages the program.
Transcripts and Recommendations
Physical transcripts and letters of recommendation are not recommended, but if required can be sent to our International Admissions Department at the following address:
University College Dublin
12 E. 49th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Admissions Time Frame for Fall 2020 Entry
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: November 1, 2019
- Application priority deadline: December 1, 2019
- Absolute deadline: July 1, 2020
Please note that students awaiting results of university courses may apply and could be made a 'conditional offer', requiring that you maintain academic performance similar to that which was presented in your application.
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.
Scholarships
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.
For further information please contact:
North America Global Center
Tel: +1 646 690 9024
Skype: UCDublin_NAmerica
Twitter: @UCD_NAmerica
Email: 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.]
Financial Aid FAFSA Code: G10188
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 has set aside a limited number of rooms to new international graduate students each year. Our Residences website with information on accommdation 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 internationalaccommodation@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 http://www.ucdaccommodationpad.ie/Home (more details here). UCD also advertises these websites as good for off-campus housing search:
www.daft.ie
www.independent.ie
www.let.ie
www.myhome2let.ie
www.letbynet.com
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 – Academic Entry Requirements
The normal requirement for entry to a taught Master’s Degree programme 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 programme 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 programme for more specific information on entry requirements for your chosen programme.
Research Masters - Academic Entry Requirements
The normal requirement for entry to a Research Master’s Degree programme 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 programme.
Please refer to the relevant School or programme for more specific information on entry requirements for your chosen programme.
PhD Programmes - Academic Entry Requirements
To be eligible to enter one of UCD’s PhD programmes, a candidate must have reached a high honours 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 programme.
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 programme for more specific information on entry requirements for your chosen programme.
Congratulations, you have accepted your offer to Ireland’s largest and most global university! Please use the information available on the Accepted Students page here.
Upon graduation, students must submit an official copy of their final university transcripts. The transcripts can be sent:
Via email to northamerica@ucd.ie directly from a university or
Via mail to:
University College Dublin
Attn: Patrick Smith
12 E. 49th St.
11th Floor
New York, NY 10017
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.