Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Transfer and Re-Admission

Am I a transfer or re-admission applicant?

Anyone who is attending or has attended third level is considered as a transfer or re-admission applicant.

  • External transfer applicant: an applicant who is currently attending, or has previously attended but not completed, a programme in a Higher Education Insitution (HEI) other than UCD and is seeking to gain entry to a similar or different programme in UCD at the same NFQ level.
  • Progression applicant: an applicant who is seeking to enter on the basis of a completed recognised NFQ level 5, 6, or 7 qualification (normally QQI-FET or HETAC and certain linked UCD programmes). 
  • Internal transfer applicant: an applicant who is currently attending UCD, or who has previously attended but not completed, and is seeking to move to a different programme.
  • Re-admission applicant:a former UCD student (other than those on an approved Leave of Absence) who is seeking to return to UCD. Applicants whose registration to a programme has previously been discontinued or terminated will also have their application considered under the relevant UCD policy. 

UCD students Applicants who qualify for EU fees may use the links below for criteria and application procedures. Non-EU applicants must refer to the Non-EU Undergraduate section below. If you are unsure of your status please refer to the Fees website.

Which type of applicant are you?

I want to...

Note: if you are returning from a Leave of Absence or wish to repeat the stage you are currently registered for, please contact your Programme Office. You do not need to make a transfer application.

  • Transfer/Re-admission to commence stage 1 in the Autumn trimester:
    Applications are made via www.ucd.ie/apply and assessed in competition with other applicants on the basis of your academic record or meeting the requirements of relevant access routes such as Mature Years. All previous third level attendance must be declared in the application. See www.ucd.ie/global for further information regarding the international admissions process.
  • Transfer/Readmission during a stage (current/previous UCD students only):
    This application pathway is only available to UCD students who wish to apply for entry to a similar programme in the Spring trimester, subject to availability of places. See the relevant link on the Internal Transfer or Readmission tab.
  • Transfer/Readmission to commence stage 2 or a later stage in the Autumn trimester:
    To apply for entry to stage 2 of a similar programme, subject to availability of places, UCD students should refer to the relevant link on the Internal Transfer or Readmission tab. External applicants should apply as non-EU applicants in the normal way for stage 1 and, if admitted, may then apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Note: if you are a UCD student returning from a Leave of Absence or you wish to repeat the stage you are currently registered for, please contact your Programme Office. You do not need to make a transfer application.

If you are considering applying for a transfer, please check the fees implications at www.ucd.ie/fees.

Some programmes will not normally consider applicants who have been unsuccessful in a similar programme - full details are on the restrictions page.

All offers of a place are subject toUCD's Terms and Conditions of Offer. In line with the(opens in a new window)Admissions Policy, offers for taught programmes will not be made after the third week of a trimester. Deferral or Leave of Absence is not permissible for the trimester following acceptance of a transfer/re-admission offer.

In some cases, students may wish to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning in addition to that granted by the transfer process (see Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy).

All students must comply with the regulations of the University.

The above is summary information only. Full regulations are included in the (opens in a new window)Transfer Policy.

Contact UCD Registry

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 1555 | Location Map(opens in a new window)