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Trinity College Dublin

Overview

Consistently ranked as the top university in Ireland, a semester or academic year at Trinity College Dublin will give you the opportunity to study a wide range of subjects, including courses in the liberal arts, natural sciences, and humanities.  You'll live like a Dubliner, taking your courses with Irish and other international students, living in university housing, and having access to all of the clubs, college societies, and amenities as any other Trinity College Dublin student.  

When you're not in class, you'll have the chance to explore Ireland's bustling capital, join college societies and sports team, and truly immerse yourself in the cultural.  A semester or year at Trinity College Dublin gives you the academic flexibility to take the courses that you need while truly immersing yourself in Irish life.

 

Fact sheet
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Learning Objectives

As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:

  • the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
  • non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
  • a global network of peer in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in the Ireland.
Partner Information

international@tcd.ie 

The Global Relations Office, East Theatre, 

Trinity College Dublin,

Dublin 2 

+353 (0)1 896 4507

Location Description

Although it's the capital of Ireland, Dublin is a big city with a small-town feel.   Narrow, cobblestone streets, years-old restaurants and pubs, and friendly people will make you feel as if you are in a small village.  During your semester or year in Dublin, you'll have plenty to explore and get to know, from the National Museum of Ireland to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Pheonix Park to Merrion Square.  As the country's capital, Dublin is well-connected to the rest of the country and Europe.  Spend the weekend at the Cliffs of Moher or catch a flight from the nearby Dublin Airport.  No matter what your interests, there will always be something new to explore in Dublin.
Trinity College Dublin's campus is located on sprawling greens in the heart of the city.  Founded in 1592, the College's campus is a deluge of sights to be seen, including the University Library.  The mix of classic and modern architecture creates a charming setting for your studies.  

Housing Description

Pitt and Trinity College Dublin have made arrangements with the Binary Hub for your accomodations.  A short walk to campus (about 15 minutes), the Binary Hub offers double rooms with kitchens and bathrooms, a full suite of student-focused programming, and even a resident dog!  
More importantly, however, the Binary Hub brings together Irish and international students, giving you the opportunity to create global networks during your time in Dublin.  Read more about the Binary Hub here. 

Academic Description
During your semester or academic year at Trinity College Dublin, you'll have the opportunity to take almost any course offered on campus.  While there are some limitations (notably English literature and theatre), the broad range of classes available means that you'll be able to take care of major, minor, certificate, and general education requirements!
 
You'll work with the Study Abroad Office and your academic advisor to identify courses (known as 'modules' at TCD) that you are interested in taking, along with one or two back-ups for each. Note courses taken at TCD will be treated as Pitt credits and will be marked as letter grades on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, credits will affect Pitt GPAs. For every 5 ECTS credits taken at TCD, you will receive 3 Pitt credits. For example, 25 ECTS credits at TCD will transfer as 15 Pitt credits.  
 
Additionally, it is important to know is that grading and exams work much differently at Trinity than they do at Pitt. Trinity has published a good guide for international students that you should read and understand before moving forward with the program.
 
You'll want to be sure to pick and approve multiple courses for each requirement that you need to fulfill.  Scheduling at TCD works differently than Pitt and there is a greater chance that there will be time conflicts. 
 
Some departments have pre-approved courses at Trinity.  You'll find those below:
 
Trinity Module Pitt Equivalent
Introduction to Neuroscience NROSCI 1000
Neuroanatomy NROSCI 1011
Biochemistry in Health and Diseas BIOSC 1000*
Nucleic Acids NROSCI Advanced Elective
Basic Lab Skills NROSCI 1049
Neurochemistry I NROSCI Advanced Elective
Research Skills NROSCI 1049
Neurogenetics NROSCI Advanced Elective
Cell Physiology  NROSCI 1017
Neurophysiology NROSCI 1012
General Principles of Pharmacology NROSCI Advanced Elective
Developmental Biology NROSCI Advanced Elective
 
 

* If you are a biology major, you should confirm if this course can count towards that major / minor.

Students who are on a pre-health track cannot take any courses required for their qualifying exams (MCATS, etc.) overseas.  

If you choose to go for the fall or academic year, you'll also earn credit for the Semester Start-Up Programme.  This three-week program is meant to give you an introduction to Irish culture and history.  A condensed, non-credit, one-week option is available if you are studying abroad in the spring.  Learn more here.
 
 
 
Students who have attended this program in the past have taken classes in the areas of:
Neuroscience
University Course Catalog
Trinity Module Directory
Grading

Unlike Pitt, TCD’s grading scale assigns numerical values between 0 – 100, with 100 representing the highest grade achievable. It is important to understand that few students in the Irish system receive grades higher than 70. For more information about the grading system at TCD, see their Study Abroad Guide under "Marking." 
Participation on this Partner Program means that Pitt students will earn actual letter grades, and therefore grades earned through this program will affect the Pitt GPA, and appear on the Pitt transcript. Additionally, Pitt students may utilize the following online resource to understand the grading scale within this host country.
Pitt will utilize the following grade scale to determine the letter grades: 
70+ = A
65 – 69 = A-
60 – 64 = B+
55-59 = B
50 – 54 = B-
45 – 49 = C
 
 

Program Fees
Pitt students participating on a partner program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition, Pitt students will also be responsible for the to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee.  
 
Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad. 
 

Items Billed by Pitt
  In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $9,314 $14,902
Program Fee $8,885 $8,885
Study Abroad Fee $400 $400
Total Billed by Pitt $18,599 $24,187
 
 
As a part of your program fee, the following are included:
  • Tuition for up to 15 credits (5 modules) per semester
  • Housing
  • Full access to the services, clubs, and societies of Trinity College Dublin
  • Semester Start Up Programme
  • International Health Insurance
How Much To Budget

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit  $2,000
Room & Board $3,000 - 5,000
Personal Expenses $1,000 - 5,000

While your program fee will cover most of your expenses, keep in mind that you are also responsible for the following:

  • Flight ($1,000 - $1,200)
  • Irish Immigration Fee (~$200, to be paid upon arrival in Ireland)
  • Deposit ($350, to be credited to your PittPay account)
  • Meals and personal expenses ($500-$1,000 per month, depending on lifestyle and housing)
  • Books ($100-$300 per semester)

Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad. 

Program Dates

Pitt students enroll at TCD for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). TCD's academic calendars may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Like Pitt, TCD’s academic calendar follows a Fall-Spring progression, meaning Fall is the first semester followed by the Spring semester as the second. The dates listed above are estimated and therefore subject to change according to the host university’s schedule.

Jessica Sun

Hailing from the great state of Texas, I am the exchange program manager at the Study Abroad Office at Pitt.  I am so excited to be a part of your exchange experience, be it here at Pitt or over at another institution overseas.  I studied abroad in Tuscany, Italy, while I was in school and absolutely loved all the experiences that came with exploring fresh pasta, Renaissance art and new experiences.  I certainly hope that you will love your exchange experience just as much wherever you choose.  Outside of the office, I am all about cities, food, art history and tea.  Good eating and traveling!  Let me know if you should have any questions at jessicasun@pitt.edu or at +1 412-383-7165.  

 

Application Instructions

Pitt sends a limited number of students per semester to TCD. In addition to applying to the Pitt Study Abroad application above, be sure to review TCD's website regarding their application requirements for incoming exchange students. A formal nomination from Pitt Study Abroad is required for Pitt students to be recognized as a study abroad student at TCD. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt Study Abroad steps in addition to TCD's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Study Abroad does not guarantee acceptance by the partner university.  
The partner university may require the following to be submitted through an online application. Requirements may include but are not limited to the following:  

  • Application Form 
  • Copy of Valid Passport 
  • Official Pitt Transcript 
  • Official Pitt Verification of Enrollment 
  • Statement of Intent or Purpose 
  • Resume or CV 
  • Official Language Evaluation 
  • Up to 2 instructor letters of recommendations 
  • Up to 2 passport photos 

 

Additional Information

Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers will be required to show evidence of English proficiency either through the IELTS or the TOELF. Please check with TCD regarding these requirements. 

Insurance Requirements

Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. 

Visa Requirements

In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival. 

 

For those without EU/EAA nationalities, students may be required to obtain a student visa to study in Ireland. For an overview regarding the visa process, please review TCD's website. TCD will provide general direction after formal admission on how to apply for either the visa and/or residency permit if applicable. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website. In general visa and/or permit application requirements include but are not limited to the following requirements:  

  • Visa application 
  • Valid Passport 
  • Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university) 
  • Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.   
  • Passport photos 
  • Application fee 
  • Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly) 

You're seeing student-submitted photos from Dublin, Ireland. There may be photos that do not necessarily represent this program or it's inclusions, but we hope you enjoy seeing what Panthers around the world are doing!