Courses
Click Here to Find Classes
COURSE OFFERINGS
Courses are arranged in the seminar and lecture style. Most courses at TCD are equivalent to 2.5 U.S. semester credits. Students take 5-6 courses and receive 12-15 credit hours per semester.
On the course form students must list the specific subjects in which they are interested in (i.e. music, history, classics, etc.). Students should list at least two, but no more than four subjects. Students will also be asked upon application to list the specific courses they would like to take, as this will give the schools/departments at Trinity an indication of each applicant’s particular areas of interest. Please note that acceptance of one’s application does not necessarily entail acceptance into any particular course.
Registration takes place upon arrival; however, we recommend that after consulting the course listings, students have 10 courses approved by their home university prior to departure, in order to allow for scheduling conflicts and the possible unavailability of certain classes. There is a 2-week add/drop period at the beginning of the semester at TCD.
Please note: Not all courses are offered every semester. The course selection may vary, and no course is guaranteed. Some courses may have prerequisites, and some courses may require minimal additional fees for labs, equipment, etc.
Students who are interested in taking courses in the fields of engineering, math, and science will be subject to an additional fee.
SEMESTER START-UP PROGRAM
The innovative Semester Start-Up Program (or SSP) at Trinity College provides international students with an ideal introduction to a full semester’s (or a full year’s) study at Ireland’s leading university. The fall/academic year SSP, which runs for three weeks in August, covers the first one-sixth (5 ECTS or 2.5 U.S. semester credits) of a student’s semester commitment at Trinity, with the remainder being covered by the other undergraduate courses that students choose to take during October-December. The three week SSP is unique in Ireland, combining an interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate study with the highest academic and educational standards.
SEMESTER START UP MODULE DESCRIPTION
The module, “Understanding Ireland”, comprises three compulsory strands, which must all be completed by students in order to gain credit. The three strands are (i) Irish history, (ii) archaeology, art and architecture and (iii) literature in a historical context. Each strand is taught by lecture and small-group tutorial and the main focus throughout is upon a detailed assessment of key events, personalities, debates, influences, and texts. Students receive guidance on relevant readings and sources in order to gain a broader overview of the relevant period and topic. Online packs with source material and readings are also provided. The lectures and tutorials take place in the mornings while afternoons are dedicated to field trips that complement the different strands. In recent years destinations outside TCD have included the Abbey Theatre and Croke Park (home of the GAA) in Dublin, in addition to day trips to the Boyne Valley and Kilkenny City. The module is run under the auspices of the School of Histories and Humanities, Trinity College Dublin. On completion of the module students should be able to: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Ireland in a historical, cultural and political context; present both oral and written analysis of aspects of Irish history, culture and society; engage in discussion of seminal events, personalities, debates, influences and texts relating to Ireland; and record and present information in a systematic manner.
COURSE LISTINGS
Please pay attention to prerequisites and restrictions. Contact the API office if you have any questions about available courses.
CREDIT INFORMATION
Trinity College Dublin awards credit based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Semester courses at the university are usually awarded 5 or 10 ECTS credits. Universities in the U.S. typically award .5 credit hour for every 1 ECTS credit. For example, a course worth 5 ECTS would transfer to the U.S. as 2.5 semester credit hours. It is very important that students planning on studying at TCD discuss the transfer of credits with an advisor at their home university – some universities have different standards for transferring ECTS credits. Based on the ECTS credits awarded per course, students usually take 5-6 classes in order to receive 12-15 credit hours per semester. Students are responsible for ensuring that they are enrolled in the required amount of semester credits to meet the requirements of the home university. In all faculties, entrance to specific courses is subject to the approval of TCD and the completion of certain prerequisites. Courses offered on a year-long basis can only be taken by students visiting for the full academic year.
Highlights
- Courses in English with Irish and other international students
- Special Early start programs for fall and year study abroad students
- Ireland’s oldest and most prestigious university
- A truly international university, with students from over 90 countries
- State-of-the-art facilities and international center for research
- Outstanding sports complex and a wide range of social clubs
- Stunning campus in the heart of Dublin
- Special scholarship opportunities – visit the API Scholarships page for more information!
