r/TCD

Hey y'all, I'm an incoming first year and I wanted to ask, where does one buy school supplies like notebooks, binders, highlighters, pens/pencils/erasers? I'm from America so normally I would just buy my stuff at Office Depot but I'm assuming that doesn't exist in Ireland so I'm a little lost as of right now. I would think there would be stuff like that for sale at the university bookstore or something like that, is there somewhere else y'all generally buy stuff like that? Literally any advice would be appreciated here as I don't want to have to buy it all over here and then bring it in my suitcase, thanks so much in advance!!

Hi, I’m an incoming mature student. I’ve graduated from uni nearly 20 years ago, when note-taking was done only on note pads. (I’m ancient 🙈)

How do TCD students take notes in classes? Laptop? iPad? Note pads?

Since getting accepted I am being targeted with meeting summary apps, backed by AI - do people even use that kind of apps in lectures?

I really have no clue, while trying to mentally prepare myself. Input from current students would be super helpful. Thanks a lot!

Hi,

I’m an international applicant from Spain (not the Leaving Cert). My Spanish Bachillerato converts to 600 CAO points, and I also have an IB score of 40 (including the HL Maths 25 points bonus) though the IB conversion table itself is pretty shitty, so my Bachillerato ends up being my best score. Going the Spanish Bachillerato route, I’m not eligible for the 25-point HL Maths bonus LC applicants can get, which was the maximum extra I could have gained on top of my score. Applying to TR031 Mathematics in Trinity, last year’s Round 1 cut-off was 598, so I’m hoping I’m in with 600 but the margin feels razor thin and it’s making me really nervous.

If I don’t make it in Round 1 and only get the offer in Round 2 instead, the logistics are genuinely a nightmare for me as a non-resident applicant (flights and accommodation in Dublin with only days of notice)

On top of that, I’m nervous about my transcript submission. I followed the guidelines and it was translated by a certified/sworn translator, but the document says “ready for assessment” instead of “assessed,” and I’m worried that wording might cause issues or delays on CAO’s end.

I do have a backup plan (already in for uni in Spain) and I also have TP on my CAO (which the points was lower last year for), and I understand the system would automatically upgrade me to Maths in Round 2 if it comes through so I won’t be left with nothing. But between the tight points margin, the possible Round 2 logistics, and the document wording thing, I’m just really overwhelmed by the whole process right now.

Has anyone here been in a similar spot?

On-Campus Accommodation with disability

Hello everyone,

I am looking to apply for a Master at Trinity next year. I know EU postgraduates are pretty unlikely to receive accomodation by the university.

Does anyone have any experience with applying for Housing with a disability? I am aware there is accessible rooms, however I do not need one those. The most helpful thing would just be to have a place to stay, as close to classes as possible.

I know you can hand in further information about disability when you apply.

Has anyone here, who has a disabillity that does NOT require an accessible room, done that and received an offer? Are you more likely to receive housing with a disability?

For the record, I don't want an accessible room as I don't want to take it from people who are in actual need.

Any reply would be helpful :)

Before anyone asks, I have Crohn's disease ☺️

I got my A levels results recently, I got A* A* A and an A in a EPQ. This works out to 573 CAO points. I have the second language, maths, english all at gcse. I am also in the DARE pool.

What are my chances of getting onto the joint honour degree of history and middle eastern, jewish, islamic civilisations.

There doesnt seem to be a combined cao score online and the 2025 list just says n/a.

3 A* 1 A in my AS are my chances good?

Does anyone know when timetables come out for recurring students? I know it's usually depending on department. Wondering if anyone's heard anything. Thanks :))

When marking a repeat, do you generally want to see the student pass if their new script genuinely reaches the standard, or are you completely detached and just mark it exactly like any other exam?
If someone got 35-39%first time, then studied properly, fixed the grammar mistakes that were costing them marks, and their repeat is borderline (39–40%), would you tend to look carefully for legitimate marks that could put them over the pass?
Also, do markers actually notice when a student’s writing/grammar has improved from their previous attempt?
Just curious what goes through your head when marking a borderline repeat.

I just got offered a place in Goldsmith Hall after waiting on the waitlist all summer.
I have since accepted an offer in a Yugo accommodation, but it would be much more expensive however much nicer.

Does anyone know what the experience is in goldsmith? I'm mostly concerned about cleanliness and the fact that from the pics i found it looks like a prison...

I don't want to lose in mental health what i'm gaining in money hahaha

I also have to accept today/tomorrow!
Thank you!

For anyone who has experience marking university language exams:
I got 38% in my first Irish exam, 4 marks short of the pass. I realised afterwards that I was making mistakes because I was translating English phrases too literally into Irish.
For the repeat, I studied properly for about 2 weeks and specifically worked on those grammar/sentence-structure problems. In my essay this time, I noticed myself correcting a lot of the small grammatical errors I would have made in the first exam. I answered the whole paper and felt fairly confident, but the exam itself felt harder because I had to think much more about the grammar rather than translating directly.
My question is specifically: if you were marking this repeat and saw a student who had previously got 38%, but whose new script showed noticeably better grammar and fewer small errors, would you expect that improvement to translate into enough extra marks to pass?
And if the final mark was borderline, say 39%, would you normally go back through the script carefully for any legitimate partial marks/rounding, especially in a language exam?
I’m mainly interested in what actually happens from the marker’s perspective.

Coming to trinity in september, any engineering module (opened for visiting student) you would recommend ?something either fun, interesting or easy

Seems like 80% of the modules don't have a description so at this point my choices are random

Hi ! I am an incoming first year, hopefully, for BESS and I really want to study Spanish , but as a beginner.

Do I need any prior examination or grades to study Spanish ? Also I saw there are a limited number of places for this elective , what was your guys experience trying to get it ? and if you missed it can you not study Spanish at all? Also when do they usually let you choose your electives ? Thank you!

How are British (Welsh) students affording to study at trinity college Dublin?? Should I just give up the dream and pick somewhere in Britain

Was studying in the arts block today and two American tourists randomly came up to me and asked a bunch of questions loudly. Then the women grabbed a book from the shelf beside professors’ office. Lol. Hopefully they put the book back

hi everyone! i am considering doing a master's degree in comparative literature or digital humanities at trinity next year. i already went through the academic and bureaucratic requirements, and it seems that it is pretty achievable. however, i want to ask if the english lit department is quite competitive or rigorous when it comes to international students, considering the amount of money they are asking for lol.

i just want to know if i should put all my eggs in one basket or apply to more universities outside ireland.

My private accommodation is asking for the first instalment for the month of September-October, which is over a grand. We were meant to pay it on the 4th of August, but were trying to hold out because we also applied for Trinity Halls. I just got an email two days ago saying they will terminate the contract if we don’t pay the first instalment.

I know Trinity Halls prioritise the first years, but it’s not guaranteed I’ll get it with the lottery system. However Halls is €2,400 cheaper than my private one. Should I wait it out and see if I get the spot for the Trinity accommodation, or just pay for the private one?

If I pay the private one I won’t be able to refund it if I get the trinity halls one, I can only get a refund if I don’t get enough points to go to Trinity.

Hiya everyone.

After I did my leaving cert last year I decided to do a PLC in applied psychology once I realised I probably wouldn't get enough points for the course I wanted.

Happy to say that a couple of days ago I accepted an offer to do social studies here.

Never could have seen myself in this position 3 years ago when my guidance counsellor from my old secondary basically told me I'd get nowhere in life, but here I am now.

Looking forward to being here and I'm very excited to start in September. 👍

For anyone who say resits or knows someone who sat them, we’re the resits easier or more difficult that the normal exam. I am resitting JF general and physical chemistry and I’m curious if it’s going to be harder than the regular exam