Living in Dublin

Dublin is a vibrant European capital city. For over 430 years, Dublin has grown and developed around the Trinity campus. Blending a high-energy, multinational professional culture with traditional Irish warmth and hospitality, Dublin has elegant parks, cozy cafés, and quirky restaurants for the daytime, with classic pubs, fashionable clubs, music gigs, comedy shows, and theater by night. Visit the dedicated Living in Dublin & Ireland page on the Trinity website to discover more about living in Dublin.

Located in the heart of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin’s 47-acre campus sits at the very center of everything the city has to offer. Student life at Trinity is extremely diverse and exciting, mainly due to the daily assortment of events and activities organized by students for students. The College boasts more than 120 student societies, which constitute the most dynamic and active set of university student societies in Ireland and cover a multitude of interests from the Animation Society to the Zoological Society. It is home to the world’s oldest student societies, including the ‘Hist’ or Historical Society founded in 1770 and the ‘Phil,’ the oldest debating society in the world. Founded in 1683, the Phil has been very pleased to welcome guests from around the world that regularly include heads of state and international dignitaries, musicians, actors, athletes, and tech innovators.

Trinity is also home to Ireland’s only entirely student-run orchestra, which regularly plays major music festivals such as Electric Picnic and Forbidden Fruit, as well as DU Players, which is the most active theater group in Ireland. Students may try their hand at everything from gaming to volunteering, get involved at all levels with running a radio station, or write, direct, and star in their own film or TV show. During Freshers’ Week, all of the Societies, the Students’ Union, the Trinity Publications committee, and each of the sports clubs are represented in Front Square, each vying for members.

Trinity Experience

Trinity is committed to ensuring that all international students have a positive experience during their studies and get the most from university life. A diverse student body with students from 118 different countries, the Trinity experience has much to offer. Trinity offers international students a wide range of supports and services to provide all the information and advice you need to know before you get here and to help you get settled at Trinity and in Dublin once you arrive.

Global Room

The Global Room space in the Watts Building is specifically designed to cater to Trinity students, with a focus on the international student community.

The Global Room team provides guidance and support to international students on a wide range of issues including immigration, accommodation and all aspects of life at Trinity. The Global Ambassador team are current Trinity students trained to help with queries that may arise during the transition from an international student’s home country to Ireland.

Over 300 international-themed events are held each year in the Global Room student space such as national holiday celebrations, seminars, movie screenings, and art showcases. These events are run by both the Global Room and a diverse range of Trinity’s clubs and societies. Home to a wall of plasma screens, visitors to the Global Room can access television channels from across the globe, and these screens can also be used for presentations, movie nights and much more.

New2Dublin

The Global Room Ambassadors run two programmes at the start of the academic year aimed at undergraduate (New to Dublin) and postgraduate students (Getting to Grips) who are new to Dublin. The groups meet either in person or virtually on a weekday evening and cover everything from Dublin grocery shopping and public transport to making friends and adjusting to Dublin culture. Other topics include adjusting to Trinity's academic culture, getting to grips with the library, your mental health and cultural adaptation.

Understanding Ireland: Smart Start Programme

The Trinity Smart-Start Programme is a week-long programme designed specifically for new international undergraduate students. The programme begins one week before Freshers’ Week and it provides the perfect introduction to the academic and social life of your new university and the country you will call home for the duration of your degree.

Living Expenses

* The living expenses noted above are approximate costs based on the 2023 housing rates, and are based on a single room occupancy in shared apartment-style accommodation. Visit the Trinity website for a full listing of academic year accommodation options. Trinity does not offer meal plans. Students cook at home or eat on campus and in town.

** Based on two plan-ahead, round-trip flights from New York to Dublin.

Additional Notes:

• Tuition and fees for Trinity are not included in the above living expenses. Course fees are available on the Trinity website. 
• Health Insurance is required for non-EU students, and are included within the "Personal Expenses" estimate above. Prices range from €200 to approx. €1,000. Details are available on the Trinity website.