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 125 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 is a welcoming student support hub and event space on campus for all Trinity students, managed by the International Student Liaison Officer. The Global Room service is supported by a team of Global Ambassadors, students trained to help students with a wide range of queries ranging from immigration and accommodation practicalities to the basics of settling into life in Dublin and at Trinity.

During the academic term, the Global Room is open from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday in the Watts Building.  

The Global Room runs the New2Dublin program on Monday evenings for several weeks at the start of term to help incoming students adjust to life in Dublin city and answer questions large and small, from making friends to where to find the cheapest groceries. Over 300 international-themed events are held in the Global Room during the academic year, such as national holiday celebrations, seminars, movie screenings and information initiatives. 

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 first two years of your degree.

Living Expenses

* The living expenses noted above are approximate costs based on the 2024 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.

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. Average costs are shown above – insurance costs may be lower or higher depending on the policy chosen. More information is are available on the Trinity website.