Thinking about studying at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and wondering about the tuition fees? This guide will walk you through Trinity College Dublin fees for undergraduate degrees in the 2025/26 academic year.
We’ll break down the costs for Irish/EU students versus international students, explain why they differ, and highlight how fees vary across different courses and faculties.
You may also be interested in our analysis of Trinity’s acceptance rate for domestic and international students.
Understanding Trinity’s Fee Structure
Trinity College Dublin’s tuition fees depend on two main factors:
Student status
Are you an Irish/EU student or a Non-EU (international) student? Irish and other EU students generally pay much lower fees, thanks to government subsidies, while non-EU students pay higher international fees.
NB: Although the UK is no longer in the EU, UK students also pay Irish/EU fees thanks to a post-Brexit agreement.
Course of study
Different courses at Trinity have different fee levels. Typically, humanities and classroom-based courses are less expensive, whereas science, engineering, and especially medical courses have higher fees.
Knowing which category you fall into and what you plan to study is crucial for understanding your fee obligations. Let’s look first at what Irish and EU students pay, and then at what international students pay. We’ll also see specific examples of fees for various undergraduate courses in 2025/26.
Trinity College Dublin Fees for Irish & EU Students (2025/26)
If you are an Irish or EU student (for fee purposes this usually includes EU/UK citizens or those with permanent residency in the EU/UK), you benefit from Ireland’s Free Fees Initiative. This means the Irish government covers a substantial portion of your tuition cost for your first undergraduate degree, and you are only required to pay the Student Contribution and some other minor charges.
Student Contribution
For the 2025/26 academic year, the student contribution fee is approximately €3,000 per year. This fee applies to all EU undergraduate students and covers student services, exam costs, and other academic administration. It’s essentially the portion of the fee that Irish/EU students pay out-of-pocket annually.
(In the 2024/25 year this contribution was temporarily reduced to €2,000 by the government, but for 2025/26 it has returned to around €3,000.)
Tuition Fee (covered by the State)
In addition to the student contribution, each course has an official tuition fee amount. Irish/EU students do not usually pay this tuition fee directly if they qualify for free fees; instead, the government pays it to the university.
The amount of this tuition fee varies by course. For example, an arts or business course might have an annual tuition of about €2,681, while a science course might have a tuition of €4,332, and a medicine or engineering course can be around €5,000+. These differences reflect the cost of delivering the programme (lab and clinical programs cost more to run than lecture-based ones).
When you combine the tuition fee and the student contribution, you get the total fee per year for an Irish/EU student. Here are typical total annual fees for Irish/EU undergraduates in 2025/26 across different course types:
| Course / Faculty (Undergraduate) | Student Contribution | Additional Fee (paid by the state) |
| Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business | ~€3,000 | € 2,681 |
| STEM | ~€3,000 | € 4,332 |
| Nursing & Midwifery | ~€3,000 | € 4,106 |
| Medicine | ~€3,000 | € 5,371 |
| Allied Health | ~€3,000 | € 5,371 |
| Creative Arts | ~€3,000 | € 6,550 |
Important: To qualify for the Irish/EU fee rates, you must meet certain residency and citizenship criteria. Generally, if you are an Irish citizen or an EU/UK citizen (or have permanent residency in an EU country / the UK) and you haven’t already completed an undergraduate degree, you are eligible for the subsidised fees.
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Trinity College Dublin Fees for International Students
International students (those who do not qualify as EU students) pay full tuition fees without government subsidy. These non-EU fees are significantly higher and vary by course. If you’re an international student planning to attend Trinity in 2025/26, here’s what to expect:
| Course / Faculty (Undergraduate) | Annual Fee – Irish/EU Student | Annual Fee – International Student |
| Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business | €5,681 total (Irish/EU student pays ~€3,000) | ~€22,000 per year |
| STEM | €7,332 total (Irish/EU student pays ~€3,000) | ~€28,900 per year |
| Nursing & Midwifery | €7,106 total (Irish/EU student pays ~€3,000) | ~€24,900 per year |
| Medicine – Bachelor of Medicine | €8,371 total (Irish/EU student pays ~€3,000) | €26,000–€57,000 per year (varies by year) |
| Allied Health | €8,371 total (Irish/EU student pays ~€3,000) | ~€26,270 per year |
| Creative Arts | €9,550 total *(Irish/EU student pays €3,000) | €24,760 per year |
It’s clear that international fees are a major financial commitment. Trinity and the Irish government do offer some scholarships for non-EU students (for instance, Global Excellence scholarships) that can offset part of the cost, so it’s worth exploring those if you’re an international applicant. Additionally, non-EU students are usually required to pay a deposit when accepting an offer, which later counts toward the tuition fee.
Table Notes:
- For some creative arts courses, e.g. Acting, the full fees are paid by the student.
- Medicine’s international fee range reflects different costs in different years of the programme (with clinical years being most expensive).
Other Costs to Consider
While Trinity College Dublin’s tuition fees are the main focus of this guide, it’s important to briefly mention other costs associated with studying at Trinity, as aspiring students should factor these in.
Student Levies and Charges
All Trinity students must pay an annual Student Levies and Charges (SLC) fee. This is separate from tuition. It covers things like the Sports Centre membership, student facilities, graduation fees, and (from 2025/26) an Irish language levy.
For a full-time undergraduate, this charge is approximately €250 per year (a little over €200, plus a €8 optional student union fee). This is paid by both Irish/EU and international students.
Accommodation and Living Expenses
Dublin is known for its high cost of living. If you’re moving to Dublin for university, you should budget for rent, utilities, food, transport, and personal expenses. On average, living costs for a student in Dublin can range from €1,100 to €1,800 per month, depending on your lifestyle and accommodation choice. That comes to roughly €12,000–€18,000 for a full year.
Trinity College estimates around €15,000 per academic year for basic living expenses (not including tuition). Living in student accommodation or shared apartments, cooking at home, and using student discounts can help manage these costs.
Books and Materials
Depending on your course, you may need to buy textbooks, equipment, or other materials. Some courses (like art/design or certain science labs) have additional materials or lab coat costs. Budget a few hundred euro per year for books and supplies – possibly more for specialised equipment (e.g. a personal laptop if required, art supplies, etc.).
Health Insurance
Non-EU international students are required to have private health insurance in Ireland. This can cost anywhere from €200 up to €1000 per year depending on the plan. It’s an important factor for visa compliance and peace of mind. EU students can use an EHIC card for public health services, but additional insurance is often recommended.
Travel and Miscellaneous
If you’re an international student, consider visa fees and flights. Even for local students, budget for commuting in Dublin – student Leap travel cards for bus/DART can cost around €80-€100 per month if you use public transport regularly.
Plus, everyone should allow some money for social life and extracurricular activities – university is more than just tuition and rent!
Final Thoughts
Planning for university finances can seem daunting, but knowing the facts about Trinity College Dublin’s fees will help you prepare.
In summary, undergraduate tuition fees at Trinity vary by your residency status and your course. Irish and EU students benefit from subsidised fees and typically pay only a €3,000 contribution each year (with the government covering the rest of the tuition, which ranges from about €2,700 to €5,500 depending on the course).
International students pay the full cost of their courses, which can range from about €20k per year for most arts programs to nearly €30k for sciences, and much higher for medicine.
Remember to always double-check the latest fees on Trinity’s official website or contact the Academic Registry, as universities can adjust fees annually. If you’re serious about Trinity, also look into scholarships or grants that might be available to you – every little helps!
Now that you have a handle on Trinity College Dublin’s fees for undergraduate students, you can budget accordingly and focus on the exciting prospects of college life. Good luck with your application and studies at Trinity College Dublin!
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FAQs
For Irish and EU students, Trinity College Dublin fees typically include a €3,000 student contribution plus a tuition fee paid by the government (ranging from about €2,700 to €6,500 depending on the course). Most eligible students only pay the €3,000 annually.
For international students, fees are significantly higher – from €22,000 per year for arts and humanities degrees to over €28,000 for science and engineering, and up to €57,000 for medicine in the later years.
In addition to tuition, all students must pay Student Levies and Charges (SLC) of around €250 per year. You should also budget for living expenses in Dublin, which can range from €12,000–€18,000 per year depending on lifestyle and accommodation. Other potential costs include textbooks, travel, and – for international students – private health insurance and visa-related fees.
No, Trinity College Dublin fees vary by course. Arts, social sciences, and business degrees are generally less expensive, while science, engineering, nursing, and health sciences cost more due to lab or clinical components. Specialised courses like acting at The Lir Academy also have their own fee structure.
International students should expect much greater variation, with medicine and allied health programmes being the most expensive.
Despite Brexit, UK students still pay Irish/EU tuition fees at Trinity College Dublin due to a bilateral agreement. That means UK undergraduates typically only pay the €3,000 student contribution each year, provided they meet residency and eligibility requirements.
Yes, Trinity offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships for international (non-EU) students, such as the Global Excellence Scholarship. These awards vary in amount and are competitive, but they can help offset the high cost of studying at Trinity. Students should check the university’s scholarship deadlines and criteria well in advance.
Eligibility depends on your citizenship, residency status, and educational history. Generally, you qualify if you are an Irish, UK, or EU/EEA citizen (or hold long-term residency in one of these areas) and have lived in the EU/EEA/UK for at least three of the five years before your course. You must also be pursuing your first undergraduate degree. Trinity College’s admissions office can confirm your exact fee status based on your application.