[NiniTanya]

I have emailed the college itself but still quite unsure, I have read posts on here that say Trinity needs at least A* A* A* and An A.

In their admissions, you basically needed 6 GCSE'S grade C or above
Including Maths,English and a language.

Then 3 A levels.. probably 3 A's depending on the course.

Is this correct? I have calculated through the points system on their website
how many points 3 full A levels at grade A come too and that should be more than enough to get on the likes of a 545* course.. Psychology for instance.

Does anyone know if 3 A's in a level would be enough??

[soxygirl]

I did 4 A Levels but I have friends that did 3 who are applying. Apparently if you did a 4th As Level and then dropped it you can count it as well, the only thing is that it counts for less CAO points which is why most people suggest keeping on 4 A2 Levels because the points requirements are so high for TCD.

Are you by any chance from NI? it's just I'm struggling to get any info about how much maintenance loan you get for studying in Dublin *I tried ringing student finance and they said they didn't know* someone told me it would be half of what you get for studying in the UK...

[gutenberg]

(Original post by soxygirl)
I did 4 A Levels but I have friends that did 3 who are applying. Apparently if you did a 4th As Level and then dropped it you can count it as well, the only thing is that it counts for less CAO points which is why most people suggest keeping on 4 A2 Levels because the points requirements are so high for TCD.

Are you by any chance from NI? it's just I'm struggling to get any info about how much maintenance loan you get for studying in Dublin *I tried ringing student finance and they said they didn't know* someone told me it would be half of what you get for studying in the UK...

Are you sure you're eligible for the maintenance loan if studying in Dublin? There is no such system for Irish (Republic) students and afaik students from the UK don't receive any maintenance if they study in the Republic... Maybe check out the Republic's system of student grants for those in hardship, NI students might be eligible for them?

[soxygirl]

I'm pretty sure we are because up until a month ago the registration fee for NI students was paid by the local library board. When I rang Student Finance NI they were able to guess at a figure but said it was under review which is really frustrating because I'm trying to sort out living costs to help finalise my decisions etc. I checked the Irish grant system but you have to have lived in the Republic for at least 3 of the past 5 years.

[gutenberg]

Ok fair enough, I wasn't sure about the system: most of the students I knew from the UK were English, but NI has always been a special case with regards to institutions in the Republic. Although you say 'up until a month ago': has something changed in that regard?

What have you applied for?

[soxygirl]

Yeah, Stormont announced that the registration fee would only be paid for this year's applicants and after that those looking to study into the Republic would have to apply for a student loan for the registration fees.

I applied for French and English at TCD and the BA in Arts at UCD but I'm also holding a firm offer from Nottingham to do Law and French and my insurance is Law and French at Queens.

[gutenberg]

http://www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/po...ema=PORTAL#ROI (right down the very bottom).

I presume you've seen this? I'm not sure how up to date it is if, as you say, the rates are under review, but if that is the case then nobody on any thread will know until they've announced it.

Good luck with the app; I know several people who did English at TCD and Arts in UCD, so any queries etc I'll do my best to answer if you like.

[Negaduck]

I don't understand the CAO in the slightest, despite having applied through it this year. Luckily for me, I'm pretty much set on moving to England anyway, ROI was more of a backup. The point system in ROI hurts most A-level students who do 3 A-levels. Even with three A*s you barely get the minimum points for some Trinity courses. If you haven't started A-levles yet then definitely do 4.

@Soxygirl: I'm from Northern Ireland too and i'm pretty pissed off about the lack of information in regards to everything. Apparently I could have had free tuition fees in Scotland due to my Irish passport despite not living in ROI. (thanks for telling me that well after i've applied for 4 English Universities and Queen's)

[soxygirl]

@Gutenberg I hadn't seen that particular table thanks, they've updated the page =) And that's lovely, I don't see me getting the TCD course though =/

@Negaduck Yeah it's irritating, they really brushed over the whole registration fee thing on the news and none of my teachers knew about the maintenance loan situation because Student Finance NI didn't put much about it in their guidance package. As for Scotland, I avoided applying because it's a different type of Law, had I known about the Irish thing I would have gone for Edinburgh. That said, a few of my friends got Irish passports and were then told by their choices (mainly St Andrew's) that they'd have to review their offers now that they were classed as EU students, not Home because the university had to meet certain entrance quotas.