As an EU citizen resident in the EU for at least 3 of the last 5 years, you are eligible for the Free Fees Initiative: the Irish state covers your tuition and you pay only the student contribution, around EUR 2,500 per year (cut permanently by EUR 500 under Budget 2026 for the 2026-27 year). That compares with the full non-EU tuition of EUR 18,000 to EUR 30,000 plus per year (non-EU Medicine can exceed EUR 50,000). Adding Dublin accommodation (EUR 700-EUR 1,200 per month) plus food and transport, the total cost of a year for a Romanian is around EUR 13,000 to EUR 18,000, drastically below the UK or the USA.

Applications are made centrally through the CAO (Central Applications Office) at cao.ie, not directly to the university. CAO works on a system of points (maximum 625), and the Romanian Baccalaureate is converted into CAO points through an equivalence grid (overall average plus the marks from the relevant exams). You can choose up to 10 level 8 bachelor programmes, ordered by preference, and you are admitted to the highest-ranked option for which your score is sufficient. The normal application deadline usually closes on 1 February.

Yes, Ireland is a natively English-speaking country and all of Trinity's undergraduate programmes are taught entirely in English. You do not face the language barrier you encounter in Spain, France or Germany. For proof of language proficiency, the standard requirement is usually IELTS 6.5 (no individual band below 6.0) or an equivalent TOEFL iBT ~88-90. Some candidate profiles (strongly performing English at the Bac or prior studies in English) may qualify for a waiver; check the official Trinity criteria.

The Free Fees Initiative is a scheme of the Irish state under which the government covers tuition for eligible undergraduate students, and the student pays only the student contribution (around EUR 2,500 per year, cut permanently by EUR 500 under Budget 2026). Eligible are citizens of the EU, EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom who have been resident in these areas for at least 3 of the last 5 years before the start of the course. For a Romanian who meets the residence criterion, this means a saving of EUR 15,000 to EUR 27,000 plus per year compared with the non-EU rate, simply through EU citizen status.

First of all, the Free Fees Initiative is itself the biggest advantage (tuition covered, you pay only ~EUR 2,500 student contribution). In addition: SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) is the national grant that can cover the student contribution and provide a maintenance grant to EU students who meet income and residence criteria (susi.ie). Trinity has its own scholarships (Trinity Scholarships, merit, need-based, sport, leadership awards). As a Romanian, you can also apply for scholarships from the Romanian Ministry of Education for studies abroad, plus possible scholarships from your town hall or county council. These sources can be combined, but have separate deadlines.

Trinity is renowned above all for the humanities (English Literature, History, Classics, Philosophy, the home of Wilde, Beckett and Swift), Law (School of Law, one of the most prestigious in Europe), Business (Trinity Business School, triple-accredited), sciences (Genetics, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Nanoscience) and medicine (School of Medicine, one of the oldest in the world). In the QS subject rankings, Trinity does very well in English Language and Literature, Classics, Nursing and Politics. The competitive programmes (Law, Medicine, Business) require high CAO scores, close to the ceiling of 625.

No. As a Romanian (EU) citizen you have the right of free movement and do not need a study visa for Ireland. You can move with a Romanian passport or identity card. After arriving in Dublin, you obtain a PPS number (Personal Public Service Number, the Irish equivalent of the CNP), needed for a bank account, a rental contract, a part-time job and access to services. Also as an EU citizen, you have access to the labour market without restrictions, so you can work part-time during your studies and full-time after graduation, without a work permit.

Yes, without restrictions, as an EU citizen. Unlike the United Kingdom or the USA where you need a work visa, as a Romanian (EU) citizen you have the automatic right to work in Ireland. Dublin is one of the largest tech hubs in Europe, with the European headquarters of Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, LinkedIn, Stripe, plus a strong financial sector (IFSC) and pharma industry (Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson). English is the official language, and Trinity graduates have an excellent reputation on the job market. With a degree recognised across the EU, you can subsequently work anywhere in the Union, without a visa.