Admission to UCD is based on points, through CAO, not on an interview or essay. Each programme has a cut-off (points requirement) set annually by supply and demand. Very competitive programmes (Medicine, Veterinary, Actuarial, certain branches of engineering) require very high scores, while many Arts, Science, Agricultural Science or Social Sciences programmes are more accessible. For Romanians, the Baccalaureate is converted into CAO points based on the overall average: as a guide, an average close to 10 places you competitively. You check the exact points requirement for each programme code on ucd.ie.

As an EU citizen, you enter through the Free Fees Initiative: the Irish state pays your tuition fee, and you pay only the student contribution of around EUR 2,750 per year (€2,500 Student Contribution plus ~€254 Student Centre Levy in 2026-27, total ~€2,754). A non-EU student pays between EUR 17,000 and 35,000 per year in tuition alone. To this you add the cost of living in Dublin: accommodation €700-€1,100 per month, food €300-€450 per month, transport ~€40-€60 per month. Total cost per year all-in: ~€15,000-€20,000, with accommodation being the main expense, not the fees.

The Free Fees Initiative is the scheme under which the Irish state (Department of Further and Higher Education) pays universities directly the tuition fee for eligible undergraduate students. You are eligible if you are an EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK citizen and have been resident in this area for at least 3 of the last 5 years before enrolment. In practice, as a Romanian you pay only the student contribution of around EUR 2,500 per year, not the EUR 17,000-35,000 of tuition. It is one of the biggest advantages of EU citizenship for studying in Ireland.

Yes, all programmes at UCD are taught entirely in English, because English is the official language of Ireland. This is an enormous advantage over destinations such as Spain, France or Germany, where you need a B2 in a new language for bachelor's degrees. For Romanian students who have not studied in English, UCD may require proof of proficiency: IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 per component) or TOEFL iBT 90 plus, or equivalent (Cambridge C1 Advanced, Duolingo). Many previous English-language qualifications or certain Baccalaureate components may be accepted as an exemption from the English test.

UCD is renowned for: Business (UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and Lochlann Quinn School, among the few in the world with triple accreditation AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA), Engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, biomedical), Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics), Agriculture and Food Science (recognised globally, the only faculty of this kind in Ireland), Law (Sutherland School of Law), plus Medicine, Architecture and Social Sciences. In the QS World 2026 by Subject rankings, UCD had five disciplines in the top 50 worldwide. All these programmes are taught in English.

As an EU citizen you apply through CAO (Central Applications Office), the centralised Irish system, not directly to UCD. The steps: 1) You create an account on cao.ie. 2) You choose up to 10 Level 8 (bachelor's) options ranked by preference. 3) Your Baccalaureate is converted into CAO points based on the overall average. 4) You pay the application fee (~EUR 45-60). Normal deadline: 1 February; late deadline with a higher fee: 1 May. Offers are made in rounds from August, depending on your points and on each programme's cut-off. You accept the offer online and then complete registration on the UCD portal.

As a Romanian citizen (EU), you do not need a study visa for Ireland; you enter freely with your ID card or passport. After arrival, you obtain a PPS number (Personal Public Service Number), the Irish equivalent of the personal numeric code, needed for a bank account, part-time work and public services. You register free of charge at an Intreo centre with proof of address and of admission to UCD. For healthcare, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers your basic emergencies; many students also take out additional private insurance. As an EU citizen you have the automatic right to work part-time during your studies, without authorisation.

Yes, as an EU citizen you have the automatic right to work in Ireland without a visa or work permit, both during your studies (part-time) and after graduation. Ireland is one of the strongest technology and financial hubs in Europe: the European headquarters of Google, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Stripe, Accenture and numerous banks and pharma companies are in Dublin. UCD graduates in Business, Engineering, Computer Science and Science are in high demand, with competitive starting salaries at European level. Holding a degree recognised in the EU, you can then work anywhere in the European Union without a visa.