Ready to Start
Your Pathway to University College Dublin?
If you were invited by University College Dublin, ensure you apply only through the link you were provided.
We are thrilled to extend an admission offer to Verto participants who meet our outlined eligibility requirements. This unique opportunity provides a global, transformative learning experience designed to help you begin your college journey on a high note. The curriculum encourages both personal growth and academic achievement, setting the stage for success at the University College Dublin.
3.2+ GPA
24+ Credits
1 year
*All eligibility requirements listed below
How does the
Direct
Transfer Pathway work?
Transfer Pathway work?
Apply to Verto to begin your pathway to University College Dublin .
Review University College Dublin 's full eligibility requirements for guaranteed admission and set academic goals for your experience abroad.
Embark on your Verto abroad experience and work with staff on-site to submit your free Verto Partner Application to University College Dublin .
Arrive on campus at University College Dublin with a deeper global perspective and skill set that will serve you as a student and well into your future.
*Admission only guaranteed if the respective school has capacity and/or program/major availability.
Some schools or majors may have additional eligibility or application requirements. Students must maintain good conduct and meet the college's admissions requirements.
UCD is one of the world’s top universities according to the 2024 QS World University Rankings, and is also ranked in the top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide.
Ireland’s largest university campus, UCD is a vibrant student community of over 30,000 students with over 30% of our student population hailing from countries outside of Ireland. Located just south of Dublin city-center, UCD students have easy access to campus, vibrant city life, and an easy gateway to the rest of Europe.
"UCD has decided to partner with Verto to provide an additional opportunity for students from the United States to earn their degree abroad after completing their first year elsewhere."
-Jim Pierson Senior Regional Manager
University College Dublin Students Are:
Independent
Globally-minded
Focused
>30,000
student body
16:1
average class size
#1
in Ireland in QS World University Rankings for Sustainability
Over 30%
international students
Among Irish applicants, UCD continues to be the most sought after university in the country.
ACADEMICS
Verto participants have the opportunity to enroll in several of UCD’s streamlined degrees through the Direct Transfer Pathway. These programs are all designed to be completed within 3 years on the UCD campus:
TRANSFER STUDENT SUPPORT
Transfer students receive the same level of onboarding and support as any first year student. In Ireland it is not uncommon for students to come in as first years after a gap, so UCD is well equipped to support students in any stage of their college process.
FINANCES
UCD provides scholarships based on academic merit at the time of application, as well as an additional larger scholarship to apply to by February of the prior academic year. Funding for UCD can be through US subsidized and unsubsidized direct loans, PLUS loans, GI Bill and V.A. Bill for some programs and for eligible students and private loans. Up-to-date details of tuition fees by program of study and any additional program costs, please check UCD fees website: www.ucd.ie/fees
STUDENT LIFE
UCD boasts over 70+ student organizations and sports clubs that all students may become involved in. Take a look at the options linked above, and learn more about each organization during Freshers Week at the start of each school year.
UCD is a vibrant student community with over 4,000 students living in state-of-the-art facilities just only 5km from Dublin city center. Verto students entering into one of the designated direct-transfer programs will be guaranteed on-campus housing for their first year at UCD.
Students interested in studying abroad through UCD may have the opportunity to do so, though it is dependent on the course that they are pursuing.
University College Dublin offers guaranteed admission through the Direct Transfer Pathway to a limited number of programs: Please reference What Programs are Included?
For all included courses, students will need to earn the following:
- 3.2+ GPA while abroad with Verto
- 24+ Credit Hours while abroad with Verto
- Receipt of a minimum grade C in an English course offered through Verto (or in a high school Grade 11 or 12 English course)
Additionally, a US High School Diploma from a recognized US high school or a passing score on an equivalent high school equivalency exam (GED, HiSET, TASC, CHSPE) is required for all students.
Some included programs require additional coursework for admission.
UCD only accepts new students for a fall start.
If a spring semester abroad with Verto is your only college experience and you are interested in starting at UCD in the fall, we encourage you to apply directly to UCD outside of our partnership with Verto. You will be reviewed based on your full academic profile, including both high school academic achievement and your college experience.
If a fall semester abroad with Verto is your only college experience and you are interested in starting at UCD in the fall, we encourage you to either complete an additional semester with Verto to apply through Direct Transfer, or take a gap semester and apply directly for fall. If you apply directly to UCD, you will be reviewed based on your full academic profile, including both high school academic achievement and your college experience.
If you only have one semester of college work with Verto, but completed prior coursework elsewhere, please reference What if I have taken college coursework between graduating high school and starting at Verto?
Only the following programs are included in the Direct Transfer Pathway: Verto participants have the opportunity to enroll in several of UCD’s streamlined degrees through the Direct Transfer Pathway. These programs are all designed to be completed within 3 years on the UCD campus:
- BA Joint Honours
- Commerce
- BSc Business
- Architecture
- Social Policy & Sociology
- Economics
- BSc in Politics and International Relations
Students applying to the BA Joint Honours program choose two subjects. Explore the subject combination grid here for available combinations.
Some programs also have additional requirements for admission:
- For Business, Architecture, and Social Sciences:
- Receipt of a minimum grade C in a freshman level college/university maths or statistics course. If students did not take a college level math, UCD will review high school academic profile for eligibility for these programs.
- For Arts & Humanities applicants planning to study a modern language (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, or French):
- Receipt of a minimum grade C in a freshman level college/university language course. If students did not take a college level language, UCD will review high school academic profile for eligibility for these programs.
Note that program offerings and eligibility may change year to year.
Students interested in programs not included in Direct Transfer (any programs outside of BA Joint Honours, Commerce, BSc Business, Architecture, Social Policy & Sociology, and Economics) can apply directly to UCD for other programs. Other courses at UCD are not guaranteed for entry but Verto applicants can still be considered when they apply directly (not through the Verto Partner Application). It is important to note that for other courses transfer credit will not be guaranteed and will likely result in a full four years of study on campus following the Verto experience.
Explore other programs UCD offers but are not included in the Direct Transfer Pathway here.
All UCD courses available through the Verto Direct Transfer Program are 3 year courses as a standard length, so students will only have to complete 3 years of study at UCD to receive their bachelor’s degree. Depending on the program students enroll in, some Verto courses may count as electives or prerequisites, but this would not impact total time on campus.
New students can only start undergraduate courses at UCD in September.
If you have completed a full year of college coursework but not met the minimum GPA requirements, while you won’t be eligible for the guarantee, we still encourage you to work with your Verto Care Team to prepare and submit a Verto Partner Application. You will be reviewed based on your full academic experience, including high school academic achievement and college experience.
If you only participate in one semester abroad with Verto and have not completed a full year of college coursework, we encourage you to apply directly to UCD outside of the partnership with Verto. You will be reviewed based on your full academic profile, including both high school academic achievement and your college experience.
In these cases UCD will require review of your high school transcript and any standardized test scores (ACT, SAT, AP, IP, etc).
You may be eligible for the Direct Transfer guarantee to University College Dublin for the designated programs! You would need to meet the credit equivalent of one full-time college academic year and 3.2 GPA through the combination of your prior college experience and Verto.
Yes, you will need to provide a passing score on an equivalent high school equivalency exam (GED, HiSET, TASC, CHSPE) in addition to the other required documents.
Yes, international students may be eligible for the Direct Transfer Pathway.
- EU-fee eligible applicants are not eligible for the Direct Transfer Pathway and must apply via the CAO. Information on EU Fee Eligibility can be found here: https://www.ucd.ie/students/fees/eufeeassessment/
- All applicants must meet the minimum English Language requirements. Information is available at https://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/undergraduate/entryrequirements/
If you have questions around the application process, work with your Verto Care Team. If you have UCD-specific questions, you can Contact Us online.
Once you arrive to your Verto location, you can begin working with Verto staff to prepare your application to UCD. We recommend submitting your application during your fall semester with Verto as opposed to waiting until the spring.
- Programs that reach capacity will be closed to new applications so interested applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
-
There are scholarship opportunities that may be available to applicants that apply in the fall semester.
- Final High School Transcript or High School Equivalency Exam Score
- Unofficial copies of all College/University Transcripts
- Standardized Test Score Reports (ACT/SAT/AP/IB)
Note that students applying to the BA Joint Honours program choose two subjects. Explore the subject combination grid here for available combinations. Selecting two subjects that cannot be combined on your MyVerto Partner Application will delay processing of your application to UCD.
Applicants will need a valid passport to study in Ireland and will need to follow all Irish immigration regulations. US and Canadian citizens, and citizens of some other countries, do not need a visa to study in Ireland. Some countries are visa required – more information is available at:
https://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/studentimmigration/
.
UCD reviews applications on a rolling basis. The average turnaround time for a decision is 6-8 weeks from submission.
Students will receive a Conditional Offer requiring they meet the eligibility requirements following their first year of undergraduate studies through Verto. Once UCD receives your official transcript with all first-year final grades, and all eligibility requirements are met, then the offer will become firm.
New students can only start undergraduate courses at UCD in September
If you receive an offer to study at UCD for the upcoming September intake and do not wish to begin your studies at that time you can:
- Request to defer your offer – in order to defer you must meet all offer conditions, accept your offer, and pay the €500 course deposit, which will be used as a deferral fee and applied to your tuition charges.
- Or, submit a new application in the next application year. Applications will be assessed under the requirements of the new application year irrespective of the previous year’s decisions – the direct transfer program guarantees will no longer apply.
Due to the nature of a three-year program, students are unable to transfer into a different program once they have commenced their studies at UCD and still graduate on time. Changing majors will mean beginning from Stage 1 and completing the full 3 or 4 year degree.
For Arts & Humanities BA Joint Honours, students have two weeks to change their Arts subject combination during their first year on campus at UCD.
UCD has decided to partner with Verto to provide an additional opportunity for students from the United States to earn their degree abroad after completing their first year elsewhere.
Learn More About University College Dublin
