Graduate Offer Pack Congratulations 1 2021-2022 Graduate Offer Pack TThhrreeee yyeaearrss inin aa rrooww.. RRAANNKKEEDD ININ IRELANDIRELAND FORFOR GRADUGRADUAATETE EMPEMPLLOOYYABILITYABILITY NNoo..11 22018018 • • 22001919 • • 22020200 JAV13696_UCD_GradEmploy_PullUp_2150x850_V2.inddJAV13696_UCD_GradEmploy_PullUp_2150x850_V2.indd 1 1 22/11/201922/11/2019 14:47 14:47 Graduate Offer Pack Congratulations 01 CONGRATULATIONS Welcome to University College Dublin and congratulations on being offered a place in one of Europe’s leading research-intensive universities. UCD is Ireland’s leader in graduate education with over possible. In the coming pages, we have included what we 8,000 graduate students of which almost a quarter are think might be some helpful information to you as a new graduate research students. student. This includes information about the admissions process and what you must do next in order to accept UCD offers a unique campus environment with world your offer, as well as information about the University class degree programmes and research sitting side-by- and the city of Dublin. side with a wonderful array of clubs, societies, sporting facilities, student residences and woodland walkways. Upon entering one of our graduate programmes you University life should be a journey of academic and will begin on a path of intellectual stimulation, learning personal discovery and the UCD campus facilitates new skills and expanding your knowledge of your chosen both. We encourage our students to “Learn Today, Lead discipline. It is a tremendously rewarding experience and Tomorrow”. Many of UCD’s graduates have gone on to one which will both enrich your life and enhance your leadership positions in Ireland and across the globe in career prospects. academia, medicine, engineering, the arts, sports and politics. UCD graduates are consistently ranked highly by I look forward to welcoming you to graduate global employers and enjoy excellent job prospects. studies at UCD. Indeed for the third year in a row, UCD is ranked number one in Ireland for graduate employability by QS World University Rankings. UCD is ranked 78 in the world. This Graduate Offer Pack has been prepared with the Professor Barbara Dooley intention of making your transition to UCD as smooth as Dean of Graduate Studies University College Dublin 02 Ireland’s Global University CONTENTS What to Do Now 04 Financial Information 08 Funding and Scholarships 13 Accommodation 16 Visa Information 18 Staying in Touch 22 Registration 23 Orientation 24 Destination UCD 26 Student Support Services 30 Alumni Supports 34 Sport and Recreation 36 Destination Ireland 38 Destination Dublin 42 Visiting UCD 45 Recommendations from our Students 46 Graduate Offer Pack Congratulations 03 Congratulations on receiving an offer to come and study at University College Dublin, Ireland’s global university. At UCD, we pride ourselves on our excellent teaching and research, our broad and diverse curriculum, and our brilliant student body, 29% of whom hail from over 140 countries around the world. University College Dublin 04 Ireland’s Global University What to DO NOW As soon as you receive your offer you need to: ACCEPT DEFER or DECLINE ACCEPTING YOUR OFFER You must accept your offer in order to reserve your place TYPES OF OFFER at UCD. You may be required to pay a non-refundable deposit which will then be deducted from your fee Unconditional Offer or Full Offer obligations. The deadline for accepting your offer will be An Unconditional Offer or Full Offer means that stated in your official online offer letter. An offer, whether you have met all the entry requirements for the conditional or unconditional, will be made in good faith programme. taking into account information as supplied by the applicant and/ or referee at the time of the application. Conditional Offer A Conditional Offer means that you will be UCD reserves the right to withdraw any offer if deemed accepted if you meet certain entry requirements, necessary at a later stage. By acceptance of an offer of as specified in your offer letter. admission, the applicant agrees to be bound by the rules, regulations and policies of the University. Graduate Offer Pack What to do now 05 • Log in to your application account at www.ucd.ie/global/apply • Upon logging in, you will see that your application appears with the status of ‘OFFER’. Click on ‘ACCEPT OR REJECT’ and it will bring you to the page where you can accept the offer, and pay the deposit, if appropriate. ACCEPT • Your acceptance will not be complete until you A FULL OR successfully submit your acceptance online and, where CONDITIONAL appropriate, pay the deposit. OFFER • Upon acceptance of your offer UCD will automatically create a student record for you. Following this you will receive an email confirmation of your acceptance, including your student number. • If for some reason you are unable to take up your offer of a place at UCD, please contact the UCD Global Admissions team so see if you can defer your offer to the DEFER next academic year. You can view the Deferral Policy on AN OFFER our website at www.ucd.ie/registry University College Dublin 06 Ireland’s Global University • Log in to your application account at www.ucd.ie/global/apply • Upon logging in, you will see that your application appears REJECT with the status of ‘OFFER’ or ‘CONDITIONAL OFFER’. AN OFFER Click on ‘ACCEPT OR REJECT’ and it will bring you to the page where you can reject the offer. Please indicate your reason for doing so. MEETING THE CONDITIONS OF YOUR OFFER For all proficiency tests the results must be dated within English language condition two years of the programme start date. Some courses All UCD programmes are taught through English, and have higher English language requirements. Please make applicants from non-English speaking countries must sure to check the English language requirements provide evidence of competence in English language for your chosen programme of study. through a recognised English language test, or equivalent. Academic condition Please refer to www.ucd.ie/registry and specific If your offer is conditional upon obtaining a degree, programme requirements and carefully note the the offer letter will state the level required. When your requirements detailed in your offer letter. degree results are known, please upload a certified copy of your results. We may also ask for original transcripts to be mailed. Official translations must be provided with the original/copy documents where documents are not in English. Any offer will be conditional until we have received satisfactory original transcripts. Graduate Offer Pack What to do now 07 Deposit condition PRE-ARRIVAL CHECKLIST A deposit of c500 is payable to secure a place on most courses. Deposits are non-refundable. The deposit amount will be deducted from your fee obligation. Pay your fees Proof of identity Organise health insurance Applicants should be aware that, if admitted to a programme, they will be required to present either their birth certificate or passport as part of the registration Apply for a visa process. (if applicable) Contacts Make accommodation UCD Global Admissions Team arrangements [email protected] UCD School Contacts Make travel arrangements www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies/contact/schools/ Participate in the Jumpstart Programme Join the UCD Alumni Network Start registration Arrive in time for orientation University College Dublin 08 Ireland’s Global University FINANCIAL Information PROGRAMME FEES In order to complete the registration process, you must confirm your registration and pay the appropriate fee. A detailed breakdown of your fee obligation is available while registering in the SIS (Student Information System) through your UCD Connect account. When to pay fees to UCD Students may pay fees by trimester: • You may pay one third of your fee in trimester and the remainder in trimester two • If you are on a 3-trimester programme you may pay your fee in thirds by semester Further information on payment dates is available at: www.ucd.ie/students/fees student visa to students who have paid their tuition fees If you require a visa to study in Ireland, normally the visa in full or paid a minimum deposit to the value of c6,000 application requires that you pay the greater of c6,000 or 50% of tution fees. Please ensure that you have paid or half the tuition fee prior to submitting your visa and received a receipt to the value of the minimum visa application, but it is advisable to check directions from payment requirement, so as to avoid visa refusal on the the specific visa office you are applying through. basis of incomplete tuition fee payment. Note 1: If you require a visa to study in Ireland please Note 2: Using TransferMate is the quickest method to be advised that the Irish Government will only issue a receive a fee receipt for visa purposes. Note 3: Where you are receiving funding from a third party source, you must pay either a half or a third (whichever is applicable to the programme) of any balance of fees and charges in order to be a registered student of the university. HOW DO I PAY FEES? You can pay directly by credit or debit card using UCD’s online payment facility. This is available at www.ucd.ie/sisweb. A receipt will be emailed to you at your default email address or another that you specify. Pay via the TransferMate payment facility. This facility is especially useful for students who require a visa to travel and/or study. You may access this service via webpage: www.ucd.ie/students/fees/howtopay Graduate Offer Pack Financial Information 09 Students making payments from outside Ireland may also pay UCD directly by International Bank Transfer to: IMPORTANT NOTES UCD Fees Account, Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.