Academics

The Trinity Semester Start-Up Programme is MANDATORY.

The programme is designed for international visiting and exchange students and runs at the beginning of the autumn semester semester prior to the start of normal teaching (typically mid-August to early-September). The programme offers an overview of Irish history and culture through a combination of lectures and field trips and gives you an opportunity to gain an understanding of Irish history and culture as well as providing a wonderful opportunity to meet other Visiting Students before term even begins.

 This three-week programme DOES COUNT FOR HOLY CROSS CREDIT AND CAN COUNT FOR A HISTORY COMMON AREA OR A SOCIAL SCIENCE. You must register for 25ECTS for the fall semester since the semester start-up counts as a 5-credit course.

In the spring, you need to register for 30ECTs. 

You can read more about the Semester Start-Up Programme here. 

Firstly, remember that in Ireland, classes are college modules! 

Trinity College Dublin offers students the opportunity to take classes (known as “modules” at Trinity) throughout the various faculties at the University. Rather than applying to the university for general admission, Trinity assesses and admits students to specific areas of study. As a study abroad student, you will specify between 1 and 6 areas of study on your application and then receive admissions decisions for each of your areas of study in your final offer letter. You may take any modules you like in the "areas of study" that you are admitted to. Click here to see the module directory for visiting students and to get a sense of what the different areas of study are. Keep in mind, the Trinity Module Directory includes the most up to date list of modules (classes) available, but you will not be given the final list on offer or the timetabling information until your arrival. Therefore, it is especially important that you apply to all relevant areas of study that you may need to take classes in. 

Again, it is important to note that registration for specific classes does not occur until you arrive at Trinity.

You can search modules here. Use this page to get an idea of the areas of study you'd like to apply to! Keep in mind, however, the the timetables for each module will not be released until you are physically in Dublin, so flexibility is important! What will you do if the History module you want to take conflicts with your Politics module? You'll need to think about some "back-up" modules that you might be interested in! 

Module registration is not done in advance like it is at Holy Cross. Irish students don't typically register for modules until just before the start of any given semester. Since you're going to Ireland, you will do as the Irish do when it comes to registration! Registration for specific classes does not occur until you arrive at Trinity. You will need to keep an eye on your Trinity email once you arrive for instructions on registration procedures. 

Remember- you must register for 30ECTS (credits) each semester! 

One of the most common questions we get in the Office of Study abroad is whether or not a certain class (module) abroad will count towards a student's major, minor, concentration, etc. The answer is...maybe! Here's how it works:

If you think a class might work for your major...

You need to talk to the official study abroad course evaluator in your department.  

Please be prepared with a syllabus and course info where possible. Context is key!

If you think a class might work for your minor...

You need to talk to the official study abroad course evaluator in your department. 

Please be prepared with a syllabus and course info where possible. Context is key!

If you think a class might work for a common area requirement...

You need to talk to the Registrar's Office! You can send an email to Jared Chapman (jchapman@holycross.edu) to gain clarity on common areas requirements abroad. 

Please be prepared with a syllabus and course info where possible. Context is key!

The Holy Cross credit approval system works like this: 

1. After you arrive in Ireland, you will receive an Email from Jared Chapman in the Registrar’s office with instructions for submitting Course Approval Forms (CAFS). You'll submit one CAF per module you are taking. Remember, you need to take 30 credits, which typically means 6 modules You'll submit your CAFs as soon as possible, and no later than 1 week after the start of classes. 

2. Once the Registrar's Office receives your CAFs, they will send classes you'd like to count towards your major(s) and minor(s) to the official Study Abroad Course Evaluators in the relevant department(s) for approval. The Registrar's office will manage the approval of common area requirements themselves. 

3. Once the office hears back from the relevant parties about all of your classes, you will receive an email detailing which classes have/have not been approved. (If you talk to your advisors before you leave and stay in touch during the course selection process, you should not receive any 'surprise' rejections). 

Courses that are NOT accepted for Holy Cross Credit:

1. Online or hybrid (partially online) courses;

2. Pre-professional, business, law, and marketing courses;

3. Other non-liberal arts courses;

4. Courses of similar content to those you have already taken;

5. Any major courses required by your major department to be taken at Holy Cross;

6. Courses taken without a letter grade (e.g. auditing, pass/no pass, etc.)

A module that carries at least 5 credits is equal to one HC course; 

A module that carries 15 credits or higher is equal to two HC courses.

GRADE CONVERSION TRINITY

70+       A

65-69    A-

60-64     B+

55-59   B

50-54     B-

45-49      C+

40-44    C

35-39      C-

30-34     D

29 & below F

At Trinity, you should expect much less busy work and more independent studying in your courses. Most classes at Trinity will only offer two or three assignments for you to show your knowledge (that is the main difference between a course worth 5 ECTs or 10 ECTs). However, you will always need to arrive at your tutorials having completed the assigned readings. This means there is a lot more pressure on the assignments you do get, but there are resources available like the academic writing center and maths center if you feel you are struggling or would like extra help. The class sizes are much larger, so you will need to take the initiative should you need assistance. If you are struggling, reach out to the TA you have in tutorials, they are more than willing to help! 

If you have any history of accommodations for learning disabilities or anything similar, you must let the Office of Study Abroad know so we can start making arrangements at Trinity now. It is very important that you take personal ownership over your own experience. It's a good idea to think about the support you might need in advance so we can start planning now.  In Ireland, academic accommodations are not as common as they are in the united states, and may look a little different to what you are accustomed to at Holy Cross. You can read more about academic accommodations at Trinity here.