Student Accommodation for TCD Newbies

KKBL

Hello, I'm considering putting TCD as my first choice on the CAO form but need to gather some info regarding accommodation options. The accommodation section on the website is confusing. Is there accommodation available for first year students on the actual campus in the city centre? It seems to be cheaper than Trinity Halls and obviously there would be savings in transport costs. I'm going on my own so I'm not interested in private renting and I don't want to stay in a diggs. Are there any student apartment complex's nearby?
I want to do Science and I'd rather do it in TCD, but the accommodation options seem expensive, infeasible and difficult to come across while the accom in UCD is not...

ApeXaviour

KKBL wrote: »

Is there accommodation available for first year students on the actual campus in the city centre?

Short answer: no.


Long answer: considering the location, size of campus, and demand among students, TCD do not offer campus accommodation places to first years. In general it is quite difficult to secure a place on campus. One either needs to be lucky, be a sports club/society captain/auditor, SU sabbat officer, scholar (exams for which are usually sat in second year), have a disability or speak Irish fluently (and not be a first year).

I would highly recommend applying for accommodation in Halls out in Dartry for your first year however, and perhaps renting privately (which can be cheaper) in subsequent years once you've gotten the lay of the land. Anyone I've ever known who's lived there can't seem to recommend it enough, it just seemed like so much fun it made me regret being from Dublin. They made close long-term friends... I'm guessing because everybody is in the same boat.

KKBL

ApeXaviour wrote: »

Short answer: no.


Long answer: considering the location, size of campus, and demand among students, TCD do not offer campus accommodation places to first years. In general it is quite difficult to secure a place on campus. One either needs to be lucky, be a sports club/society captain/auditor, SU sabbat officer, scholar (exams for which are usually sat in second year), have a disability or speak Irish fluently (and not be a first year).

I would highly recommend applying for accommodation in Halls out in Dartry for your first year however, and perhaps renting privately (which can be cheaper) in subsequent years once you've gotten the lay of the land. Anyone I've ever known who's lived there can't seem to recommend it enough, it just seemed like so much fun it made me regret being from Dublin. They made close long-term friends... I'm guessing because everybody is in the same boat.

Thanks, I have no doubt that Trinity Halls would be great but its quite expensive (€4,500) compared to other places. I'm from Galway so I have no cule about rent pricing in Dublin but one of the UCD residence is €3,600 and I've heard that they're are other apartment complex's around town which are similarly priced?

not_so_civil

I cannot reccommend Halls more, it is unbelievably fun and you make such good friends that all go to your college, it worth the money.
But for something cheaper, check out NCI's accomodation. They accept students from all colleges and its pretty close to the college (my friend lives there and it takes her 10 mins max to walk in in the morning) its cheaper, but you might not be in with anyone else from trinity and you could be in with people from NCI that have 5 hour weeks and just lie about drinking. (dont want to offend anyone from NCI, theyre not all like that, just the ones that share with my friend, any of the other appartments have lovely people)

Lawliet

KKBL wrote: »

Thanks, I have no doubt that Trinity Halls would be great but its quite expensive (€4,500) compared to other places. I'm from Galway so I have no cule about rent pricing in Dublin but one of the UCD residence is €3,600 and I've heard that they're are other apartment complex's around town which are similarly priced?

Are you sure you have that figure right for UCD? I know people living in the cheapest UCD accommodation who are paying over €4000

Groinshot

KKBL wrote: »

Thanks, I have no doubt that Trinity Halls would be great but its quite expensive (€4,500) compared to other places. I'm from Galway so I have no cule about rent pricing in Dublin but one of the UCD residence is €3,600 and I've heard that they're are other apartment complex's around town which are similarly priced?

Rent in Dublin is expensive, unfortunately. 400 quid a month is a realistic budget, plus bills, etc.
If you get the chance, live in Halls, it's definitely worth it(I lived there for 2 years), and get a bike, will save you so much money on transport.

Anita Blow

KKBL wrote: »

Thanks, I have no doubt that Trinity Halls would be great but its quite expensive (€4,500) compared to other places. I'm from Galway so I have no cule about rent pricing in Dublin but one of the UCD residence is €3,600 and I've heard that they're are other apartment complex's around town which are similarly priced?

It's around €560 a month and that includes everything (Heating, electricity, internet etc.). It also includes your contribution towards JCR which runs lots of free nights out/events for Halls people.
I think you'd be hard pressed to find accommodation in the city as cheap as that!