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Access to Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Law (AHSSL)

Access to Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Law (AHSSL)

Freshers week - large amount of students enjoying the fine weather sitting around the Belfield Lake, with the James Joyce Library and sculpture

Access to AHSSL gives you the option to study part-time before applying for a place in one of seven full-time undergraduate programmes:

You will need to achieve a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) across your modules, and meet any programme-specific requirements.

An asterisk (*) means a different GPA or additional requirements apply.

Students who achieve a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.6 or more can apply for a guaranteed minimum number of places on the UCD degrees listed above. 

Please note *: To be considered for a place on the BSc Psychology (CAO code DN720), you’ll need a GPA of 3.08 or higher. The Bsc Psychology Degree Pathway is only open to students who start on the AHSSL Programme in the 25/26 academic year and who will be applying for progression in the 26/27 academic year. 

Where there are more qualified applicants for entry (i.e., students with a GPA greater than 2.6 or 3.08 for Bsc Psychology) than there are places, the allocation will be made by highest GPA

University Access results are valid for two years only, i.e. results from this year are valid for entry in this year and next year only.

Students typically apply for their degree of choice while in their University Access year, and progress from the part-time programme into their degree programme. Some may defer that place for no more than 1 year.

The fee for AHSSL is €890. However, you may qualify for a Cothrom na Féinne Scholarship, and this would either reduce your fee by half, or offer you a free place.

If you are applying as a Young Adult and meet the required (opens in a new window)access criteria- you will be eligible for a fee reduction - reducing fees from €890 to €445.

Applicants who do not have English as their first language must satisfy UCD’s English Language requirements. A score of 6.5 in an IELTS or equivalent exam is required. Please find full details on UCD’s Minimum English Language requirements as well as a list of acceptable qualifications on this webpage

There are options for Mature Applicants and Young Adult applicants - click on the options below to find out more:

UCD Access and Lifelong Learning

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 7123