Academic Supports
Academic and Career Support Services
Academic Supports at UCD
UCD provides a range of academic supports for students during their studies.
Whether you need additional assistance due to a disability, would like to learn a new language, improve your academic English, or you want career advice, our supports can help you.
UCD Centre for English and Global Languages
Improve your Language Skills
As part of your studies at UCD, you will have the opportunity to enrol in electives from outside your subject area. The UCD Centre for English and Global Languages offers a variety of elective modules in 14 languages, which are all open to international students. To register for a language module, you must have 5 credits available.
English Language Modules
The centre also provides English Language Modules for Erasmus, non-EU/Exchange and full-time international undergraduate and graduate students. Modules include English for General Purposes, English for Academic Purposes and Academic Writing & Presentation Skills. Each module is offered at different ability levels and students are registered for the most appropriate class based on the results of a placement test at the start of the semester.
The centre also offers language electives in 13 other languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Irish Sign Language, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swahili) at different ability levels from complete beginner to advanced.
International students interested in registering for a Global Language Module are advised to have an informal discussion with one of the teachers at the Help Desk, as they can recommend the best level for you.
Explore the list of Global Language Modules.
Find more information on the UCD Centre for English and Global Languages' selection of English modules and apply for a placement test.
UCD Library
The UCD Library offers the resources, services and friendly staff to support your academic success. Students have access to five libraries on campus, which all have Wi-Fi and comfortable study spaces. Library staff are also always available to answer your questions.
A dedicated online guide can help you navigate the Library website, explore the 24/7 online collections and make the most of library services, including laptop loans. Your UCD Student Card (UCARD) also serves as your library card, so you’ll need it to enter and exit the library, borrow books, or check out a laptop.
During Orientation, don’t forget to enter their Prize Draw for new students. Visit the New Students guide at www.ucd.ie/library/newstudents to learn more about the great prizes on offer.
UCD Careers Network
The UCD Careers Network offers a range of services and programmes designed to help you make informed career decisions. You can learn how to write an effective CV, get advice about interviews and learn about career action plans.
The Jumpstart Programme
The Careers Network's Jumpstart Programme is an online programme designed for international students. It covers key topics like career planning and the Irish recruitment process.
It is available to students before their arrival in Ireland and throughout their studies.
Disability Supports
All students with a disability or significant ongoing illness in UCD have the opportunity to receive relevant academic and/or exam supports.
Supports can be arranged through the disability support staff in UCD Access & Lifelong Learning. If you have a disability and would like to discuss the supports available, you can contact the disability staff by emailing (opens in a new window)disability@ucd.ie
UCD Writing Centre
The UCD Writing Centre is located in the James Joyce Library and offers free academic writing support to all undergraduate and postgraduate students at any stage of the writing process.
You can attend some of their workshops or book a one-to-one session with a writing tutor. During these sessions, the tutor can help you with a range of writing issues, from planning your writing to understanding how to structure your assignments. They can also help you with how to write analytically, how to present ideas clearly and concisely, as well as how to cite and reference properly.
The sessions can be booked on the Writing Centre website, or you can drop in.
