Booking applications for the next academic year (2023/24) are expected to open in late April. We recommend regularly checking the UCD Residences website for updates regarding the booking process, as well as regularly checking your emails for any correspondence from UCD regarding this booking process.
Accommodation FAQs for International Students (updated 25/08/2023)
Friday, 25 August, 2023
Accommodation Booking Procedures
International students can avail of a single trimester booking, a two trimester booking or a three trimester booking, subject to availability. Once the booking portal opens, international students will be able to choose accommodation type preferences ie. en-suite, shared bathroom or studio accommodation.
Rooms will be allocated at a later date based on the preferences given in the booking application and subject to the availability of campus accommodation.
Click here for information on how to book
Applicants with a conditional offer can apply for accommodation.
All residents will be given access to their own unique finance account via the new UCD Residences Portal -
From here you can view how much you owe, pay fees etc.
IMPORTANT (15/06/23) - Due to changover to new system students will not be able to view or pay their accommodation fees until a later date. The Residences team will be in touch advising when they can login and view their finance account.
For more information on how to pay accommodation fees, please click here.
Accommodation fees vary depending on which residence you book. For a full breakdown of fees, visit theFinancesection of our website.
In order to book on-campus accommodation, you must pay a deposit. In line with Residences Tenancy Board legislation, this deposit will be returned to you 28 days after you check-out of UCD Residences, provided that there is no damage to the room.
There are a lot of benefits to living on-campus. The location is extremely convenient, and you will be given access to a whole host of amenities in UCD Residences such as an on-site gym, restaurants, shops, as well as many free ResLife activities to help you settle in to life in Dublin. However, living on-campus is not essential to get the best out of your university experience.
UCD Residences is open to all UCD students, mixed genders and ages.
Where possible we try an co-locate general cohorts of students together for example post grads etc.
It is important to also note that occasionally students under 18 and over 18 can share an apartment.
UCD Residences offers a variety of on-campus options. There are two campuses where students may choose to live: the main Belfield Campus where the majority of students will live, and the Blackrock Smurfit Campus which is recommended for students who will be attending classes in Smurfit.
Students will be able to choose from a range of accommodation options such as catered or non-catered accommodation, shared bathroom or en-suite accommodation and there is also an option to book a studio apartment, either shared or individual.
For more information on the range of accommodation available, please see this section of the UCD Residences website.
Yes, once bookings applications are open, you will be asked to give your 3 preferences for accommodation ( i.e en-suite or non en-suite, catered or non -catered). After you have submitted your preferences, you will be allocated a room based on which 3 preferences you have provided.
Unfortunately on-campus accommodation is not guaranteed for all international students as it operates on a first come first served basis. As well as making a booking application for on-campus, we would encourage all prospective students to also explore off-campus options to ensure they get accommodation.
In order to book accommodation, you will need your unique 8 digit student number. Prospective students will need to accept an offer from UCD in order to receive this student number.
Off-Campus Accommodation
Find below a list of resources that you may find useful in your search.
For assistance with sourcing off campus accommodation, please visit www.ucdaccommodationpad.ie.
The UCD Accommodation Pad shows listings of houses, flats, apartments, lodgings and general self-catering accommodation. The website has an alert system which you can activate. This notifies you should your preference for accommodation become available. The website also has a message board. This allows you to contact those offering accommodation and contact other students about the possibility of sharing etc.
- Letting Agents
Letting agents are independent businesses and specialise in the rental market. Many, but not all, charge a non-refundable registration, booking and administration fee plus deposits. So, before you pay for any services or lists of accommodation, have a clear understanding what services you will be receiving from paying a fee.
- Useful Websites
You should start looking for accommodation as soon as possible after being accepted into UCD for the September 2023 intake.
For assistance with sourcing off campus accommodation, please visit www.ucdaccommodationpad.ie. The website also has a message board. This allows you to contact those offering accommodation and contact other students about the possibility of sharing etc.
Areas close to Belfield that we recommend include:
DUBLIN 4: Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Sandymount
DUBLIN 6: Ranelagh, Rathgar, Rathmines
DUBLIN 14: Clonskeagh, Dundrum, Goatstown
DUBLIN COUNTY: Blackrock, Booterstown, Mount Merrion, Stillorgan, Dun Laoghaire
Living On Campus
Socialising is an important aspect of living in residences within the Residences, a programme of ResLife activities will be ran during trimester 1 and 2 which will be supported by the Residential Assistants (RAs).
Please read the Guest Policy for more information on guests and gatherings in apartments.
All bed units on-campus will be occupied. For information on the Residences, including the number of beds in each one, please see the Residences website.
UCD Residences have a dedicated security team and a team of RAs (Residential Assistants) to ensure the residences are as safe as possible. Additionally, the UCD Village Welcome Desk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Roebuck Castle is our typical catered option for on-campus accommodation, and includes a café supplying breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Residents of Roebuck Castle are entitled to 12 meals per week in any of the Eat@UCD restaurants across campus, with these costs being included in the license fees for the rooms.
For other residents, they will be able to cook for themselves in their apartments and access food and grocery delivery services from local supermarkets including :
Cancellation & Refund Policy
In line with current RTB Legislation, if you wish to cancel your accommodation on-campus within the License Period, you are required to give a 28-day notice to end your stay in UCD residences by submitting a cancellation form via email to residences@ucd.ie . You will be liable to pay the License Fee and any and all associated charges up to the end of the 28-day notice period or such longer period of notice provided in the cancellation Form.
For more details on the terms of living in UCD campus residences click here to view the license to reside and click here to view recently updated FAQs.
Check-in FAQs
FAQs - Before Check-in
Once a room is allocated to a student, an automated email will be sent to them informing them of this.
At a later date students will be issued with an email which will advise on next steps which will include
- Paying the Booking Deposit for UCD Campus Accommodation.
- Agreeing to the License to Reside, the legal agreement between UCD Residences and the student.
- Completing the online UCD Residences Induction Video series, and answering a few questions on these.
- Upload a photo to be used for your UCard, which is your student card and your bedroom key
- Pick an Arrival Time Slot - This is a general indicator and if slots don't suit please contact the UCD Residences team.
All rooms in UCD Residences are supplied with a duvet and pillow. Residents are asked to bring their own bed linen, towels, and whatever kitchen cutlery and crockery they require. Beds in UCD Residences are of a standard single size, except for the new Village Residences, which feature 4ft small double beds.
If residents need to pick up any additional items, there is a frequent bus service that runs from the main entrance of the UCD Campus to IKEA, which departs roughly every 20 minutes. This bus is the 155, and is serviced by Dublin Bus. Please see their website for fee information.
Kitchen Utensils
If a student needs kitchen utensils but is unable to order them and has a requirement to self-quarantine please contact residences@ucd.ie and we will try and provide them where possible.
FAQs - During Check-in
In order to check-in, residents must first have completed their Tasks to Complete before Arriving to Check-in. More information on these can be found in the above FAQs.
As well as this, we ask that all incoming residents have the following with them for the check-in process:
- Photographic ID (Passport / Drivers License / Age Card),
- If accommodation fees were paid by means of a Bank Transfer, proof of payment of fees, and,
- (if applicable) your UCD Student UCard.
If students were unable to complete the required tasks before check-in, there are a number of PCs set up in the Check-in marquee to facilitate the completion of these.
Residents of the Belfield Campus (Ashfield, Belgrove, Glenomena, Merville, Roebuck and the Village Residences) check-in at the UCD Village Welcome Desk
Residents of Proby check in at the Proby Residence Reception, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, Blackrock.
Your UCD Student Card can only be printed once your Academic Registration is fully complete. As such, we may not be able to have your card printed for your arrival, in which case we will provide you with a Temporary Card. You can then collect your student card as part of your on-campus induction.
In order to activate your Student Card, you will need to hold this to the front door of your Residence building for approximately 10 seconds. If this does not work, you can visit the UCD Village Welcome Desk to have your card manually updated.
Residents of Glenomena Houses 4 - 10 and Roebuck Halls will need to visit the Merville Residence Office to have their cards manually updated - these Residences use a different access system.
FAQs - After Check-in
Upon check-in, an automated email will be sent to each student informing them that they have been successfully checked-in. This email will contain a link to the UCD Residences Portal where each student will be asked to complete their Inventory Check.
This will give the resident a list of what should be in the apartment, and the condition they are in. If there are any discrepancies, the student can highlight this, and a member of the on-site Maintenance team will attend to any disputed items as soon as possible.
If you are trying to order something to your apartment, we ask that you order the item to your address on-campus. An example of how to format your address is:
Student Name,
Glenomena House 1,
Apartment 3 Room 2,
UCD Belfield,
Dublin 4.
Letters are delivered underneath your apartment door each weekday, between 6:30pm and 8pm.
If you are ordering a package, please note that we are unable to sign for courier packages. We only accept deliveries from An Post, the national postal carrier in Ireland. If a package arrives in your name, you will receive an email, instructing you to visit the Merville Mailroom to collect it as soon as possible.
If you are looking for more general information on UCD Residences, have a browse of our website. The following links may be of use to you:
Finance: Rates and Payments
General FAQs: General FAQs
Policies & Procedures: Policies
Our Residences: Residences
As well as this, if you have any other questions or queries, you can always get in touch with us at residences@ucd.ie, or by calling +353 (0)1 716 1008.