Updated 13/01/21 - Currently anyone travelling to the Republic of Ireland from the UK (Excluding Northern Ireland) or South Africa arrivals  must submit a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test reslt on arrival at Dublin Airport.  If you are returning or arriving to UCD Residences from either of these locations we ask that you email residences@ucd.ie confirming your date of arrival and upon arrival in UCD Residences, you will be required to self-isolate in your designated apartment. UCD Residences will endeavour to support during any required self-isolation.

Yes, but depending on the country of departure you will need to restrict your movement within your current apartment as per current HSE guidelines and the EU traffic light system. Click here for more information on this.

On return to UCD Residences there are certain requirements you need to follow whilst restricting your movements to ensure the welfare of everyone you live with.  These include:

• Wearing a face mask whilst outside your bedroom.
• Cleaning and disinfecting a shared bathroom after use.
• Restricting your use of the kitchen and living room to agreed times to avoid spending prolonged time together when your flatmates are using it.
• Wiping down and cleaning all surfaces in shared common living areas after use.

Yes, you can return to your current apartment and restrict your movements alongside  roommates who do not need to  restrict their movements.

On return to UCD Residences there are certain requirements you need to follow whilst restricting your movements to ensure the welfare of everyone you live with.  These include: 

• Wearing a face mask whilst outside your bedroom
• Cleaning and disinfecting a shared bathroom after use
• Restricting your use of the kitchen and living room to agreed times to avoid spending prolonged time together when your flatmates are using it
• Wiping down and cleaning all surfaces in shared common living areas after use

No, for any student based in Ireland over the Christmas break period and travels domestically will not need to restrict their movement upon their return to UCD residences.  However, we do urge students to follow HSE advice on the regions in Ireland they may visit over this period and take necessary precautions.

Depending on the country of departure you will need to restrict your movement within your current apartment as per current HSE guidelines and the EU traffic light system. Click here here for more information on this.

No, as per current HSE guidelines, existing residents who are returning from an international location and need to restrict their movements can do so in their own apartments subject to the following conditions.

• Wearing a face mask whilst outside of their bedroom.
• Cleaning and disinfecting a shared bathroom after use.
• Restricting their use of the kitchen and living room to agreed times to avoid spending prolonged time together when other flatmates are using it.
• Wiping down and cleaning all surfaces in shared common living areas after use you will be requested to restrict your movements in your apartment.

At present, during the initial period of reopening of the campus as students arrive back from across the world with differing needs, no guests are permitted in any apartments across campus accommodation. This is to ensure the comfort safety and security of all our incoming residents as they arrive into their new homes and meet their new flatmates.

Only registered residents can be in their allocated apartments. Meeting friends and socialising outside of your apartment pod should currently be outdoors or in other designated university social spaces in line with government guidelines. Please ensure to follow the direction of UCD personnel at all times. Residents are not able to visit other residences at this time. Gatherings and the overnight guest policy are currently suspended.

The University is continuously monitoring public health advice and will issue an update to residents when and if there is a change to the guest policy.

A required period of restricted movement and self-isolation refer to the various Irish Government Health Board (HSE)  processes adopted to mitigate the risk and symptoms associated with COVID-19.

For more HSE information on restricted movement click here.

For more HSE information on self-isolation click here.

Restricted movement requirements for students may vary depending on what international location they are arriving from.  See further FAQs below listing  arrivals from EU and other regions.

In line with current HSE recommendations UCD Residences  will currently only recognise negative test results from COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing technology. This is currently the only test type considered acceptable by Ireland’s public health authorities in relation to international travel. This will be kept under review.

No, students will not be required to take a Covid-19 test to return to UCD Residences. A student who has not taken a COVID-19 test can arrive to UCD Residences and will be allocated a restricted movements apartment. The student will be required to restrict their movements for 14 days from their arrival date.

Incoming residents arriving from within the EU must follow the below EU traffic light system in your self-declaration for check in at UCD.

Please click here to view our returning arrivals smart sheet

The ‘traffic lights’ system approach to travel is  part of an EU recommendation on a coordinated approach to travel restrictions in the context of COVID-19 in the EU and EAA.

As per the Irish Government Department of Foreign Affairs website (Click here for link) “This Traffic Lights Approach provides for regions across the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EAA) to be categorised as green, orange, red or grey on the basis of the risk levels associated with COVID-19. “

Click here for a list of countries included in the Traffic Lights system.

Click here for details of on the current grading of the traffic lighted countries.

PLEASE NOTE – In order to check-in to a UCD residences non-restricted movement apartment you will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test result. This may mean that when arranging private accommodation, you will need to book for 6-7 days to allow for your negative test result to be received prior to checking-in to UCD residences.

No. The EU traffic light system is an EU/EAA only initiative.

Type 1  A negative COVID-19 (PCR) test result within  3 days to departure to Ireland (this is applicable only to students arriving from a current EU Traffic lighted Orange country).

Type 2  A negative COVID-19 (PCR) test result after a minimum of 5 days arrival in Ireland.

PLEASE NOTE – In order to check-in to a UCD residences non-restricted movement apartment you will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test result. This may mean that when arranging private accommodation, you will need to book for 6-7 days to allow for your negative test result to be received prior to checking-in to UCD residences

In this situation a negative COVID-19 test result will not be accepted.

Please view restrict movements guidelines here

Any resident who wants to organise a COVID-19  test  in Ireland must arrange this via a private healthcare provider equipped for COVID-19 PCR testing in the Dublin area ( or elsewhere in Ireland). Please note we will only accept negative COVID-19 test results from residents after a minimum of 5 days in Ireland. 

PLEASE NOTE – In order to check-in to a UCD residences non-restricted movement apartment you will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test result. This may mean that when arranging private accommodation, you will need to book for 6-7 days to allow for your negative test result to be received prior to checking-in to UCD residences

All students are welcome to arrange a COVID-19  test at any point during your stay at UCD Residences. However, any student who does NOT have an acceptable COVID-19 negative test result at arrival will be requested to restrict their movement in their apartment for 14 days. 

Yes. If you have no evidence of a negative COVID-19 test (PCR)  result prior to arrival you will be requested to restrict your movements in your apartment. 

If a student wishes to take  COVID-19 test they have two options.

1. Arrange the test before departure from home country.

AND :   after arriving in Ireland, they will need to  arrange temporary private accommodation off campus in a hotel, B & B, or other private setting for a minimum of 5 days.

AND : if  they undergo and receive a negative COVID-19 test result and can demonstrate this upon arrival they will not be required to restrict their movements.

2. Arrange test after arriving in UCD Residences

AND : After restricting movement for a minimum period of 5 days in residences students receive a negative COVID-19 test result they will no longer be required to restrict movements within their apartment.

PLEASE NOTE – In order to return to a UCD residences and not be required to restrict your movements in your apartment you will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test result. This may mean that when arranging private accommodation, you will need to book for 6-7 days to allow for your negative test result to be received prior to arriving at UCD residences

If you test positive for COVID-19 prior to your departure to UCD we strongly recommend that you remain in your home country and follow local guidelines regarding necessary restricted movement and self-isolation.

If you receive a positive COVID-19 test  in transit  to Ireland (i.e., travelling on boat or aeroplane) it is URGENT that you inform the relevant authorities  on arrival  in Ireland and follow the recommended HSE advice.

UCD Residences will endeavour to support students as required.

You can contact UCD Residences on  0035317161008 and/or by email  to residences@ucd.ie.

If you receive  a positive COVID-19 test while restricting movement off campus in advance of moving into UCD residences, you should remain in your current location and inform the vendors of the accommodation.

UCD Residences will endeavour to support students as required.

 You can contact UCD Residences on  0035317161008 and/or by email  to residences@ucd.ie.

The standard process and triaging of incoming student residents, depending on their country of departure, will apply to incoming residents who have already tested positive for COVID-19 in the past.