Trinity Law School is one of the most highly regarded law faculties in Ireland, and its four-year LLB is a common target for international applicants aiming at either Irish/EU legal practice or a quantitative, research-strong law degree more broadly. Unlike Trinity's Business and Computer Science programmes, Law sits at Trinity's higher English-proficiency tier, a detail worth planning around well ahead of your application.
This guide covers the undergraduate LLB route only. It looks at how selective the programme is, what it costs, the admission requirements, the higher English bar Law carries relative to Trinity's other programmes, and how the Stamp 1G post-study work pathway works for graduates.
Acceptance Rate
Trinity does not publish a programme-level acceptance rate for the LLB, and the official pages we could access do not give one. Third-party aggregators quote an overall Trinity undergraduate acceptance rate in the high teens to low 30s percent, though Law is consistently described as "far more selective" than Trinity's general undergraduate average, alongside Medicine, in Trinity's own program materials.
For context, the CAO entry points requirement for Irish Leaving Certificate applicants in recent cycles has run around 602 points, among the higher thresholds at Trinity, which gives a useful sense of how competitive the programme is even though it's a domestic rather than international benchmark. International undergraduates apply directly to Trinity rather than through the CAO points system, but the underlying competitiveness for places carries over.
Tuition and Cost of Attendance
The official fee schedule sits with Trinity's Academic Registry, and the pages we could reach gave inconsistent figures. Different sources report the LLB's international tuition anywhere from approximately €22,580 to €27,000 per year; treat this as a range to confirm directly with Trinity rather than a single fixed figure.
| Cost item | Estimate (2026/27) |
|---|---|
| Non-EU tuition, LLB | About €22,580 to €27,000 per year (sources disagree; confirm with Trinity) |
| Living costs in Dublin (shared accommodation) | About €1,330 to €2,090 per month, or roughly €16,000 to €25,000 per year |
The living cost estimate comes from a 2026 study-abroad agency guide and covers rent, food, transport, utilities and personal spending. For a Stamp 2 student visa, Irish immigration guidance expects you to show access to at least €10,000 per year for living costs, on top of tuition. This figure comes from a third-party summary and should be checked against the official Irish Immigration Service guidance before you apply.
Admission Requirements
For international (non-EU) applicants to the LLB, the sources we reviewed list:
- Mathematics: a Leaving Certificate O4/H6 in Mathematics for Irish-system applicants, or the equivalent for international qualifications (A Levels reported in the AAA to ABB range depending on the specific law course; IB requiring Higher Level Grade 5 in Mathematics, with an overall score of 24 including 3 subjects at HL grade 5 and 3 at SL grade 4, to include English, Mathematics, and another language)
- English language proficiency at Trinity's higher Law-specific threshold (see below)
- Official transcripts from your secondary school
- A copy of your passport
- Two letters of recommendation (per Trinity's general undergraduate application materials; confirm whether this applies to Law specifically)
Requirements can change from one intake to the next, so confirm the full, current list on Trinity's international undergraduate pages before you apply. Trinity's own international admissions brochure for non-EU students is the authoritative source.
How to Get Into Trinity's Law Programme
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Treat the English proficiency requirement as a genuine hurdle, not a formality. Law requires IELTS 7.0 (no band below 6.0) and TOEFL iBT 100+, both meaningfully above Trinity's general undergraduate bar of IELTS 6.5/TOEFL 88-90, so budget real preparation time for the jump.
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Make sure your maths qualification clears the stated threshold. An O4/H6 Leaving Certificate grade (or the equivalent) in Mathematics is a specific requirement, so confirm your qualification maps to it before investing time in the rest of the application.
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Build a genuinely competitive academic profile. With a domestic CAO points benchmark around 602, among the highest at Trinity, Law is one of the university's most selective undergraduate routes; a borderline academic record is less likely to be competitive here than for Trinity's Business or Computer Science programmes.
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Choose referees who can speak to your analytical and writing ability specifically, since legal study places unusually heavy weight on both from day one.
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Apply directly and early, since international applicants use Trinity's own application system rather than the CAO, and Law's application window and document list should be confirmed well ahead of the deadline.
English Proficiency Requirement
Law sits at Trinity's higher English-proficiency tier, distinct from the standard that applies to Trinity's Business, Computer Science, and Engineering programmes:
- IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall (no band below 6.0), compared to 6.5 (no band below 6.0) for most other Trinity undergraduate programmes
- TOEFL iBT: 100+ (compared to 88-90 for most other Trinity programmes)
- PTE Academic: not separately confirmed for Law specifically in the sources reviewed; confirm directly with Trinity
- Duolingo English Test: not separately confirmed for Law specifically in the sources reviewed; confirm directly with Trinity
This gap, roughly half a band on IELTS and 10+ points on TOEFL above Trinity's general standard, is the single most important planning detail for prospective Law applicants, since it generally demands more preparation time than the academic requirements do. For Trinity's wider English policy across programmes, see our Trinity College Dublin guide.
Career Outcomes and Stamp 1G Relevance
Trinity does not publish graduate employment or salary figures specific to the LLB in the sources we could verify, so this guide does not quote a percentage or salary for the programme. The Higher Education Authority's Graduate Outcomes survey is the official national source for graduate outcomes in Ireland and reports results by institution and by field. Check it for current Trinity figures before making a decision. Trinity's LLM programmes, built on the same Law School, attract international applicants targeting EU legal practice, which reflects well on the undergraduate programme's standing among employers in the sector.
Ireland's Stamp 1G, the Third Level Graduate Scheme, is the main post-study route. Level 8 (bachelor's) graduates can stay for up to 12 months, and Level 9 (master's) graduates for up to 24 months. The permission starts at 12 months, with a possible second 12 months if you show you are seeking graduate-level work. The application fee is €300, you must apply within six months of Trinity notifying you that your programme is complete, and you must be physically in Ireland when you apply.
For an LLB graduate, the realistic Stamp 1G window is therefore 12 months, not two years, unless you progress to a master's (such as an LLM) to unlock the longer 24-month permission. Given Trinity's location minutes from the European headquarters of major law firms, consultancies, and tech companies, this is a genuinely useful window for job-hunting. For the full rules, see our Ireland Stamp 1G guide.
FAQ
Does Trinity publish an acceptance rate for the LLB? No, not in the official sources reviewed for this guide. Law is consistently described as more selective than Trinity's general undergraduate average, alongside Medicine, and the domestic CAO points benchmark (around 602 in recent cycles) is among Trinity's highest.
How much does the LLB cost for international students? Sources disagree, ranging from approximately €22,580 to €27,000 per year for 2026/27; confirm the exact fee directly with Trinity's Academic Registry. Living costs in Dublin are estimated at around €16,000 to €25,000 per year.
What IELTS score do I need for Trinity Law? IELTS 7.0 overall, with no band below 6.0, a full 0.5 band above Trinity's general undergraduate requirement of 6.5. TOEFL iBT 100+ is also required, well above the general 88-90 threshold.
What maths qualification do I need? A Leaving Certificate O4/H6 in Mathematics for Irish-system applicants, or the equivalent for your education system (A Levels or IB, depending on route). Confirm your specific equivalent with Trinity.
Can I work in Ireland after graduating with a law degree? Yes, if you hold a bachelor's degree, you can apply for Stamp 1G, which allows up to 12 months of full-time work rights with no employer sponsorship needed. Progressing to a master's degree (such as an LLM) extends this to up to 24 months.