Ireland · Bachelor's
Trinity College Dublin
BA Sociology and Political Science
Trinity College Dublin
Course Overview
Trinity College Dublin's BA Sociology and Political Science is delivered jointly by the School of Social Sciences & Philosophy and is one of Trinity's flagship social sciences degrees. Trinity is Ireland's oldest university (founded 1592), the only Irish university in the QS world top 100 (#87, 2024), and is consistently ranked top-50 globally for Politics & International Studies (QS subject rankings). The 4-year BA Hons combines rigorous theoretical foundations in sociological theory, political philosophy, comparative politics, and international relations with applied methods training (quantitative research methods, qualitative research, statistical analysis). Specialisation options in years 3-4 cover Irish politics, EU politics, comparative European politics, sociology of development, race & ethnicity, gender studies, sociology of health, and political economy. The programme includes a substantial year-4 dissertation.
Sri Lankan A-Level / IB applicants — Arts / Commerce stream students from Royal, S. Thomas', Visakha, Ladies' College, Lyceum, Gateway, plus international-school graduates with strong political science / international relations interest — choose Trinity Sociology and Political Science over LSE / SOAS / Oxford PPE for: Trinity's QS top-100 brand, tuition at €25,000/year (versus £30,000+ at UK Russell Group programmes), Ireland's 2-year post-study Third Level Graduate Programme, the Critical Skills Employment Permit (fast-track to PR within 2 years for qualifying offers), and Dublin's role as a European policy and consulting hub (EU institutions, UN agencies, major think-tanks, plus Bain Public Sector and Accenture's policy consulting practice). Returnees route into the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, policy think-tanks (Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, Centre for Policy Alternatives, IPS), development agencies (UN agencies, World Bank Colombo, ADB, JICA, USAID), plus political journalism and the Big Four Colombo public sector practices.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan Cambridge / Edexcel A-Levels: 3 A-Levels at grade B or above plus 5 O-Level / GCSE passes including English and Mathematics.
- check_circle Sri Lankan GCE A/L: 3 passes (Arts or Commerce stream preferred).
- check_circle IB Diploma: 32+ points with HL Social Science (History, Economics, Geography) at grade 5+.
- check_circle Application via Trinity's CAO (Central Applications Office) portal for A-Level / IB applicants — Lanka Scholar handles document certification and CAO submission.
- check_circle Personal statement, CV, two academic references, transcripts. Model UN, debating, writing competitions, and political-engagement evidence are strongly valued.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 6.0).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 90 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English: C1 Advanced.
- check_circle PTE Academic: 63+.
- check_circle Duolingo English Test: 110+.
- check_circle Waived if your A-Level / IB qualification was taught and assessed entirely in English (most Sri Lankan A-Level / IB applicants qualify with an MOI letter from their school).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, non-EU) | €25,000 | Rs. 8,625,000 |
| Living Expenses in Dublin (12 months) | €15,500 | Rs. 5,348,000 |
| Student Visa, Residence Permit & Health Insurance | €1,000 | Rs. 345,000 |
| Books, Travel & Materials | €1,500 | Rs. 518,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | €43,000 | Rs. 14,836,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Trinity Sociology and Political Science graduates progress in roughly equal numbers into postgraduate Master's at Trinity, LSE, SOAS, Oxford, Sciences Po, Columbia (~50%) and into direct employment (~50%). Direct employment routes: the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission and Council (Dublin liaison), the United Nations (regional offices), the OECD, the World Bank, plus McKinsey Public Sector, BCG Public Sector, Bain & Co Public Sector, Accenture Ireland, and the Big Four (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC) public sector and policy advisory practices. Major international NGOs (Amnesty International, Save the Children, Concern Worldwide — Concern's HQ is in Dublin) hire heavily. Starting salaries: €32,000-€42,000. Ireland's 2-year post-study Third Level Graduate Programme; the Critical Skills Employment Permit opens fast-track PR on qualifying offers. Sri Lankan returnees route into the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, policy think-tanks (Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, Centre for Policy Alternatives, IPS), development agencies (UN, World Bank Colombo, ADB, JICA, USAID), plus political journalism and Big Four Colombo public sector / development practices.
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