At a glance
On-campus & university-owned residences
| Residence | Who it's for | Room types | From | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackrock Halls | All (off main campus) | Halls, shared bathroom | €7,071/year | 1 Sep 2025 – 18 May 2026 |
| Belgrove / Merville (Belfield) | 1st-year/HEAR priority | Apartment, shared bathroom | €7,923/year | 2 trimesters |
| Ashfield / Glenomena / Roebuck Halls | All | Apartment, en-suite | €9,807/year | 2 trimesters |
| Roebuck Castle (catered) | All | En-suite, daily meals included | €12,156/year | 2 trimesters |
| Village 1 / 2 / 3 | All (newest, main campus) | En-suite single | €10,922/year | 2 trimesters |
| Village twin (1/2) | Cheapest per person | Shared bedroom | €5,722/year per person | 2 trimesters |
- All bedrooms are single-occupancy unless noted. Utilities are billed separately (~€60.80/month) plus €35 insurance; standard €750 deposit.
- Included: WiFi, 24/7 reception/security, on-site gym, laundry, bike storage.
- Allocation is lottery/randomisation. For CAO first-years 2026/27, applications open 6 April 2026; offers issue 28–30 August 2026. Continuing-student success rate is ~25%.
Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) nearby
| Block | Provider | To campus | Price | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point Campus (Docklands) | city-centre PBSA | city-centre (bus to Belfield) | from ~€330/week* | Academic year |
*PBSA close to Belfield is limited — most UCD students use on-campus residences, digs or house shares. Verify Point Campus pricing on the provider site.
Digs & rent-a-room near UCD
Use the official UCD Accommodation Pad, which lists houses, flats and digs (register with your UCD email and forward your CAO acceptance to residences@ucd.ie). Digs typically run ~€120–€150/week.
See our guides to student grants & costs and how to apply.
Private rentals & house shares
UCD students cluster in Clonskeagh, Goatstown and Dundrum (closest/cheaper to Belfield); Ranelagh, Rathmines and Rathgar (D6); Ballsbridge, Donnybrook and Sandymount (D4, priciest); and Blackrock, Booterstown, Mount Merrion and Stillorgan.
Daft.ie · UCD off-campus guidance
Never pay a deposit before viewing — read how to avoid rental scams.
How to get to UCD
Belfield has a Dublin Bus campus terminus serving 16 routes along the N11/Stillorgan Road corridor (39A, 46A, 145, 155, etc.). The nearest DART stations are Booterstown/Sydney Parade (~25-min walk or feeder bus) — there is no Luas or rail on campus, so UCD is bus-dependent. Same TFI Student Leap fares and caps as Trinity.
Application timeline for 2026 entry
- 19 March 2026 — Continuing-student applications open (lottery; ~25% success).
- 26 April 2026 — CAO first-year applications open.
- 31 June 2026 — PhD bookings open (rolling).
- 421 Aug 2026 — Leaving Cert results.
- 528–30 August 2026 — CAO first-year offers issued (no lottery numbers).
Tips & pitfalls
- On-campus is a lottery — day-one applications don't raise CAO odds, but continuing-student odds are only ~25%, so line up digs/Accommodation Pad early.
- HEAR students get priority for the cheapest shared-bathroom rooms (Belgrove/Merville) but pay full price — there's no HEAR discount.
- Belfield has no Luas/DART on campus — it's bus-dependent.
- Cheapest options are shared bedrooms (Village twin) and Blackrock Halls (off the main campus).
- 28-day written notice is required to cancel mid-licence — you pay through the notice period.
Read our latest 2026 guide
UCD has the most on-campus beds in Dublin — and far more applicants than rooms. Here's how to plan around the lottery.
How to Find Accommodation at UCD (2026)Frequently asked questions
How do I get accommodation at UCD?
Apply through the UCD residences portal. CAO first-year applications open 6 April 2026 with offers issued 28–30 August; allocation is by lottery. Register on the UCD Accommodation Pad as a backup, because on-campus demand far outstrips supply.
How much is UCD on-campus accommodation?
From about €5,722/year for a shared-bedroom Village twin (per person) up to ~€12,156/year for catered Roebuck Castle. Utilities (~€60.80/month) and €35 insurance are billed on top.
What are my chances of getting UCD on-campus accommodation?
Only about 25% of continuing-student applicants get an offer. First-years apply via a separate CAO window from 6 April. Always line up digs or a house share in parallel.
What's the cheapest accommodation at UCD?
Shared-bedroom Village twins (~€5,722/year per person) and off-campus Blackrock Halls are the cheapest on-campus options; digs (~€120–€150/week) are often cheaper still.
When should I apply for UCD accommodation?
Apply the day the CAO window opens (6 April 2026) and register on the UCD Accommodation Pad immediately as a backup.
Official links & support
Other Dublin colleges
Last updated: June 2026 · Researched against official UCD, SUSI, Revenue and RTB sources. Prices and dates change each cycle — always confirm on the college's own page before paying. Back to all university accommodation guides.