Undergraduate Orientation Hub 2024-25

We're delighted to welcome you to DCU

Orientation is an important time to help you find your feet. We've designed this Orientation Hub and the My DCU Companion App to help you navigate the transition. There are lots of events arranged on-campus and online during the first few weeks designed to help you settle in. 

The on-campus events and activities throughout orientation are designed to be fun, welcoming and  serve to demonstrate what our 'DCU Campus culture' is all about. Students will also be able to pre-book campus tours across the campuses. 

Key Dates for September 2024 start:

• My DCU Companion App is now available to all registered students. 
• Live Online Orientation activities commence the week of Monday 2 September. This includes mandatory and optional information webinars. 
• On-campus Programme Orientation for full-time programmes takes place from Monday 9 September. See the Course Orientation tile for information how to access your schedule.
• First Year (CAO and fulltime UG programmes): Classes commence on Monday 16 September.

Online Students: Semester 1 teaching for remote/online students begins Monday 9 September. See the 'Online Students' tile below for further information about Orientation.

Additional Orientation 

We offer additional orientation for some the following student groups.

• International Students
• Online Students
• DARE/Students with a Disability
• HEAR/Access
• Mature and Further Education 
• Transfer, Deferral, Repeat

View the icons below to find out more.

My DCU - Your Orientation Companion

My DCU will serve as your Orientation Companion as you make your transition to DCU. MY DCU is located on LOOP, our virtual learning environment. It's where you'll find your official DCU welcome, short activities and challenges you can complete to earn experience points (XP), prizes and the prestigious Discover DCU Digital Badge. It will also help you to develop your digital skills and learn how to use LOOP. 

TIP:

My DCU is best experienced on a tablet or laptop. 

Accessing your Orientation Schedule

A link to your individual Orientation is available here.
Please go through the Orientation Explained tile to see an overview of key dates and orientation elements.

Get to know your new environment

Our bookable DCU Campus Tours are a great way to get to know DCU, and one of our most popular features during Orientation.

You can also book a Library Tour. This 20 min experience is a fantastic way to get to know our library facilities and services.   

Key Dates:

• UG & PG International Students: Campus Tours commence the week of the 26 August.
• Incoming CAO students: Campus Tours take place from 2 to 13 September.

Book-in below

Campus Tour  >> starting at the U Building (GLA)

Campus Tour >> starting at the Helix (GLA)

Campus Tour >> starting at the F Block (SPC)

O'Reilly Library Tour (GLA)

Cregan Library Tour (SPC)

Woodlock Hall Library

Important: You will need to go to your preferred location 10 minutes before the tour starts so you can be checked in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Orientation

Is attendance at Orientation compulsory?

You are strongly encouraged to attend the core elements of Orientation and your course Orientation.  There will also be lots of opportunities to engage in university life, designed to help you settle in.

When will I get my Course Orientation Schedule?

Visit the Course Orientation tile above for more information.

Got a query about Orientation?

Click on the red 'ASK' button to link in with us. 

A Special Welcome to our International Students!

We are delighted to welcome you to DCU this September. There will be lots of on-campus events to welcome you to DCU. These events, such as campus tours, online webinars, and social events, will take place from 26 August throughout the month of September.

If you are a visiting student, participating in an Erasmus+, Exchange or Study Abroad programme, your programme orientation will be accessible via the code of your stream of study (eg Humanities & Social Science Exchange stream/HMSAX, DCU Business School Study Abroad Stream/BSSAO).

If you are a student enrolling directly into a full degree programme in DCU, your programme orientation will be accessible via your course title or code (eg DCU Common Entry to Engineering/DC200, MEng in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering/DC814)

Key Dates

• All classes except first year undergraduate classes commence on Monday, 9 September.  
• 1st Year Programme-Specific Orientation takes place the week of Monday, 9 September. 
• 1st Year Classes commence Monday,16 September.

International orientation is part of the General Orientation which will be an ongoing event throughout September.

International Student Support
Check out the page for more information to support you before you arrive on campus and during your transition.

Get a Head Start

Get ready for University and register for the Head Start programme. The Head Start Programme prepares mature students for a smooth transition to their academic life while building connections and community with other mature students. During this online or in person programme, you'll attend workshops on campus as well as work through self-paced online courses and have the opportunity to review and practice academic writing and digital skills required by University,  familiarise yourself  with the campus, explore the available supports DCU has to offer, as well as hear from other mature students.

Key Dates

You may choose to join us online or in person, the content will be the same.

• In-person : Monday 2 September, 2024
• Online: Tuesday 3 September, 2024

What is DLSS Connect?

DLSS Connect is a 1-day orientation programme specifically aimed at students entering DCU through the DARE scheme or students with a disability (under 23) entering DCU as a first-year in September.

Depending which course you are taking will determine which Session you are to attend. 

Key Dates

• 3 September 2024 for those on Business and Humanities Programmes:
  • Glasnevin Campus 10.00- 4pm
• 4 September 2024 for those on Science, Health, Computing and Engineering Programmes:
  • Glasnevin Campus 10.00- 4pm
• 5 September 2024 for those on the Institute of Education programmes: 
  • St. Patrick's Campus 10.00- 4pm

Parents Information Talk (Online): Wednesday 4 September 2024 ONLINE 6pm - 7pm. Additional information will be available on in your offer correspondence. 

What will I gain from it?
DLSS Connect is an opportunity to meet your classmates ONLINE and make friends with students who also come through the DARE route. You can find out about how the Disability and Learning Support Service can support you during your time as a student at DCU, and you can get to know the staff team. 

Does it cost anything?
No. Free of charge!

How do I sign up!
If you have been offered a place at DCU and applied through the DARE scheme or declared you have a disability on the CAO we will contact you directly to offer you a place on the programme.

If you are a FETAC student with a disability or did not declare on the CAO you can still attend, just send us an email.

If you have any questions or queries you can contact us at disability.service@dcu.ie.

Visit https://www.dcu.ie/disability/dlss-connect 

Welcome to our Access Students

The DCU Access Orientation Programme takes place on the dates listed below. Students will be contacted directly, early in September with the exact date they are required to attend:

Key Dates

• Thursday 5 September: DCU St Patrick's Campus, Drumcondra.  For first years registered with the Access Services and studying on St Patrick's Campus.  
• Friday 6 September: DCU Glasnevin Campus.  All 1st years registered with the Access Services and studying on Glasnevin Campus. 

This programme is designed to assist students to make the transition into the third-level learning environment. There is an emphasis on making friends, getting to know the DCU campuses, DCU Access staff and all the supports the university has to offer.

A Very Special Welcome to our Online Community of Learners

Thank you for choosing to study with DCU. Although you may be based primarily off-campus, we strongly encourage you to engage with your online orientation, our campus supports and college life as much as possible. 

Key Dates:

• Don't forget to complete My DCU available from midweek the week commencing 26 August. 
• Your programme orientation information will be sent directly via your Programme Chair, but also check the 'Course Schedule' tile above.
• There will be a series of online webinars starting the week of the 2 September designed to help you settle in.
• You will have access to the DCU 'Head Start' online programme on LOOP. You may also choose to do the follow-up live sessions. 
• Classes commence the week of 9 September. 

Reach out to our welcome team via the 'ASK' function or student.support@dcu.ie if you wish to speak to a Student Advisor. 

Advice

We strongly encourage you to attend your programme orientation and other opportunities to engage with activities on campus. 

Don't forget to reach out if you need support via student.support@dcu.ie.