A motion advocating for earlier Michaelmas term exam dates was passed at the second Trinity College Dublin Students Union (TCDSU/AMLCT) Comhairle of 2025. The proposal was made by Ciara Daly, class representative and seconded by Eloise Judge, also a class representative.
The motion demands that the Education and Welfare & Equality Officer “lobby College” to change the last day of Michaelmas exams to be earlier in the year. According to the motion, Michaelmas term officially ends this year on December 22nd, while in 2024, the term ended on the 16th of December. For comparison, the final exam date for students at University College Dublin (UCD) this year is December 20th.
Given the proximity to Christmas and a large international student body booking flights far ahead of time, Daly proposed that College finish Michaelmas exams on December 21st at the latest for all future years. She noted the expense of travelling during late December as well as delays and airport overcrowding.
Speakers against the motion, however, advised that moving the exam date would particularly disadvantage STEM students, whose placement as well as course loads limit their time to study. In response, speakers for the motion emphasised that the nature of the proposal was not to move exams by a week but only by a day.
The motion passed with an overwhelming majority, only opposed by a few members of council.
Additional reporting by Mathilda Gross
