ntages of precedence, including the right of dining at the
fellows' table. Sizarships are awarded on examination to students of
limited means, and carry certain relaxations of fees. They were
formerly given on the nomination of fellows. Noblemen, noblemen's sons
and baronets (_nobilis, filius nobilis, eques_) have the privilege of
forming a separate order with peculiar advantages, on the payment of
additional charges. The mode of admission to the university is in all
cases by examination. Various exhibitions and prizes are awarded both
in connexion with the entrance of students and at subsequent stages of
the course of instruction, which normally lasts four years. There are
three terms in each year--Michaelmas (beginning the Academic year),
Hilary and Trinity. The undergraduate is called in his first year a
junior freshman, in his second a senior freshman, in his third a
junior sophister, and in his fourth a senior sophister. The usual arts
and scientific courses are provided, and there are four professional
schools--divinity, law, physic and engineering. The undergraduate has
certain examinations in each year, and four "commencements" are held
every year for the purpose of conferring degrees. Freedom is offered
to students who wish to be transferred from Oxford, Cambridge, or
certain colonial universities to Trinity College, by the recognition
of terms kept in the former institutions as part of the necessary
course at Trinity College. In 1903 it was decided to bestow degrees on
women, and in 1904 to establish women's scholarships. The funds of the
college, arising from lands and the fees of students, are managed
solely by the provost and seven senior fellows, who form a board, to
which and to the academic council the whole government of the
university, both in its executive and its legislative branches, is
committed. The council consists of the provost and sixteen members of
the senate elected by the fellows, professors, &c; the senate consists
of the chancellor or his deputy and doctors and masters who keep their
names on the books. The average number of students on the books is
about 1300. By an act passed in 1873, known as Fawcett's Act, all
tests were abolished, and the prizes and honours of all grades
hitherto reserved for Protestants of the Established Church were
thrown open to all. The university returns two members to parliament.
(See _Dublin