UCD became the first League of Ireland team from the second tier to progress through a European tie when they saw off Luxembourg champions F91 Dudelange in the Europa League. A lone Ryan Swan strike at the UCD Bowl gave the college their first win in a European game, and then a remarkable game at the Stade Jos Nosbaum saw Swan give UCD the lead early in the game, but after Seán Coyne was sent off, F91 scored twice before half-time through Joël Pedro and Kevin Nakache. UCD players put up the most incredible defensive display of the season led by goalkeeper Niall Corbet and kept the second half scoreless to progress on away goals after a 2–2 aggregate draw, winning on the away goals rule. In the second round, UCD lost to a late deflected goal away to a Slovan Bratislava with three players who had played at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, before losing the return leg 5–1, conceding three goals in the last ten minutes. In 2017, the club competed in the UEFA Youth League, losing on penalties to a Molde FK which included Erling Haaland. Haaland was introduced as a sub in the return game in the Aker Stadion and didn't score in his half-hour on the pitch, although he did score in the penalty shoot-out. In September 2018 the club won promotion to the Premier Division after a 1–1 draw with Finn Harps F.C which secured the Students the title. They also reached the semi-finals of the FAI Cup for the first time in 12 years only to lose 1–0 away to reigning double-champions Dundalk. However, a tumultuous 2019 season saw a number of players leave mid-season as they had finished college. A club record 12 consecutive defeats were followed by a record 10–1 defeat away to Bohemians, a match which brought about the end of Collie O'Neill's five years in charge. The club were relegated back to the First Division for 2020. After finishing third in the table in the 2021 League of Ireland First Division, UCD defeated Treaty United and Bray Wanderers in the First Division play-offs before defeating Waterford FC 2-1 in the promotion/relegation play-off to win promotion back to the 2022 League of Ireland Premier Division. In the 2022 League of Ireland Premier Division, UCD spent most of the season battling with Finn Harps to avoid automatic relegation. It was 15