Qualification : BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE
Award Type and NFQ level : UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (8)
CAO/MU Apply code : MH101
CAO Points : 307
The Maynooth Bachelor of Arts Degree - MH101 - The CAO's Most Popular First Preference Course
- The Maynooth Bachelor of Arts Degree MH101 has been among the top preference CAO courses for a number of years, receiving most first preference applications. By choosing the Maynooth BA degree, a wide variety of interesting subjects is opened up to you.
- Hundreds of subject combinations are available and you don't have to make any decision on your subject choices until you have sampled as many as you wish over the first four weeks of first year. Simply list MH101 on your CAO preferences - no individual subject preferences are required for the CAO.
- Flexible second year pathways and lots of choice are also part of what makes the MH101 degree so appealing to our applicants.
- Erasmus/Study Abroad option after 2nd year.
>>See the Course Structure tab for details and links to more information about the 32 subjects/groupings/pathways after first year.
CAO Application:
- Choose MH101 on your CAO application.
- Choose your BA subjects (2, 3 or 4) when you register in September 2025. You will have up to four weeks to change your mind on your subjects.
Most Arts subjects require no prior knowledge. Some BA subjects require specific Leaving Certificate grades. These extra requirements are not checked by the CAO but are checked by the University when it comes to subject registration in September.
>>See How to Apply tab for details.
First Year (60 credits)
32 MH101 subjects timetabled into 6 groups - scroll down to see the groups
- Each year of study is 60 credits - each subject in MH101 is 15 credits - make your subject choices when you register in September - option to change your mind for up to 4 weeks after registering
- Choose 2 or 3 or 4 subjects - maximum 1 subject per group due to timetabling of subjects
- Subjects requiring 30 credits: beginner Chinese Studies, French, German and Spanish. Students take extra language modules and these extra 15 credits are timetabled in group 7. Mathematics (Pure) requires 30 credits in 1st year (groups 1 and 3)
- Most subjects require no previous knowledge (exceptions Mathematics (Pure), Music and Nua-Ghaeilge)
- Group 7: only relevant to those students taking the optional extra 15 credits that are available in Anthropology, Computer Science, History, International Development, Law. Language and Culture subject is available to non-beginner Chinese Studies, French, German or Spanish students only
- Optional 1st year only 15 credit Critical Skills courses can be taken with any subject combination.
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
| Geography* | Business (International)* | English* | Anthropology* | Computer Science* | Accounting |
| German | Business (Management)* | International Development* | Economics | Music* | Chinese Studies |
| Law* | Business (Marketing)* | Mathematical Studies | Finance | Sociology | Classical Studies |
| Criminology | Music Technology | Spanish | French | ||
| Philosophy | History* | Nua-Ghaeilge | Geography** | ||
| Music (extra 15 credits) | Mathematical Physics | ||||
| Media, Film & Cultural Studies | |||||
| Medieval Celtic Studies | |||||
| Politics | |||||
| Psychological Studies | |||||
| Statistics | |||||
| Critical Skills | Critical Skills | Critical Skills | Critical Skills | Critical Skills | Critical Skills |
*30 credit option in some subjects:
These subjects are marked with an asterisk*. Some double subject options cannot be taken together.
Group 6 Subjects: only relevant if taking a 30 credit option in these subjects:
Business (optional extra 15 credits) | English (optional extra 15 credits) | **Geography (optional extra 15 credits) - if choosing Geography in group 6, the only subject available to you in group 1 is Geography (this is due to timetabling of subjects in second year) | Music in group 2 (optional extra 15 credits only available if taking Music in group 5)
Group 7 Subjects: only relevant if taking a 30 credit option in these subjects:
- Anthropology (extra 15)
- Chinese Studies (extra 15 required)
- Computer Science (extra 15)
- French (extra 15)
- German (extra 15)
- History (extra 15)
- International Development (extra 15)
- Law (extra 15)
- Spanish (extra 15)
- Language and Culture (this subject option is for non-beginner French, German or Spanish students)
The Programme Advisory Office assists first year students in making decisions regarding the best combination of subjects to suit them.
Second and Third/Final Year (60 credits per year)
Options from second year:
- Freedom to choose how much of each subject you would like to study from second year (some limitations exist). Students decide at the end of first year what their preferred pathway is, when they are more familiar with the subjects and what they entail.
- Double Major: take two subjects equally to degree level.
- Major/Minor: place a greater emphasis on one subject, but continue to study a second subject.
- Single Major: specialise in just one subject in your final years.
- It may be possible to progress into a specialised degree at the end of first year depending on your first year subjects and results:
| BA Finance | MH401 |
| BSc Quantitative Finance | MH402 |
| BA Accounting and Finance | MH403 |
| Single Major BBS or BBA (Business and Management / International Business / Marketing and/or with Global Cultures) | MH404 |
| BBA/BBS Business and Accounting | MH407 |
| BBA Business and Languages | MH409 |
| BSc Economics | MH415 |
| BA International Economics (NEW) | MH416 |
| LLB Law Single Major | MH501 |
| BCL Double Major (Law and Arts/Law and Accounting/Law and Business/Law and Criminology) | MH502 |
| BA Criminology | MH504 |
| BSc Computer Science and Software Engineering/ BSc Multimedia, Mobile and Web Development (through Arts) | MH601 |
Erasmus/Study Abroad option after 2nd year
Head of Department
Head of Department
Department of French Studies
Department of School of Modern Languages
Department of Motherhood Project
Head of Department
Head of Department
Head of Department
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Department of Computer Science
Department of Maynooth International Engineering College
Department of Hamilton Institute
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Department of National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG)
Department of Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI)
Department of Geography
Department of Hamilton Institute
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Department of Geography
Department of National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG)
Department of Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI)
Department of ICARUS
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Department of Spanish & Latin American Studies
Department of Motherhood Project
Department of School of Modern Languages
Department of Sexualities and Gender
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Department of Edward M Kennedy Institute
Department of Psychology
Department of ALL Institute
Department of Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI)
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Department of National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG)
Department of Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI)
Department of Geography
Department of Hamilton Institute
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Department of Geography
Department of ICARUS
Department of Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI)
Department of National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG)
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Department of Sociology
Department of Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI)
Department of IQDA
Department of QSA*Net
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Department of German Studies
Department of School of Modern Languages
Department of Motherhood Project
Department of Arts and Humanities Institute
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Department of Electronic Engineering
Department of Hamilton Institute
Department of Computer Science
Department of Human Health Institute
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Department of Computer Science
Department of ALL Institute
Department of Hamilton Institute
Department of Human Health Institute
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Department of School of Business
Department of Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of International
Department of ICARUS
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Department of Law
Department of Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law and Fundamental Rights
Department of Centre for European and Eurasian Studies
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Department of Computer Science
Department of National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG)
Department of Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI)
Department of Hamilton Institute
Department of ICARUS
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Department of School of Celtic Studies
Department of Irish Cultural Heritage
Department of Early Irish (Sean-Ghaeilge)
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Department of Sociology
Department of Centre for European and Eurasian Studies
Department of Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI)
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Department of School of Business
Department of Hamilton Institute
Department of Innovation Value Institute (IVI)
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Department of Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI)
Department of National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG)
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
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Department of French Studies
Department of Motherhood Project
Department of School of Modern Languages
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Department of Early Irish (Sean-Ghaeilge)
Department of Chronologicon Hibernicum
Department of Arts and Humanities Institute
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| Subject | Required | Ordinary Level Grade | Higher Level Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish | Yes | O6 | H7 |
| English | Yes | O6 | H7 |
| Language | Yes | O6 | H7 |
| Math | No | N/A | N/A |
| Science | No | N/A | N/A |
International & EU/EFTA Entry Requirements
Mature Students
Mature Applicants
Mature applicants are assessed separately to school-leavers. Mature applicants are 23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University. For part-time/flexible degrees the mature age is 21.
Mature applicants who have a disability
If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia), and require support for any required written exercise/interview/ online video audition which may form part of your application assessment, you must complete an online request form and submit supporting documentation by 15 March 2025. Applications for alternative examination accommodation cannot be considered after this deadline.
01 February 2025
Additional Information
Leaving Certificate Applicants
Required to present (as a minimum): 2H5 & 4O6/H7 and O6/H7 in Irish, English, 3rd language. Round 1 points 2024: 307
HEAR and DARE
DARE: The Disability Access Route to Education is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school-leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education.
HEAR: The Higher Education Access Route is a third level admissions scheme for school leavers from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Contact the Access Office for more information about these access routes.
The Maynooth Education
Click here for details about optional Critical Skills courses, Electives and degree pathways.
CAO Application - minimum entry requirements for MH101:
Leaving Certificate applicants are required to present (as a minimum): 2H5 & 4O6/H7 and O6/H7 in Irish, English, 3rd language.
- Choose MH101 on your CAO application.
- Choose your BA subjects (2, 3 or 4) when you register in September 2025. You will have up to four weeks to change your mind on your subjects.
Most Arts subjects require no prior knowledge. Some BA subjects require specific Leaving Certificate grades. These extra requirements are not checked by the CAO but are checked by the University when it comes to subject registration in September.
Subject Minimum Requirements
Required
- Nua-Ghaeilge: H4 Irish (no beginner option)
- Music: H5 Music
- Mathematics (Pure): H2 Mathematics
Recommended
We recommend students have achieved the following grades at Leaving Certificate level in order to meet the demands of these subjects:
- French, German, Spanish non-beginner level recommend H4 or better in the subject. Beginner option also available.
- Accounting, Business (International), Business (Management), Business (Marketing), Economics, Finance: O4/H7 Mathematics
- Computer Science, Mathematical Physics, Mathematical Studies, Music Technology, Statistics: O3/H7 Mathematics
CAO Applicant Information
The application process depends on the type of applicant you are. Click here for all information about how to apply.