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BACHELOR OF ARTS

Qualification : BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE

Award Type and NFQ level : UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (8)

CAO/PAC code : MH101

CAO Points : 338

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. Flexible 2nd year pathways and lots of choice are what makes the MH101 degree so appealing to our applicants.

See the Course Structure tab for details about the 32 subjects/groupings/pathways after first year.

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
  • Choose 2 or 3 or 4 subjects
  • Maximum 1 subject per group due to timetabling of subjects
  • Make your subject choices when you register in September - option to change your mind for up to 4 weeks after registering
  • Most subjects require no previous knowledge (exceptions Nua-Ghaeilge and Music). Subjects with extra Leaving Certificate requirements are listed in HOW TO APPLY section
  • 30 credit option in some subjects. These subjects are marked with an asterisk*. Some double subject options cannot be taken together. In the case of Geography, 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)
  • An extra timetabled group of subjects (group 7) is only relevant to those students taking the optional extra 15 credits that are available in Anthropology, Computer Science, History, International Development and Law. New subject Language and Culture (this subject option is for non-beginner French, German or Spanish students only)
  • 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)
  • Optional 1st year only 15 credit Critical Skills courses can be taken with any subject combination.

Group 1: Geography* | German | Law* | Mathematics (Pure - groups 1 & 3)* | Philosophy | Critical Skills
Group 2: Business (International)* | Business (Management)* | Business (Marketing)* | Criminology | History* | Music (extra 15 credits) | Critical Skills
Group 3: English* | International Development* | Mathematical Studies | Mathematics (Pure - groups 1 & 3) | Critical Skills
Group 4: Anthropology* | Economics | Finance | Music Technology | Nua-Ghaeilge | Critical Skills
Group 5: Computer Science* | Music* | Sociology | Spanish | Critical Skills
Group 6: Accounting | Chinese Studies | French | Greek & Roman Civilization | Mathematical Physics | Media & Cultural Studies | Medieval Celtic Studies | Politics | Psychological Studies | Statistics | Business (optional extra 15 credits) | English (optional extra 15 credits) | Geography* (optional extra 15 credits) | Critical Skills

Group 7: 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
      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
      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
      BSc Computer Science and Software Engineering/ BSc Multimedia, Mobile and Web Development (through Arts) MH601

Academic

Department of Law

Law - Sibo Banda - Maynooth University

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Department of Law

Ollie Bartlett - Law -MaynoothUniversity

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Department of Law


Department of ALL Institute

Adam Behan

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Department of Music

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Department of Law

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Department of Law

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Department of Geography


Department of ICARUS

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Department of History

Raul Carstocea - History

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Department of History

Geography - Ro Charlton - Maynooth University

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Department of Geography


Department of ICARUS

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Department of Law

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Department of Psychology


Department of ALL Institute


Department of Human Health Institute

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Department of Law

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Department of Psychology


Department of Human Health Institute


Department of ALL Institute

Denis Condon - English - Maynooth University

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Department of English


Department of Media Studies

Psychology - Andrew Coogan - Maynooth University

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Department of Psychology


Department of ALL Institute


Department of Human Health Institute

Ide Corley - English - Maynooth university

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Department of English

David Cowan - Law - Maynooth University

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Department of Law

Conor Crummey

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Department of Law

Joanne Cusack

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Department of Music

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Department of History

Music - Gordon Delap - Maynooth University

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Department of Music

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Department of English

Dr David Doyle

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Department of Law

Joe Duffin

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Department of Computer Science


Department of ALL Institute

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Department of History

Brian Flanagan - Law

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Department of Law

Geography - Ronan Foley - Maynooth University

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Department of Geography


Department of ALL Institute

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Department of Law

Jane Gray

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Department of Sociology


Department of Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI)


Department of IQDA

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Department of Psychology


Department of ALL Institute

Law - Alice Harrison - Maynooth University

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Dr Yağmur Hortoğlu  - School of Law and Criminology

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Orla Kelleher

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Department of Law

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Department of Computer Science


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Department of Hamilton Institute


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Department of ALL Institute

Law - Neil Maddock - Maynooth University

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Department of ICARUS

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Department of Music

Belinda McKeon

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Department of English

Aisling McMahon - Dept of Law - Maynooth University

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Department of Law


Department of ALL Institute

Ryan Molloy - Music

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Department of Music

John Morrison - Law

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Geography - Conor Murphy - Maynooth University

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Department of ICARUS

Law - Maria Murphy - Maynooth University

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Department of Technology and Society

A profile photo of Cian O Concubhair

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Music - John O'Keefe - Maynooth University

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Lisa Orme - ICARUS - mu

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Department of ICARUS


Department of Geography

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John Reynolds - Law - Maynooth University

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Sinead Ring - Law - Maynooth University

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Paul Ryan photo

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Department of Sociology

Rita Sakr - Maynooth University - English

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Department of English

Anthropology - Jamie Saris - Maynooth University

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Department of Anthropology


Department of ALL Institute

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Department of Geography


Department of ICARUS

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Department of Geography


Department of ICARUS


Department of Faculty of Social Sciences

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Department of Law

Oisin Suttle - Law - Maynooth University

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Department of Law

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Department of Law

Geography - Peter Thorne - Maynooth University

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Department of Geography


Department of ICARUS

Dr Karen Walsh

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Department of Law

Music - Laura Watson - Maynooth University

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Department of Music

Kevin Wozniak

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Department of Law

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Department of Law

As an Arts graduate you will have versatility on your side.
 
Over the course of your three or four year degree you gain valuable skills including the hugely important ability to think critically and analytically. Our Arts graduates emerge as flexible thinkers who are ready for the challenges of the modern workplace in the years following graduation. Apart from professions requiring specialist training such as engineering and science, most career options are wide open to Maynooth’s Arts graduates. With about 40% of graduate jobs open to any discipline (gradireland.com), the quality of your degree and your ability to communicate your experience is often far more important than the content of your subjects.
 
Some of the areas in which Maynooth BA graduates develop their careers include:
  • Human resources & training
  • Finance
  • Psychology
  • Law
  • Marketing & advertising
  • Business
  • Publishing & information
  • Librarianship
  • Teaching – primary & second level
  • Social policy
  • Leisure
  • Travel & tourism
  • Media & communications
  • Translation
  • Arts & culture
  • Management consultancy
  • Computing & IT
  • Civil service
  • Medicine (graduate entry programmes)
  • Economics
  • Public relations
  • Political lobbying

 

This table displays the requirements for Leaving Certificate applicants.
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 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. Late application (for existing CAO applicants) accepted up to 1st May 2023.

Click here to be taken to our mature applicant information page - tab 3 on that page outlines application steps for this degree.

Mature applicants who have a disability 

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia), and require examination support for any written tests that may be required, please submit supporting documentation by 15 March 2023 to the Access Office. 

Unfortunately we are unable to consider applications for alternative examination accommodation after this deadline. 

For further information on the supporting documentation required, as well as examination and other supports visit the Access Office website.

01 February 2023

Additional Information

Leaving Certificate applicants are required to present (as a minimum): 2H5 & 4O6/H7 and O6/H7 in Irish, English, 3rd language. 

The Maynooth Education

Click here for details about optional Critical Skills courses, Electives and degree pathways.  

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.

CAO APPLICATION

Choose MH101 on your CAO application.

Choose your BA subjects (up to four) when you register in September 2023. 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

 

INFORMATION FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAO APPLICANT

The application process depends on the type of applicant you are. Click here for all information about how to apply.
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