Applicants with an EU, EFTA, UK qualification other than the Irish Leaving Certificate.
- Entry requirements criteria for GCE A-level/AS Level/GCSE - click for details
- Entry requirements criteria for EU/EFTA/UK applicants - click for details
EU, EFTA and UK Applicants
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Undergraduate Applicants
Your application
Your results:
Stage 1: Must meet the minimum National University of Ireland matriculation requirements.
Stage 2: Must meet the specific requirements of the degree course you are applying for.
Stage 3: Are ranked relative to other EU applicants since all EU applicants compete on equivalencies as outlined in the tables below.
Minimum entry requirements (matriculation)
The minimum standard in order to be eligible for consideration for admission is specified for Level 8 in each country section (see EU & EFTA Qualifications link above). In all cases proof of English proficiency is required. In addition there are specific subject requirements for most courses (see EU & EFTA Qualifications link above).
Only subjects which are normally recognised for purposes of admission to Irish Higher Education Institutions will be considered. In general, vocational subjects will not be considered for Level 8 courses.
Please note: entry to undergraduate courses in Ireland, and especially Level 8, is competitive and attainment of the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee a place. A points scoring system is in operation. It is not possible to forecast how many points will be required for a particular course until the current year’s examination results are known (August each year).
English language requirements
Teaching in Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is normally through the medium of English; therefore, all applicants are required to demonstrate a high level of competence in English Language.
Applicants presenting Irish Leaving Certificate or A-level are expected to meet English language requirements through those examinations (Leaving Certificate: minimum H7/O6, A level minimum GCSE 4/C). Applicants presenting other examinations, whose first language is not English, must provide evidence of equivalent competence in English Language, through their school leaving examination or matriculation examination or by achieving the minimum standard (there may be higher levels for matriculation and/or particular programmes in individual institutions) in a recognised English language test, as specified below (note applicants are assessed on the results of a single sitting only):
|
English Language Test |
Undergraduate | Postgraduate |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each band | 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each band |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | The minimum requirement will be a DET score of 120 - with at least 110 in each individual subscore. | The minimum requirement will be a DET score of 120 - with at least 110 in each individual subscore. |
| International Baccalaureate | English A1, A2, or B5 at Higher Level (4 at either Level if presenting IB through English) NOTE:Applicants whose school-leaving examinations are more than two years old should present additional proof of English | N/A |
| Pearson Test of English | 63 with no less than 59 for each item in the Communicative Skills section | 63 with no less than 59 for each item in the Communicative Skills section |
| TOEFL paper-based test | N/A | N/A |
| TOEFL internet-based test | iBT: 90 with no less than 21 in writing and at least 19 in all other sections | iBT: 90 with no less than 21 in writing and at least 19 in every other section |
| Cambridge Proficiency Cert. | 176+ on Cambridge English scale with no less than 169 in each skill and use of English. Proficiency Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) | 176+ on Cambridge English scale with no less than 169 in each skill and use of English. Proficiency Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) |
| Cambridge Advanced Cert. | 176+ on Cambridge English scale with no less than 169 in each skill and use of English Advanced Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) | 176+ on Cambridge English scale with no less than 169 in each skill and use of English Advanced Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) |
| Cambridge First Cert. | 176+ on Cambridge English scale with no less than 169 in each skill and use of English First Certificate, Grade A (CEFR Level C1) | N/A |
| ETAPP | C1 or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) | C1 or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) |
| Oxford Test of English | 140 with no less than 125 in each skill | 140 with no less than 125 in each skill |
| Trinity College London ISE | ISE III with at least merit in each skill category | ISE III with at least merit in each skill category |
| Language Cert | B2 Communicator High Pass with no less than 33 in each skill taken with no more than 3 months between components. | B2 Communicator High Pass with no less than 33 in each skill taken with no more than 3 months between components. |
| Language Cert Academic | 70 overall with 65 in each skill | 70 overall with 65 in each skill |
| QQI FET ESL | Merit in the module "English as a Second Language" or "Communications" (level 5) | Merit in the module "English as a Second Language" or "Communications" (level 5) |
| Skills for English UKBI B2 (4 Component Test) | Pass with Merit in all components | Pass with Merit in all components |
| University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) | with English at grade C or above (incorporating the Oxford Examining Body's English as a Foreign Language Higher Paper) | with English at grade C or above (incorporating the Oxford Examining Body's English as a Foreign Language Higher Paper) |
Application process
Applicants must apply through the Central Applications System (CAO). Complete information on the CAO application process is available in the CAO Handbook or at www.cao.ie. Each application must be accompanied by appropriate documentation as outlined below (documentation to be submitted with CAO application form):
- Certified true copy of official transcripts of academic results.
- In some cases, the final school report is also required.
- Notarised English translations of qualifications not issued in English.
In the absence of these documents and translations the application will not be processed.
Applicants who are awaiting current year examination results must forward their results as soon as they become available to the CAO.
For those who are successful in their application, original copies of the above documentation will be required at registration.
Offers of places are provisional until such time as all registration formalities have been completed within the University.
Evaluating applications - EU/EFTA
EU/EFTA applicants’ results are evaluated on the basis of the results of any one examination taken in a single sitting (insofar as it is possible with the relevant examination system).
The first stage of the evaluation process requires an applicant’s results to meet the minimum entry requirements/matriculation and specific subject requirements of a programme.
The second stage of the evaluation process involves ranking the applicant’s results relative to other EU applicants. All EU applicants will compete on equivalencies as outlined in EU & EFTA Qualifications. It should be noted that where subjects are being presented to meet course or matriculation requirements, then only those subjects which have an appropriate weighting in the relevant examination and are recognised for matriculation, will be considered.
See EU & EFTA Qualifications for details of each European Union country's recognised examinations, matriculation requirements and the method of calculating indicative points score (IPS).
CAO points system GCE/A Level examinations
Applying as an A Level Student
You must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) if you are presenting A levels. Click here for more information on applying to the CAO.
Minimum entry requirements
Before CAO points can be calculated for any degree, the applicant must first satisfy the minimum entry requirements for entry to Maynooth University. These are outlined below:
- Pass in 6 recognised subjects at GCSE at grade A, B or C
- AS Level subjects can also satisfy this requirement at grades A-E
Plus
- NUI Matric = 2 X A level Grade C – no other combinations allowed (from 2025 - subject to NUI approval)
- Applicants must achieve a minimum of grade 4/C in English at GCSE level.
Since applicants from outside the Republic of Ireland are automatically entitled to an exemption from Irish, those presenting a grade C or grade 4 in Irish and English at GCSE satisfy the third language requirement for entry to programmes in which a third language is a requirement.
Specific Course Requirements
In addition to the above, some degree programmes require certain subjects at either GCSE or A Level. For instance, science degrees will require grade C/4 in a science subject and grade B/6 Mathematics at a minimum of GCSE level. Any such extra subject requirement(s) are listed on the individual degree webpages.
For some degrees, students must achieve a minimum of grade C/4 in another language at GCSE level.
When all of the above has been met, the points are calculated on the basis of:
(i) A maximum of four different recognised subjects (A-level and AS), will be counted. Only one subject from each subject grouping outlined in the document on the NUI website will be considered. www.nui.ie/college/entry-requirements.asp
(ii) If 4 A-levels are presented, the lowest grade is scored as an AS.
(iii) Applicants can also be scored on 2 A levels and 2 AS levels.
(iv) Applicants are scored on a maximum of 4 different subject results at A and/or AS level/EPQ1 . For scoring purposes, the following combinations of A Levels and AS levels are permitted:
- The best 4 A level results in a single sitting. If 4 A-levels are presented, the lowest grade is scored at the lower rate.
- The best 3 A level results in a single sitting, plus the best AS level result from the previous or the same sitting.
- The best 2 A level subject results in a single sitting, plus the best 2 results at AS level from the previous or the same sitting.
- The best 1 A level subject result in a single sitting plus the best 3 results at AS level from the previous or the same sitting.
NB: Grades in the same subject in A and AS level cannot be combined.
How do I work out my points score?
| Points Conversion Table | |||
| Grade | Best 3 A-levels | 4th A-level | AS Level/EPQ1 |
| A* | 192 | 24 | 24 |
| A | 165 | 22 | 22 |
| B | 142 | 20 | 20 |
| C | 120 | 18 | 18 |
| D | 100 | 16 | 16 |
| E | 67 | 14 | 14 |
Applicants presenting Grade E or above in one of A-Level Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics will have 25 points added to their score for that subject. The bonus points will only be relevant where that subject is scored as one of the applicant’s best four A-level subjects for points purposes. This gives a maximum possible score of 625.
Maths bonus will only apply to A level grades and will apply even if the maths grade is scored as an AS. Only one bonus is awarded if applicants present more than one Maths subject. A level AS/EP Score (a 4th A-level can be scored as an AS).