Applicants should first check that they fulfil the requirements for the particular course they wish to apply for, as shown in this section. In particular please note the scoring scheme.
Application is made through the Central Applications Office website or via paper application. There is a normal fee for applications received on or before 5.15 pm on February 1. Late applications are accepted up to and including May 1 on payment of an additional fee. Students who wish to study Community and Youth Work (MH116 and MH802) or Music (MH103) must apply before February 1.
Places on courses with QQI entry routes are available in the first instance for students under 23 years of age on January 1. If these places are not filled they will be allocated to qualified QQI mature applicants. Applicants 23 years of age or over before January 1 (21 years of age for MH802), not fulfilling normal entry requirements, may apply for matriculation on the basis of mature years. Mature student applicants with QQI qualifications are considered along with other mature applicants.
The CAO scoring scheme for QQI applicants:
- A major award must be achieved. Component certificates will not suffice.
- In some instances the University will require achievement of specific grades, and / or specified components e.g. five distinctions, including a minimum of a pass in mathematics.
- While the major award may be achieved over a number of sittings, for scoring purposes, results achieved in a single sitting, i.e. between 1 August – 31 July are taken. Where this occurs but the QQI centre offers the program over more than one year, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their QQI centre applies to QQI for a major award where courses are taken over more than one year.
- The total maximum score that can be achieved is 400 points. The score is based on achievement of the major award, i.e. a total of 120 credits, multiplied by the grade score of individual components.
- Grade scores for component awards are as follows: Distinction grade score = 3.333, Merit grade score = 2.222, Pass grade score = 1.111
- Credit is accumulated across component awards. Some component awards have a credit value of less than 5 credits, in which case that value is multiplied by 15.
- The scoring is applied by the CAO.
FETAC Level 5 and Level 6 Points Calculator
Students with appropriate BTEC/OCR qualifications with Merit/Distinctions will be considered for admission on a competitive basis to the first year of the below honours degree programmes at Maynooth University:
BTEC Higher National Diploma
BTEC Extended National diploma Award (180 credits)
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Entended Diploma Award (180 credits)
Holders of any BTEC Higher National Diploma or Extended National Diploma Award (180 credits), with Merit/Distinction Grade will be considered for admission to the first year of these degrees. Applicants will be graded on the best of 6 modules in the second year.
The points are calculated by the following grades:
Distinction =3 Merit =2 Pass =1
Applicants who do not have Mathematics at Leaving Certificate level with a minimum grade of O4/H7 must have a Distinction in a Mathematics or Statistics module or GCSE Grade B in Mathematics.
Application must be made to the CAO by May 1st.
www.cao.ie
- Candidates may apply for admission to second year of a similar course if they have obtained relevant awards - e.g. HETAC, DIT. Preference is normally given to candidates who have achieved merit or distinction grades.
- Candidates may also be considered for transfer into second year of any undergraduate degree course if they have successfully completed the first year of a similar degree course in another recognised institution, or have completed a certificate or diploma course. In some cases transfer to third year is possible for diploma holders in cognate disciplines.
- Applications for admission may be obtained from the Admissions Office. Completed applications must be received by July 1 of the year you wish to enter (late applications may be accepted up to July 31). If taking summer examinations, please include these results with your application. Applicants should enclose a certified copy of transcripts of results and a fee of €25.00 applies.
- Applicants may, if they wish, contact the Admissions Office for a provisional indication as to the progress of their application.
Applicants wishing to take French, Nua-Ghaeilge or Music must have obtained minimum Leaving Certificate grades. There is no equivalent QQI module for any of these three subjects. The grade requirement(s) will be checked following registration and students without the required grade(s) will need to choose other subjects.