This page hosts information that students in their first year of undergraduate studies at Maynooth University may find useful. It is updated regularly so please visit it frequently.
In the sections below you will find information on some of the programme choices available to you in your first year, including:
↵The structure of our BA and BSc programmes allow students to decide whether to specialise from the start, or to take up to four subjects in the first year and focus later. Students study 60 credits each academic year, you can decide how to divide up these credits across your subjects in year 1.
The Registrar's Office has produced First Year Guides designed to explain the options within your chosen programme and which will help you make the right choices for you, which you can download:
MH101 First Year Guide
for students on the BA Arts degree
All programmes except MH101 First Year Guide
for student on all programmes except the BA Arts degree
The Critical Skills courses are designed to help first year students to learn, experience, practice and develop various essential skills that will support their learning. At third level it is expected that students will develop skills that will enable them to successfully negotiate their university experience. These critical skills include:
The Critical Skills subject aims to develop these skills early in the University experience. Discover more information about the Maynooth University Critical Skills courses on the Critical Skills webpage: www.maynoothuniversity.ie/critical-skills
At the beginning of the academic year, you will have up to four weeks to change your mind about your subjects. However, we do not recommend that you leave it until week 4 to make up your mind about your subjects as you will have missed a lot of content and possibly even some course work. Please speak to a member of the Programme Advisory Team if you have any questions about changing your subjects after registration.
At the beginning of the second semester, you will have a second opportunity to amend your subject registration. The Programme Advisor discusses all semester two subject change requests with students to ensure that the student has made a fully informed decision. You will receive an email before the Christmas break with information about the semester two subject change process, if this option is available on your programme.
The Programme Advisory Office is available to assist and advise undergraduate students, including new first year students, with programme related decisions they may be unsure about before and after the registration period. The Programme Advisor will brief all incoming first year students during Welcome Week about the programme choice you will be asked to make during your academic journey at Maynooth University.
Last year, we helped hundreds of new students, just like you, with their programme choices including questions like these:
We love hearing from students, especially first year students, so please get in touch with any programme choice related questions you may have via:
Email: programme.choices@mu.ie
Phone: 01 474 7428
In person: At the beginning of term, we operate a drop-in service for students between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday in Rowan House. After week 5, students can book a one-to-one appointment with the Programme Advisor via our website: www.maynoothuniversity.ie/programme-advisory-office