CAO 2018 | Open Choice
We know that making a final decision on the list of level 8 degree choices can be quite a challenge. We have therefore broadened the first year entry on many of our degrees in order to open up progression options to our students. This means that many first year students can spend the first few weeks of semester one sampling subjects or pathways within their degree before deciding on their options.
Maynooth Arts Degree | Unique Flexibility
In excess of 1,000 students begin the Maynooth Arts degree annually. These students have up to four weeks to choose up to four subjects from a possible thirty three. After first year there may be an option to move into a specialised degree, depending on the subjects you choose in first year and your results.
- The Maynooth Arts degree is a very flexible programme and the flexibility we offer allows you a wide range of options to customise your studies to match your own interests and your goals.
- You can spend up to four weeks at the start of first year sampling our range of Arts subjects before committing to the two, three or four that you prefer. You can also make changes in your choices at the start of the second semester.
- When you begin second year you will be able to decide the structure of your degree (based on your subjects and results from first year). Most students take a two subject degree from second year (Double Major), but it may be possible to specialise in one subject with a little of another (Major with Minor), or just specialise in one subject (Single Major).
- Critical Skills is available to take as one of your first year subjects - learn and hone the skills that employers demand of graduate recruits (only available in first year).
- These are the possible transfer options having completed the first year of the Maynooth Arts degree (see Course Finder for details):
| BA in Classics | MH101 |
| BA Finance | MH401 |
| BA International Finance and Economics | MH401 |
| BA Accounting and Finance | MH403 |
| Single Major BBS or BBA (Business and Management / International Business / Marketing) | MH404 |
| BBS Business and Accounting | MH407 |
| LLB 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 | MH601 MH602 |
- Postgraduate study:
Recent research shows that Maynooth University Master's degrees support employability, with 75% of our Taught Master's graduates surveyed reporting employment within nine months of graduation. It is possible through your Master's degree to become an expert in a subject that you have already studied, with one to one attention in smaller class sizes and independent research projects. You could also undertake a Master's in a totally new discipline to complement your degree. Examples of these conversion Master's programmes at Maynooth include:
- MSc Business Management - (business for non-Business graduates)
- LLM International Justice/LLM Criminology/MSc Rights & Social Policy (conversion into legal and human rights courses)
- MA International Peace-building - Edward Kennedy Institute (for careers in Mediation and international peace-building)
- MSc Design Innovation - for bright sparks/ideas people/creatives - draw from a wide selection of degree backgrounds to work on real-world problems for companies - inc. marketing, IT, design etc.
- HDip Information Technology - a HDip 1 year programme - BA conversion into IT careers
- Economics, Finance & Accounting - 2 year Master's offering conversion routes for graduates without a degree in these subjects.
| MH001/MH002 Bachelor of Education - Primary Teaching (B Ed) | Psychology | General |
| Some applicants to our MH001/MH002 Bachelor of Education - Primary Teaching (B Ed) degree are concerned about achieving the Leaving Cert points required. Our advice is that applicants should also consider the postgraduate route into primary teaching. The PME Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) is a two-year postgraduate teacher education programme for primary teaching for persons who possess a level 8 honours bachelor degree. The level 8 MH101 Bachelor of Arts degree is a popular choice for many students. | A Double Major in Psychological Studies will not lead to an accredited Psychology degree. However, you could pursue this at a later date through postgraduate study. Unlike MH106 and MH209, Psychological Studies in MH101 will not lead to a professionally accredited degree, however Psychological Studies graduates may be eligible to apply for consideration to entry to a one-year postgraduate programme to achieve a professionally accredited qualification in psychology (on a competitive basis - limited numbers). | 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 transferable skills that an Arts degree offers include the ability to:
| Lead and participate in discussions | Develop and argue opinions | Understand, assess and evaluate issues |
| Write well in a variety of formats | Propose ideas and theories | Think and act creatively |
| Organise workload and work to deadlines | Convey meaning precisely | Conduct research and evaluate sources |
| Read pages of text and pick out the essential points | Be objective | Work alone and on own initiative |
| Retain and absorb large amounts of information | Have confidence in your opinions | Be able to base conclusions on statistical research |
| Debate and persuade others of your point of view | IT skills | Foreign language skills (depending on subject choice) |
COURSE FINDER
CAO Schedule 2018
|
6th November (12:00) |
CAO online application facility opens |
| 20th January (17:15) | Apply online by this date to avail of the discounted application fee of €25. |
| 1st February (17:15) | Normal closing date for applications. |
| 1st March (17:15) | Closing date for amending course choices and closing date for final completion of online HEAR/DARE forms |
| 1st April (17:15) | Latest date for HEAR/DARE supporting documentation to arrive in CAO |
| 1st May (17:15) | Closing date for late applications |
| 4th May (12:00) | Online Change of Mind facility becomes available (Free) |
| 1st July (17:15) | Change of Mind closes |
| Early July | Round A offers for certain Non-Standard categories of applicants - applicants receive an offer by post, by e-mail and SMS text |
| 22nd July (17:15) | Exceptional closing date for late applications for those already attending a participating HEI* |
| Early August | Round 0 offers for certain Non-Standard categories of applicant |
| Mid-August | Current year Leaving Certificate results issued |
| 20th August | Round 1 offers available from 06:00 online. Applicants who have not received an offer will receive a Statement of Application Record. |
| 27th August | Round 1 Acceptances closing date (17:15). |
| Subsequent rounds of offers until CAO close in October and offer season ends | |
*Exceptional Late Application and late Change of Mind
Closing date is 22nd July at 5:15pm and this applies only to applicants who are currently undergraduate students in any year in Maynooth University - applicants must have entered the University through the CAO system.
The CAO will open the online application facility for these applicants on 1st June, and close it on 22nd July at 5:15pm.
Applicants will be required to have their HEI stamp their form to confirm they qualify for this mechanism.
Dates may change.
The CAO Explained | Admissions Officer Dr John McGinnity
Our Admissions Officer Dr John McGinnity talks you through the CAO Application process in the video below:
If you are unsure about anything, please contact us.
Electronic Engineering Mathematics Exam
This provides prospective Maynooth University engineering students with a second chance to secure the required H4 (previously HC3) in Leaving Certificate Mathematics in order to meet the basic entry requirement for qualification to our Engineering degree (MH304). The exam is based on the content covered by Paper One of the Leaving Certificate Higher Level Mathematics syllabus and consists of one exam lasting two hours.
We also run a free preparatory course in advance of the Engineering Mathematics Exam. Separate registration is required for the preparatory course. Students attaining the H4 (60% or higher) standard in the examination will be deemed to have met the mathematics entry requirement to the degree. The results of the examination will be forwarded to attendees in late June, after the Leaving Certificate examinations have finished, and before the July 1st CAO change of mind deadline.
Entrance Scholarship Award
Entrance Scholarships are automatically awarded to incoming first year students who have obtained 550 points or more in the Leaving Certificate (from six subjects in one sitting).
The €1,000 award is for one academic year following admission to the University, payable in two instalments – one in November and one in February (subject to the Entrance Scholar remaining in good standing with the University).
For students presenting GCE A Levels the awards are based on achieving points from three/four subjects in GCE A levels.
NEW | Bachelor of Music Entrance Scholarship
New – Entrance Scholarship for MH103 Bachelor of Music
We are pleased to announce that we will be offering a new Entrance Scholarship for one entrant to MH103 Music commencing in September 2018. The top scoring applicant, based on the MH103 written test, interview and audition, will be offered the scholarship of €1,000. The successful applicant will be informed when they receive their offer for MH103 through the CAO.
Transport links to Maynooth
he University is very well served during term time by a number of daily private bus services.
Dublin Bus services run year-round.
Click here for details of transport options.
Information Packs for new Maynooth Students
The Admissions Office team organises information packs to be posted out to our potential and confirmed new Maynooth University students. The packs are posted in early August (to Round A and Round Zero applicants) and again later in August to Round One applicants. Packs are posted to your address as per the CAO. You are advised to read all contents carefully, as they are intended to assist your transition to the University.
Packs contain:
- Welcome letter from the Admissions Officer, Dr John McGinnity
- First Week Guide - booklet containing details of orientation and registration requirements for new students
- Maynooth Education leaflet - information about the optional Critical Skills courses which are available to first year students only
- Programme Advisory Office leaflet
- Budgeting Advisory Service leaflet
- Maynooth Students' Union leaflet - details of MSU events happening on campus during the orientation period
- Parent/Guardian Information Sessions leaflet
Mature students at Maynooth | Tips from current students
Up to 300 mature students begin their studies here each year. Mature Students (along with students entering through HEAR, DARE and QQI routes) are invited to attend the Launchpad Orientation Programme at the beginning of September. These students also attend the University Welcome Week as above. The Maynooth University Access Programme emails all eligible students with details about Launchpad at that stage in the year.
Emer and Michael of the Mature Student Office (which is part of the Access Office) are committed to supporting the learning experience of Maynooth's mature students. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to telephone, email or drop in to meet them - you'll find them in MAP Lodge on the North Campus.
MSI (Mature Students Ireland) ran a national selfie competition earlier this year where third level students were asked for their tips for future mature students.
Some of the Maynooth students' entries are below - hopefully you find them helpful!
Iveta Hermonova
"Keep in touch with your fellow mature students and discuss things, helps a lot and you will have some fun too, while sweating out that essay."
Celeste Kuhn
"Make sure to go to the orientation week for mature students. It's a great help knowing what supports are out there and where everything is on campus."
Anthony Doyle
"Contact your local 'Intreo' office and organise a meeting with a member of staff to find out if you are entitled to the 'back to education allowance' as this will make life easier financially."
"Talk to current students in the course and lecturers to gauge whether you will have enough of an interest to pursue a 3-4 year commitment to your chosen field of study."
"Take advantage of Maynooth University’s fantastic selection of services, clubs and societies and green space."
Eliza Tomczyk
"You might be overwhelmed and doubt your own ability to learn, but please remember that you have years of experience behind you, motivation and purpose!"
"Give yourself a chance, give yourself a gift of education, you deserve it!"
Louise Simpson
"Join a club or society, be part of what's going on, no matter age - everyone fits in at Maynooth."
Andrew Doyle
"Talk to the kids, they're not that scary."
"Do what you're interested in, a job will follow as your horizons open."
Welcome Week | Orientation and Registration Information
The Student Engagement Officer and the Student Records Office take over from the Admissions Office team once Orientation and Registration Week begins.
Click here to see what happens next!
CAO Information Evening | January 10th 2018
Thanks to everyone who joined us on January 10th - please ask us your CAO questions via the form above or directly via ASK on the Undergraduate pages.
| Time | Talk | Venue |
| 7:15pm | CAO Application Process and New Curriculum Initiative | SE014 |
| 7:15pm | Mature and QQI Admission | SE013 |
| 7:15pm | Part-time Evening Arts Degree (MH803) - Information and Application Workshop | SE009 |
| 8:15pm | Arts Degrees | SE014 |
| 8:15pm | Science, Computing and Engineering Degrees | SE013 |
| 8:15pm | Business, Law, Finance and Accounting Degrees | SE012 |
| 8:15pm | Education Degrees | SE011 |
HEAR and DARE Advice Clinics
HEAR and DARE Application Advice Clinics - took place on January 20th in the Maynooth University Phoenix Building (and nationwide).