CAO
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CAO Schedule 2021
CAO | CENTRAL APPLICATIONS OFFICE | CYCLE 2021
September
Round One:
Offer Date: 7th September, 2021 from 14:00
Reply Date: 13th September, 2021 by 15:00
Issue of main body of offers take place after Irish Leaving Certificate Examination results become available.
Round Two:
Offer Date: 20th September, 2021 from 10:00
Reply Date: 22nd September, 2021 by 15:00
Round Three:
Offer Date: 28th September, 2021 from 10:00
Reply Date: 30th September, 2021 by 15:00
October
Round Four:
Offer Date: 5th October, 2021 from 10:00
Reply Date: 7th October, 2021 by 15:00
Round Five:
Offer Date: 12th October, 2021 from 10:00
Reply Date: 14th October, 2021 by 15:00
If I receive a CAO offer, what happens next?
This is an outline of the next steps for those offered a place on a Level 8 degree at Maynooth University via the CAO (and who wish to accept the offer):
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Follow the offer and acceptance procedure as set out by the CAO:
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Applicants who receive an offer of a level 8 degree at MU will receive an information pack in the post in the days following receipt of their CAO offer. This pack includes a letter detailing all the steps you need to take in terms of registration and orientation and a range of information leaflets. The contents of the pack are available to view below:
1916 Bursary flyer My Maynooth flyer MY Maynooth Parents Info Session Critical Skills at MU Homefinder flyer Maynooth Campus Conference & Accommodation Flyer
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Read the contents of the letter included in the pack carefully. This letter is double-sided and contains information about the orientation, registration and fee-paying processes.
First year undergraduates are expected to start formal lectures on the 27th September. Some orientation activities are planned for the week of the 20th.
If you have questions - please channel them as follows - most are available on webchat (and/or the usual communication channels):
Start to find your way around the Maynooth University campus!
Your CAO 2021 Application | Data Protection
Maynooth University aims to ensure the security and privacy of an applicant’s personal data by preventing the release of any details relating to a CAO applicant to any unauthorised person.
All enquiries about an applicant’s course choice/offer can only be discussed with the applicant. If a third party is enquiring on behalf of an applicant, the applicant must be present and give full permission (by phone/email etc.) to Maynooth University’s Admissions Office to discuss his/her course choices/results/offers with the third party. In all cases, the applicant will be required to confirm he/she is the applicant in question. Each applicant will be asked to confirm the following:
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CAO number
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Full Name
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Full Address
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Date of Birth
CAO Available Places
The CAO is now closed for new applications in 2021, with the exception of Available Places courses.
Some courses become available for new applicants to the CAO after the issuing of Round 1 offers.
Applications are open, via the CAO's Available Places procedure, for the following degree programmes:
MH304 BE Electronic Engineering
MH803 BA Local Studies or Community Studies
Please apply via Available Places on the CAO. This is the link to the Available Places page.
In the meantime, please contact our colleagues to assess your eligibility and discuss next steps:
MH304 - Electronic Engineering - ita.mcguigan@mu.ie
MH803 - Department of Adult and Community Education - derek.barter@mu.ie & kay.loughlin@mu.ie
If you would like further information or clarification, don't hesitate to contact us here in Admissions.
Electronic Engineering Mathematics Exam
ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING MATHS ENTRY EXAM
ONLINE - Tuesday 14th September 2021
This provides prospective Maynooth University engineering students with a 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.
Monday 13th September 2021 - all students registered for the Maths Entrance Exam will be automatically enrolled in this optional 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.
Welcome Week | Orientation and Registration Information
The Student Engagement Officer and the Student Records Office take over from the Admissions Office team for orientation and registration. All applicants who are offered a place at MU receive a welcome pack in the post including a letter which details the processes and dates involved.
The Records Office send an email with details about the registration process.
Click here to see what happens next.
First year undergraduates will start formal lectures on the 27th September, and have some orientation activities in the week of the 20th.
Deferral Applicants
Transport links to Maynooth
The University is typically 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.
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). From 2022 students will need 575 points or more to be eligible for the Entrance Scholarship.
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.
No application required.
Bachelor of Music Entrance Scholarship
Entrance Scholarship for MH103 Bachelor of Music
Our Entrance Scholarship for one entrant to MH103 Music is awarded in September. The top scoring applicant, based on the MH103 remote assessment, is offered the scholarship of €1,000. The successful applicant is informed when they receive their offer for MH103 through the CAO.
CAO Points 2021
Mature students at Maynooth
Click for the latest updates about Mature Student application to study at MU.
Click for more mature student Launchpad and orientation information.
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 contact them.
The Maynooth Arts Degree | CAO #1 First Preference Course
THE MH101 BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE: 318 CAO POINTS IN 2020 - 34 SUBJECTS AVAILABLE IN 2021
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Most popular CAO 1st preference course in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
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Chosen by one in four of our Entrance Scholars (new Maynooth students who achieved 550+ points in their Leaving Certificate exams)
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Preferred course for 1,300 students who begin MH101 annually
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Four weeks to choose up to four subjects from a possible thirty four (one per group) - proceed with two subjects (or one) from 2nd year
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Possibility to move into a specialised degree such as Law, Business, Computer Science (depending on 1st year subjects and results)
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Postgraduate study - once you have completed your Bachelor of Arts degree you may wish to pursue postgraduate study:
It is possible through your master's degree to become an expert in a subject that you have already studied or you could also undertake a master's in a totally new discipline to complement your degree.
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MH001/MH002 Bachelor of Education - Primary Teaching (B Ed) |
Psychology |
General |
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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. |
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Some of the transferable skills that an Arts degree offers include the ability to:
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Lead and participate in discussions |
Develop and argue opinions |
Understand, assess and evaluate issues |
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Write well in a variety of formats |
Propose ideas and theories |
Think and act creatively |
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Organise workload and work to deadlines |
Convey meaning precisely |
Conduct research and evaluate sources |
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Read pages of text and pick out the essential points |
Be objective |
Work alone and on own initiative |
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Retain and absorb large amounts of information |
Have confidence in your opinions |
Be able to base conclusions on statistical research |
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Debate and persuade others of your point of view |
IT skills |
Foreign language skills (depending on subject choice) |
Bachelor of Science Degree | MH201 | 2nd Year Pathways
Second Year Transfer Options from MH201 Bachelor of Science Degree.
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Degree – Year 1 |
Degree Transferring to Year 2 |
Subjects and Grades Required in Year 1 |
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MH201 |
MH202 – Biotechnology |
Students must take Biology, Chemistry and Maths plus 1 other in First Science * |
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MH201 |
MH204 - Astrophysics (Year 3 transfer only) |
Students attaining 60% in Experimental Physics and 60% in either Mathematics or Mathematical Physics in Year 2 of MH201 may apply to transfer into 3rd Year of MH204. Places are limited and are based on results. |
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MH201 |
MH207 - Data Science |
Students must take Computer Science/ Mathematics/ Data Science plus 1 other in First Science* |
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MH201 |
MH208 - Biological & Biomedical |
Students must take Biology, Mathematics plus 2 other * |
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MH201 |
MH210 - Pharmaceutical & Biomedical |
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MH201 |
MH212 SED Science (with Education) |
Students must take Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry & Experimental Physics Students must take Mathematics and Computer Science plus 2 others in First Science. |
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MH201 |
MH304 - Engineering |
Students must take Engineering Science, Mathematics, Computer Science plus 1 other* |
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MH306 - Robotics |
MH304 - Engineering |
Subject to passing the year and attaining 50% or over in the Maths Modules |
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MH201 |
MH602 - Computer Science |
Take 22.5 credits of Computer Science and pass Year 1 |
*Can include Critical Skills
Limited places available for transfers.
CAO | 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.
Entry Requirements Poster | Leaving Certificate Points 2020
The CAO application process
The CAO application process is set out in the video below:
CAO Statement of Application Record
Before the end of May, you should have received a Statement of Application Record from the CAO. This final acknowledgement is designed by the CAO to enable you to verify that all information has been recorded completely and correctly. You must read the statement and follow the instructions carefully, and contact CAO if anything is incorrect or omitted.
Advice from some of our students
Coronavirus COVID-19 Guidance
Read the very latest MU updates.
The country is currently implementing a phased re-opening of society as Covid-19 vaccination rates continue to climb. In line with the Government’s plan, which deems higher education an “essential” sector, Maynooth University is preparing for a return to campus with additional public health precautions in place.
Campus Tour
New student joining the Maynooth campus community in 2021? Returning to campus and forgotten your way around?