Frequently Asked Questions
Toggle
We welcome queries regarding any and all aspects of study at Maynooth University.
COVID-19 FAQs
Q. What is the position for students who have studied subjects outside school and who have not been able to obtain calculated grades in those subjects?
A. The universities have been aware for some time of the position of students who have studied a subject or subjects in the Leaving Certificate in 2020 outside school with a view to satisfying matriculation or minimum entry requirements. There have been discussions on the issue with the Department of Education and Skills, the State Examinations Commission and the Executive Office for Calculated Grades.
While the calculated grades process is still underway, the universities wish to ensure that students are fully informed of their position in terms of meeting matriculation requirements in advance of the July 1 2020 CAO change of mind deadline.
A common approach has been agreed as follows:
In the extraordinary circumstances of 2020 only, students who have applied for a calculated grade in a subject or subjects in the Leaving Certificate 2020, with a view to satisfying matriculation/minimum entry requirements and for whom the Executive Office for Calculated Grades has been unable to award a Calculated Grade in the subject(s), will be granted an exemption in the subject(s) solely for matriculation/minimum entry purposes. (These exemptions will be granted automatically: it will not be necessary for students to apply individually.)
The subject(s) will count as a subject(s) for matriculation, but will not attract points and the exemption(s) cannot be used to satisfy additional programme requirements over and above the matriculation/minimum entry requirements.
Q. When will first years start in 2020?
A. Maynooth University will be working with the Department of Education and Skills, so that we make Round 1 CAO offers as soon as possible after the Irish calculated grades are published later in the summer. We look forward to early confirmation by the Department of Education and Skills of the date by which the calculated grades will be made available to the CAO, so that new university students can begin their studies as soon as possible in the new academic year. This work and all planning for the 2020-21 academic year will continue to be guided by the latest public health advice.
Q. Will CAO points rise, fall or stay the same for courses in 2020?
A. We appreciate the concerns you may have. We are unable to indicate in any year whether points will rise or fall. Points are determined by the demand for places, the number of places and the results of applicants for the course. These change year by year, so we are unable to indicate what the points will be in 2020, or any other year. The important thing is for you to place your CAO choices in your genuine order of preference before the change of mind closes.
Q. Will the University be accepting qualifications from other countries?
A. For any examinations/qualifications which are normally recognised, we will continue to accept such results, provided they are formally issued by the examining bodies, in accordance with the timelines for 2020 admission. However, we will keep the situation under review and if there is a significant difference in grade distribution relative to Leaving Certificate results, we reserve the right to implement a system of proportionality.
Maynooth Arts Degree | Unique Flexibility
In excess of 1,300 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 first year 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 |
- 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
What undergraduate information events do you organise?
Join us at our Virtual Open Days in Saturday 25th April, 2020
FIND OUT MORE AND REGISTER
Critical Skills at Maynooth University
There are some skills that we regard as critical for a university education and that every university graduate should have. These are also skills that are highly valued by today's employers. You must be able to deal with complex arguments, evaluate evidence and make balanced judgments, and communicate ideas clearly both verbally and in writing. Because these skills are so important, both in university and beyond, we are offering a specially designed foundation course for first-year students in critical skills.
Our Critical Skills courses aim to develop these skills early in the university learning experience. They will aid the transition to third level while at the same time complementing and supporting disciplinary learning. They are designed to help first year students to learn, experience, practice and develop essential skills that will support their learning. These skills include:
- Academic writing
- Analysis and use of data
- Analytical thinking
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Developing learning skills
- Information processing
- Interpersonal skills
We use innovative teaching techniques facilitated by the support of the Library and the small class size to develop these skills.
The Critical Skills courses are a 15 credit option and you can choose to take a Critical Skills course as one of your credit-bearing courses in first year. You will take part in small group sessions every week, which will give you an opportunity to develop and practice these essential skills right from the outset.
What are the Teaching Council requirements for recognition as a subject teacher?
The Teaching Council sets out general and specific requirements for teachers of recognised subjects in mainstream second level education. If you are considering teaching at second level as a career, you will need to ensure you choose subjects that are recognised by the Teaching Council and that the content of your degree meets Teaching Council requirements. See the information on the Course Finder about Teaching Council requirements.
Where can I find information on the undergraduate courses on offer at Maynooth University?
This information is available from a number of sources:
- Colleagues in the Admissions Office are happy to answer your queries
- General course and Maynooth University information is available in our Undergraduate Handbook
- Our Course Finder gives detailed information about our undergraduate degrees and indicative modules
- Open Days and other information events organised by the Admissions Office provide a wealth of information
Key Term Dates 2018-2019
What is the cost of attending university?
What are the requirements for a mature student?
Maynooth University has one of the highest participation rates of mature students in Ireland, currently ranging in age from 23 to 75 years old.
Click here for details of how to make your mature student application.
What were the Leaving Certificate points requirements last year?
See the entry requirements page for all Leaving Certificate entry requirements information (including points, and basic and specific course requirements).
Note that these requirements/points do not necessarily apply to mature students.
What accommodation is on offer?
We offer a range of accommodation options including: on-campus, digs, and house share.
Further details are available from the Accommodation Office,
Can I transfer to Maynooth University from another college or university?
Are student activities organised on campus?
Maynooth Students' Union arrange campus events throughout the academic year. Choose to join up to 100 clubs and societies. The Students' Union Bar and Venue is the socialising hub of of the University. The SU run bar-extensions throughout the year with live acts and other events.
How can I find out about grants?
As a foreign student, am I obliged to take any English language tests and if so where can I take them?
EU students don’t need to take an IELTS, PTE or TOEFL but non EU students who don’t have English as a first language are expected to take a language profiency test. Further information is available from the International Office.
Are student exchange programmes available at Maynooth University and will there be opportunities for me to study abroad?
We have links with approximately 100 universities as part of the Socrates/Erasmus/Study Abroad programmes. These programmes are organised by the International Office.
What happens in September?
The start of university life for most students is Orientation & Registration Week in September. This is where new students arrive on campus, a week before the start of the new academic term, in order to get used to their new surroundings and meet new people. This week is aimed at introducing new students to the various services that they may need during their time at Maynooth. It is also a chance for students to meet the people who run these services so that there is a familiar face when students find themselves using that service during the year. The week also provides an opportunity for students to meet with academic staff and discuss various academic choices where this is relevant. Finally, this week is when new students register for their particular course.
The First Week - Start of Term
This is the week that the real work begins. In other words, students begin lectures and also start to get a real feel for what university life is about. It is also a time when students begin to meet new friends or get reacquainted with old friends. Maynooth University prides itself on providing internationally recognised academic courses as well as a huge variety of student activities. These extra-curricular activities provide our students with the opportunity to develop as an individual as well as academically - our students get a unique and quality experience when they come on campus. Our numerous clubs and societies offer sports and cultural activities and help students to get involved in campus life. These activities also develop transferable skills in our students - skills that are much sought after by employers out in the working world.
Fairs Day
One of the biggest days on campus is Fairs Day where students join various clubs and societies that are of interest to them. Invariably students stay involved in their chosen clubs and societies for the duration of their degree and this is where they meet many of their lifetime friends. Maynooth Students' Union also organises various events during the year for all students in the Student Centre and on the campus.
How do I organise vetting by the National Vetting Bureau?
BREXIT Update May 2019
Update from Department of Foreign Affairs on 8/5/19
All citizens, no matter their age, have access to all levels of education and training in either jurisdiction. This includes the EU level of fees and SUSI grants for UK citizens attending Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), along with SUSI grants for Irish students attending UK HEIs.
The DFA press release can be found via this link.