EU, EFTA and UK Applicants

Your application

Your results:
Stage 1: Must meet the minimum National University of Ireland matriculation requirements.
Stage 2: Must meet the specific requirements of the degree course you are applying for.
Stage 3: Are ranked relative to other EU applicants since all EU applicants compete on equivalencies as outlined in the tables below.

Minimum entry requirements (matriculation)

The minimum standard in order to be eligible for consideration for admission is specified for Level 8 in each country section (see EU & EFTA Qualifications link above). In all cases proof of English proficiency is required. In addition there are specific subject requirements for most courses (see EU & EFTA Qualifications link above).

Only subjects which are normally recognised for purposes of admission to Irish Higher Education Institutions will be considered. In general, vocational subjects will not be considered for Level 8 courses.

Please note: entry to undergraduate courses in Ireland, and especially Level 8, is competitive and attainment of the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee a place. A points scoring system is in operation. It is not possible to forecast how many points will be required for a particular course until the current year’s examination results are known (August each year).

English language requirements

October 2024:
See the ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS tab on this page for the most up-to-date information.

Teaching in Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is normally through the medium of English; therefore, all applicants are required to demonstrate a high level of competence in English Language.

Applicants presenting Irish Leaving Certificate or A-level are expected to meet English language requirements through those examinations (Leaving Certificate: minimum H7/O6, A level minimum GCSE 4/C). Applicants presenting other examinations, whose first language is not English, must provide evidence of equivalent competence in English Language, through their school leaving examination or matriculation examination or by achieving the minimum standard (there may be higher levels for matriculation and/or particular programmes in individual institutions) in a recognised English language test, as specified below (note applicants are assessed on the results of a single sitting only):

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- iBT: 90 (no less than 21 in writing and at least 19 in every other section) in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Academic
- An average score of 6.5 over all components and a minimum of 6.0 in each band. Note: In 2022 and 2023 we will accept IELTS indicator. It may not be recognised after that depending on the outcome of a review.
Duolingo DET
- A score of 120 is required with at least 110 in each subscore.
University of Cambridge:
- 176+ on Cambridge English scale with no less than 169 in each skill and use of English i.e.
  - Proficiency Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2)
  - Advanced Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2)
  - First Certificate, Grade A (CEFR Level C1)
English Test for Academic and Professional Purposes (ETAPP):
- With grade C1 or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2)
UK Examining Boards/Bodies
- GCE O Level English Language at Grade C or above
- GCSE English Language at Grade C or above
- GCSE English Literature at Grade C or above
- CSE Grade 1 Pass in English
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES)
- with English at grade C or above (incorporating the Oxford Examining Body’s English as a Foreign Language (Higher Paper)
EU Countries’ Matriculation Examination
- Matriculation Examinations from European Countries where English is presented as a subject and an acceptable level is achieved. Where the examination has been taken more than 2 years previously candidates may be required to take a proficiency test.
- Where an English proficiency test which is scored on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) is presented as part of a school-leaving qualification, grade must be C1/C2.
Pearson English language text (PTE Academic)
- minimum of 63 (with at least 59 for each item in the Communicative Skills section) 4
Trinity ISE
- Trinity ISE III with at least merit in each skill category
QQI FET ESL
- Merit in the module “English as a Second Language” or “Communications” (level 5)
Oxford Test of English
- Minimum score of 140 overall with a minimum score of 125 in each skill.
Language Cert
- B2 Communicator High Pass with no less than 33 in each skill taken with no more than 3 months between components.
Or an equivalent level of English in a recognised examination

Proficiency tests are used to meet entry requirements but do not count towards points scores. For all proficiency tests the results must normally have issued within two years prior to the start of your course (i.e., for entry in September 2023, only results attained since 1 February 2021 will be accepted).

Note: Where an applicant shows evidence of hearing impairment which meets the requirements for access, the English language requirements can be met without the hearing and speaking components

Application process

Applicants must apply through the Central Applications System (CAO). Complete information on the CAO application process is available in the CAO Handbook or at www.cao.ie. Each application must be accompanied by appropriate documentation as outlined below (documentation to be submitted with CAO application form):

Certified true copy of official transcripts of academic results.
In some cases, the final school report is also required.
Notarised English translations of qualifications not issued in English.

In the absence of these documents and translations the application will not be processed.

Applicants who are awaiting current year examination results must forward their results as soon as they become available to the CAO.

For those who are successful in their application, original copies of the above documentation will be required at registration.

Offers of places are provisional until such time as all registration formalities have been completed within the University.

Evaluating applications

EU/EFTA applicants’ results are evaluated on the basis of the results of any one examination taken in a single sitting (insofar as it is possible with the relevant examination system).

The first stage of the evaluation process requires an applicant’s results to meet the minimum entry requirements/matriculation and specific subject requirements of a programme.

The second stage of the evaluation process involves ranking the applicant’s results relative to other EU applicants. All EU applicants will compete on equivalencies as outlined in EU & EFTA Qualifications. It should be noted that where subjects are being presented to meet course or matriculation requirements, then only those subjects which have an appropriate weighting in the relevant examination and are recognised for matriculation, will be considered.

See EU & EFTA Qualifications for details of each European Union country's recognised examinations, matriculation requirements and the method of calculating indicative points score (IPS).

CAO points system GCE/A Level examinations

Applying as an A Level Student
You must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) if you are presenting A levels. Click here for more information on applying to the CAO.

Minimum entry requirements
Before CAO points can be calculated for any degree, the applicant must first satisfy the minimum entry requirements for entry to Maynooth University. These are outlined below:

Pass in 6 recognised subjects at GCSE at grade A, B or C
AS Level subjects can also satisfy this requirement at grades A-E

Plus

NUI Matric = 2 X A level Grade C – no other combinations allowed (from 2025 - subject to NUI approval)
Applicants must achieve a minimum of grade 4/C in English at GCSE level.

Since applicants from outside the Republic of Ireland are automatically entitled to an exemption from Irish, those presenting a grade C or grade 4 in Irish and English at GCSE satisfy the third language requirement for entry to programmes in which a third language is a requirement.

Specific Course Requirements
In addition to the above, some degree programmes require certain subjects at either GCSE or A Level. For instance, science degrees will require grade C/4 in a science subject and grade B/6 Mathematics at a minimum of GCSE level. Any such extra subject requirement(s) are listed on the individual degree webpages.

For some degrees, students must achieve a minimum of grade C/4 in another language at GCSE level.

When all of the above has been met, the points are calculated on the basis of:
(i) A maximum of four different recognised subjects (A-level and AS), will be counted. Only one subject from each subject grouping outlined in the document on the NUI website will be considered. www.nui.ie/college/entry-requirements.asp
(ii) If 4 A-levels are presented, the lowest grade is scored as an AS.
(ii) Applicants can also be scored on 2 A levels and 2 AS levels.
(ii) Applicants can be scored on:
• Their 4 best A levels from a single sitting
• Their 3 best A levels from a single sitting
• Their 3 best A levels from a single sitting and 1 AS or extended project from the same or previous year.
• Their 2 best A levels from a single sitting and 2 AS and/or extended project from the same or previous year.

CAO Points System: GCE/A Level Examinations

	A LEVEL	AS/EP Score (a 4th A-level can be scored as an AS)
A*	192	24
A	173	24
B	154	20
C	137	18
D	126	16
E	116	14

Please note that the final points awarded for each grade may be subject to adjustment.

Applicants presenting Grade E or above in one of A-Level Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics will have 25 points added to their score for that subject. The bonus points will only be relevant where that subject is scored as one of the applicant’s best four A-level subjects for points purposes. This gives a maximum possible score of 625.

Maths bonus will only apply to A level grades and will apply even if the maths grade is scored as an AS. Only one bonus is awarded if applicants present more than one Maths subject. A level AS/EP Score (a 4th A-level can be scored as an AS).

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