QQI courses linked to our degrees

Any QQI award (at level 5 or 6), with a minimum of five distinctions, fulfills the minimum entry requirements for admission to Maynooth University - this means the applicant is eligible for consideration for a place at the University. However, due to the high demand for our courses, a higher number of distinctions is required for entry in many instances (typically at least 8 distinctions). Similar to the Leaving Certificate applicants, QQI applicants are ranked on the basis of the points they have achieved in their QQI award.

The following rules apply:

  • A major award must be achieved. Component certificates do not suffice.
  • In some instances the University requires achievement of specific grades, and/or specified components e.g. five distinctions, including a distinction in mathematics or statistics.
  • While the major award may be achieved over a number of sittings, for scoring purposes, results achieved in a SINGLE SITTING are counted, i.e. between 1st August – 31st July. Where this occurs, but the QQI centre offers the program over more than one year, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their QQI centre applies to QQI for a major award where courses are taken over more than one year.
  • The total maximum score that can be achieved is 400 points. The score is based on achievement of the major award, i.e. a total of 120 credits, multiplied by the grade score of individual components.

Grade scores for component awards are as follows:
DISTINCTION GRADE SCORE = 3.333
MERIT GRADE SCORE = 2.222
PASS GRADE SCORE = 1.111

Credit is accumulated across component awards. Some component awards have a credit value of less than 5 credits, in which case that value is multiplied by 15. The scoring is applied by the CAO. For the most current list of linked awards and specialised components visit our website. You will also find other information in relation to QQI entry pathways. Changes made to those listed below will be implemented in the next admissions cycle, through the CAO, where possible.

Students with appropriate QQI qualifications and modules, with distinctions in at least five modules, will be considered for admission on a competitive basis to the first year of the following honours degree programmes at Maynooth University.