Applying for University

Applying through the CAO

Applying through the Central Applications Office (CAO)

All applicants (except occasional and non-EU students) must apply through the Central Applications Office. Apply online at www.cao.ie, or request an application form from: Central Applications Office, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway, Tel: (091) 509 800 Fax: (091) 562 344.

On the CAO form, you are invited to enter your choice of courses in 'order of preference'. It is essential that you list your selected courses in order of desire. Put your first choice in the number 1 position, followed by your second, third, and fourth choice, and so on. The deadline for submission of applications is 1st February 2012, but you may apply well in advance of this date. A standard fee will apply. Late applications will be accepted up to 1st May 2012, on payment of an additional fee. Applicants already in third-level education can submit applications up to 22nd July. A change-of-mind facility is available up to 1st July.

CAO Points System

The university offers places to applicants in order of merit, once they meet the minimum entry requirements. The order of merit is calculated based on a points system. Places are allocated to applicants with the required points according to their list of CAO preferences, with applicants who meet the points requirements being offered their highest preference first. For this reason it's essential that you list your preferences in order of desire.

The university distinguishes between applicants who have equal points by appending a randomly generated number to each score. The combined score/random number is the final determinant of position in the order of merit.

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) Link Modules

Points will be awarded as follows:

Distinction 70

Merit 50

Pass 30

Applicants can use their points allocation for the Link Modules as one of their six subjects for the purposes of calculating points, but the Link Modules do not qualify as a subject for minimum entry requirement purposes.

CAO Points System

Leaving Certificate subjects

Points

Grade	Higher	Ordinary
A1	100	60
A2	90	50
B1	85	45
B2	80	40
B3	75	35
C1	70	30
C2	65	25
C3	60	20
D1	55	15
D2	50	10
D3	45	5

All Leaving Certificate subjects carry equal points. Points are awarded for your six best subjects in any one year. These do not have to include subjects needed to meet general minimum entry requirements. Minimum entry requirements and course requirements may be satisfied by an accumulation of subjects over more than one year. As well as achieving the required points, you must have a minimum of six subjects in your Leaving Certificate, with two Higher Level papers at grade C3 and four Ordinary or Higher Level papers at grade D3. (Note: One grade E on a Higher Level paper will be accepted if you also have three C3 grades on Higher Level papers, or at least one B3 and one C3 on Higher Level papers).

• 25 bonus points will be added to the points score for Leaving Certificate Higher Level Mathematics grade HD3 or higher. This is being implemented for 2012 for a four year pilot period which will then be reviewed.


• The bonus points are included in the overall points calculations only when Mathematics is one of the applicant's best six subjects following the addition of the bonus.

Minimum Entry Requirements

CAO Code	Course Name	Points 2010	Irish*	English	Third Language	Maths	Science	Other Subjects
MH001	Education	465	HC3	OC3/HD3				3
MH002	Education (Gaeltacht)	425	HC3	OC3/HD3				3
MH003	Early Childhood - Teaching and Learning	New						4
MH101	Arts	380						3
	- Accounting, Finance and Economics					OC3/HD3
	- Computer Science					OB3/HD3
	- French				HC3 French
	- Mathematical Studies					OB3/HD3
	- Music							HC3 Music
	- Statistics					OB3/HD3
MH102	Music Technology	405				OB3/HD3		2
MH103	Music	Assessment & Interview						3
MH104	Mathematics	510				HB1		2
MH106	Psychology	505						3
MH107	Social Science	395						3
MH108	European Studies	385			French option HC3			3
MH109	Media Studies	455		HC3				3
MH110	Digital Media	365				OB3/HD3		2
MH111	Anthropology	370						3
MH112	Politics	350						3
MH113	History	400						3
MH114	English	445						3
MH115	Law (BCL) and Arts	450						3
MH116	Community and Youthwork (full-time)	Assessment & Interviews						3
MH117	Community and Youthwork (part-time)	Assessment & Interviews						3
MH119	Law (LLB)	460						3
MH120	Philosophy, Politcs and Economics (PPE)	New						3
MH201	Science	375						2
MH202	Biotechnology	380						2
MH203	Computer Science & Software Engineering	355				OB3/HD3		3
MH204	Physics with Astrophysics	410						2
MH206	Theoretical Physics & Maths	520				HB1		2
MH208	Biological & Biomedical Sciences	435						2
MH209	Psychology through Science	465						2
MH210	Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Chemistry	400						2
MH211	Multimedia, Mobile & Web Development	355				OB3/HD3		2
MH212	Science Education	470						2
MH213	Mathematics Education	New				HC3		3
MH214	Computational Thinking	New				HB1		3
MH301	Electronic Engineering with Computers	350				HC3#		2
MH302	Electronic Engineering	350				HC3#		2
MH303	Electronic Engineering with Communications	350				HC3#		2
MH304	Engineering (Common Entry)	350				HC3#		2
MH305	Product Design	360				OB3/HD3	P^	2
MH401	Finance & Economics	350				OC3/HD3		2
MH403	Accounting & Finance	380				OC3/HD3		2
MH404	Business & Management	420				OC3/HD3		2
MH405	Equine Business	360				OC3/HD3		2
MH406	Business & Law (BBL)	450				OC3/HD3		2
MH407	Business & Accounting	380				OC3/HD3		2
MH408	International Finance & Economics	410				OC3/HD3		2
MH410	Marketing	New				OC3/HD3		2
MH411	Entrepreneurship	New				OC3/HD3		2

CAO Video Guide