Three layers of requirement
Every CAO course checks three things, in this order:
- College minimum entry (called matriculation at the universities): a number of subjects, a few at H5 or better, and some named subjects such as English and Maths.
- Course requirements on top: for example a higher Maths grade for engineering, or H4 Chemistry for some UCC science degrees. They are listed on each course page and in the CAO handbook.
- Points, which only rank the people who passed the first two. You can matriculate and still miss out on points, and you can have 600 points and be refused for one missing subject.
Points come from your best six subjects in one sitting. Minimum entry is a separate test and, at the NUI universities, can be met across sittings (more below).
The universities
| College | Grades | Must include |
|---|---|---|
| NUI: UCD, UCC, University of Galway, Maynooth (also RCSI, NCAD) | 6 subjects: H5 in 2, O6/H7 in 4 | English and Irish; a third language for most Arts, Law, Commerce, Social Science, Medicine and Health Sciences degrees; Maths for Commerce and Science; a science subject for Science, Engineering, Medicine and similar |
| Trinity College Dublin | 6 subjects: grade 5 or above on 3 Higher papers | English, Maths, and a language other than English (Irish counts) |
| University of Limerick | 6 subjects: H5 in 2, O6/H7 in 4 | Maths, English, and Irish or another language |
| DCU | 6 subjects at O6/H7, with H5 in 2 | English or Irish, and Maths (primary teaching asks for more: H4 Irish, three H5s) |
The NUI rule on languages has exemptions. You may be exempt from Irish if you were born outside Ireland, were educated outside Ireland up to age 12, spent three or more continuous years of school outside Ireland, or have a diagnosed specific learning difficulty or a hearing impairment that affects schoolwork. The last two can also exempt you from the third language. Apply early through the NUI exemptions portal.
NUI also lets you combine results from Leaving Certs in different years for matriculation, so a repeat can fill a gap from the first sitting. That concession does not apply to points, and medicine applicants must meet both the minimum and the course requirements in one sitting. LCVP Link Modules can count for points, but NUI does not accept them as one of the six matriculation subjects.
The technological universities and institutes
The rules depend on the level of the course. This is how MTU sets them out:
- Level 6 and 7 (higher certificates and ordinary degrees): five subjects at O6/H7, including Maths and English or Irish.
- Level 8 (honours degrees): six subjects, H5 in two and O6/H7 in four, including Maths and English or Irish.
DkIT asks for six subjects at Level 7, with one H5 or at least 200 points, and two H5s at Level 8. Course-specific rules, such as a higher Maths grade for engineering, sit on top. Check the course page.
Foundation Level Maths: where it counts
The CAO points scale gives Foundation Maths 20 points for F1 and 12 for F2, but it adds that only certain colleges award them. In practice there are two separate questions: does Foundation Maths meet the minimum entry requirement, and does it earn points?
| College | Meets minimum entry? | Points? |
|---|---|---|
| TU Dublin | Yes, on any course that does not ask for Higher or Ordinary Maths | Yes: F1 20, F2 12 |
| MTU | F2 or better meets the Maths requirement on a named list (early childhood, social care, culinary and hospitality certificates); some arts courses need no Maths at all | Yes: F1 20, F2 12 |
| DkIT | Yes for Level 7 courses that do not name Maths (F2 or better); never for Level 8 | Yes, F2 or better where accepted |
| Trinity | Yes, for every course except nursing and midwifery | No |
| University of Limerick | Yes, F6 or better | No |
| NUI: UCD, UCC, Galway, Maynooth | Yes, as one of the six subjects, but not where the course requires Maths | No |
| DCU | Only on 15 listed courses, including Early Childhood Education, Joint Honours Arts, Communication Studies, Journalism, Law and Society and International Relations | No |
Two practical points. First, at the colleges that award no points, a Foundation grade can still unlock the course but your six best subjects must come from elsewhere. Second, if you missed a Maths requirement, MTU, SETU and TU Dublin each run their own second-chance maths exam for CAO applicants. Ask the admissions office for the date.
The points calculator lets you pick F for Maths and adds 20 or 12, which is the right figure for TU Dublin, MTU and DkIT. For any other college, take those points off.
Foundation Irish
Foundation Level Irish is not accepted by the NUI universities or Trinity, for entry or for points. TU Dublin accepts F3 in Foundation Irish for the minimum entry of some Higher Certificate courses only. If Irish is a problem for you, the exemption route above is usually the answer, not Foundation level.
Frequently asked questions
What are the minimum entry requirements for an Irish university?
At the NUI universities (UCD, UCC, University of Galway, Maynooth) and at UL and DCU, six subjects with H5 or better in two and at least O6 or H7 in the other four. Trinity asks for three H5s. Each also names subjects you must include, usually English, Irish or another language, and Maths.
Does Foundation Level Maths count for CAO points?
Only at some colleges. TU Dublin, MTU and DkIT award 20 points for F1 and 12 for F2 where Foundation Maths is acceptable. UL, DCU, University of Galway and Maynooth accept it for minimum entry on some or all courses but give it no points, and Trinity accepts it for minimum entry only.
Can I go to college with Foundation Maths?
Yes, for many courses. Trinity accepts it for minimum entry on every course except nursing and midwifery, UL accepts F6 or better, and the NUI universities accept it for matriculation except where the course requires Maths as a subject. Courses with a Maths requirement, such as science, engineering, commerce and teaching, need Ordinary or Higher.
Can I combine Leaving Cert results from two years?
For matriculation at NUI universities, yes: you can meet the minimum subjects across sittings. Points are always counted from one sitting only, and medicine applicants must meet the requirements in a single sitting.
Does Foundation Level Irish count?
Generally no. NUI, Trinity and most colleges do not accept Foundation Irish for entry or points. TU Dublin accepts an F3 in Foundation Irish for some Higher Certificate courses only.