First Year Application Information

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Prospective first year entrants may apply for any/or all of the following:

• Level 6, Higher Certificate (2 years)
• Level 7, Bachelor Degrees ab initio (3 years)
• Level 8, Bachelor Degrees (Hons.) ab initio (generally 4 years, though some are 3)

Applicants wishing to enter first year in full time mode, and presenting qualifications from the EU/EFTA as a basis for entry should apply via the CAO, not directly to the college. Each first year programme has a 5-digit CAO code.  These codes are listed on the programme pages of this site.  They are also listed in the CAO Handbook, which is available in hard copy via schools, or from:

CAO
Tower House
Eglinton Street
Galway
Tel: (091) 509800

The CAO Handbook contains an application form. It is also possible to apply online at www.cao.ie. Online application is preferable, as it is cheaper, faster and less error-prone than a paper application. You can see the application process demonstrated here. Please ensure you use the correct programme code when filling the CAO application.  Remember to supply all relevant information, including date of birth and details of your Leaving Cert. (year and exam number) or of other school leaving exams.

CAO can trace  Leaving Cert results (from 1995 or later), FETAC, or standard academic GC(S)E results from the  UK or Northern Ireland provided they have a correct name and date of birth, details of your exam number, and the year in which you took the exam.

For any other exam type, including vocational and applied awards, you must supply copy transcripts. The transcript provided must be in the original language and must show:  the name of the exam, the awarding body,  the year of the award, the subjects taken, and the grades achieved.  If the original language is not English an notarized translation must be also be provided. Note that we need both the original language version and the notarized translation, one is no good without the other.
 

Application Closing Dates for First Year

Minimum Entry Requirements for First Year

In general, applicants for first year must have successfully completed at least 5 subjects in the Irish Leaving Certificate (or an equivalent international examination).

Maths and either English or Irish are required for most programmes.

There may be additional specific subject and/or grade requirements for some programmes.
Any specific subject or grade requirements will be listed under the heading Minimum Entry Requirements on individual courses.

First Year Undergraduates

All first year undergraduate applications should be made to the Central Applications Office, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway (www.cao.ie).  The CAO publish a joint Handbook and Application Form which may be obtained from their website.  The Handbook will provide you with full details of the application procedure.  Read it carefully and make sure that you follow the directions given.  Neither the Institute nor CAO can be responsible for any mistakes you make if you don’t follow the correct procedures.

Entry Requirements

Higher Certificate (Level 6) programmes
You must have 5 O6 /H7 grades or higher at Ordinary level in five Leaving Certificate subjects. Two of these subjects must include:  *Mathematics and a Language (English or Irish). In practice, entry levels are significantly above the minimum and points are calculated from the six best subjects from one sitting, which for Level 7 programmes must be greater than 140 points.
Click here to view TUS Courses that accept Foundation Level Maths

Bachelor Degree (Level 7) programmes
You must have 5 O6/H7 grades or higher at Ordinary level in five Leaving Certificate subjects. Two of these subjects must include: *Mathematics and a Language (English or Irish).  In practice, entry levels are significantly above the minimum and points are calculated from the six best subjects from one sitting.
Click here to view TUS Courses that accept Foundation Level Maths

Honours Bachelor Degree (Level 8) programmes
You must have 2 H5 grades or higher in two Higher level subjects, together with 4 O6/H7 grades or higher in four other Ordinary level subjects in Leaving Certificate subjects. Two of these subjects must include: *Mathematics and a Language (English or Irish). In practice, entry levels are significantly above the minimum and points are calculated from the six best subjects from one sitting.
Click here to view TUS Courses that accept Foundation Level Maths
 

Mature Applicants

This Institute welcomes mature students and accepts applications from persons of mature years, that is, those who are 23 years of age on 1 January, preceding entry.  All mature student applicants are processed via the CAO. Such applications, together with documentary proof of relevant work experience and/or qualifications, which applicants wish to have considered, should be submitted to the CAO in line with dates published on the CAO website.

The Institute may, at their discretion, extend the closing date for mature applicants for specific programmes.  Mature applicants are advised to contact the Admissions Office for a list of such programmes.

Mature Students Applications Process

The following are the TUS guidelines for the processing of Mature Applications:  

• Details of all mature student applications are received by TUS via the CAO. 
• The majority of places are offered by TUS to Mature Students as early as possible but no later than 31 March in the year of entry. Mature applicants to all programmes, with the exception of some programmes, are automatically offered a place.
• All Mature Applicant Offer Letters issued by TUS will clearly advise that the official CAO Offer will be issued in early July (Round A).
• Please note that applicants who wish to be assessed as a Mature Student can only avail of the CAO ‘Change of Mind’ option if they have consulted directly with the TUS Admissions Office.

Mature Student Calendar of Events

The following is a brief calendar of the annual events related to the Mature Applicant Process:​​
 

Non Standard Applicants

Non Standard Applicants are those who are presenting any qualifications other than

• Irish Leaving Certificate,
• FETAC results or
• Standard Academic A-levels from the U.K and Northern Ireland

These applicants should also apply before February 1st. and should fill pages 3 & 4 of the CAO application form with care.

Where possible, please attach appropriate supporting documentation, such as relevant exam transcripts, to the application form.

Exam Certificates should show the name of the Exam/Award, the subject(s) taken and the final grade(s) achieved.
Provisional results are not acceptable.

Important

If you are presenting non standard exams, e.g. any exams other than Irish Leaving Certificate, FETAC, or A-levels from UK or Northern Ireland, and if those exam results are not available at the time of application, please indicate (on page 4 of the CAO application form) the date by which you expect to send them to the CAO. 

TUS is required to rate all applicants before round 1.  We undertake a final check for results for non-standard applicants around August 15th.  If your results are not available by that date you will be deemed ineligible.  That status will remain in place unless/until you alert us that your application needs review because new information has become available.  Therefore, where results of non standard exams become available AFTER round 1, it is important that you call Registry at TUS as soon as you have made those results available to the CAO to ask us to review your application.​​​​​

Garda Vetting

TUS has a number of programmes which include a placement element, during which students may come into contact with vulnerable adults or children.  Applicants for these programme are requried to undergo garda vetting.  For any programme where garda vetting is required, non EU applicants will not be considered unless/until the pool of qualified EU applicants has been exhausted.