Topic: CAO points

Q: I got 515 points. Can I still get into Law with Politics in UCD?

A:

There is now an undenominated entry path into Law in UCD and the points for this last year were 500 so I think you should have a good chance of receiving an offer here unless there is a sizable jump in points.   Monday will tell all.

Q: I got 455, will that be enough for biological and chemical sciences in UCC? Considering the fact that more people seem to be applying for science courses.

A:

With points last year for this course at 445 it was a sizable jump from 400 in 2012, so whether it will go up another 10 points this year is debatable.   I think you have a strong chance of receiving an offer, but as always you will have to wait and see on Monday.

Q. My daughter got 355 points and she is hoping to study Arts (joint honours) in NUIM, she is 5 points off, what are her chances of getting an offer?

A.

It is very difficult to tell at this stage what the final points are going to be. The last couple of years points are below so as you can see 360 is the lowest Arts has gone in a few years.   Will it drop to 355, not so sure. It might be a tight one. 2013 - 360, 2012 - 370, 2011 - 375.

Q: Looking to do economics in UCD, I have 470 points and last years requirement was 465. Any thoughts on how economics is trending on entry requirements and my chances?

A:

I would think you're chances are pretty good, you have 5 clear on last year and the 465 of last year is a jump of 25 points on the 2011 figure of 440 so another big jump is probably unlikely.

Q: I got 315 points but was interested in psychology or Arts.   Is it unlikely I will get either?   Are there any plc courses in Limerick or Kerry I could do to get me on this route?

A:

First of all you need to look at the CAO courses you would like to gain access to.   Then you need to find out if these courses have FETAC links to them and finally you need to find out where these PLC courses are being run near you.   The CAO website and the Qualifax website have good sections on PLC/FETAC courses where you could do some research.

Q: Will 450 be enough for general nursing in UCD?

A:

Given it was 425 last year I think you should be safe with 450.

Q: I got 355 points and I qualify for the HEAR Scheme. My 1st three choices were in NUIM. 1st was 455 last year, 2nd was 415 and 3rd was 425. I definitely won't get No 1 and 3 but could I qualify for no 2 at 415 points.

A:

Yes I think you are right.   You could possibly be in with a chance for the second preference as you are within 60 points of the normal cut off points.   If I were you I would ring the admissions office in NUIM and get more information from them.

Q: I got 415 points, will it be enough for   social science in UCD?
A:

The final cut off points last year were 410 so you have 5 points to spare.   Of course we have no way of knowing what is going to happen this year until Monday, but I would think you have a very good chance of getting an offer.

Q: How likely is it that with my 320 points I'll obtain a place in UCD arts?
A: The points for Arts in UCD last year were 335 so the points would have to drop by 15 this year for you to make it.   This is not impossible but unfortunately it is a waiting game until Monday to see where the points are this year.   You may not necessarily get an offer in round one but may in the next rounds.

Q: I only got one HC in my results, is there any way that I can still obtain arts in UCD with 340?
A: Unfortunately, the entry requirements for UCD state you must have at least two HC3s to gain entry to their degree courses, so you will not be able to get an offer for Arts.     

Q: I want to study Arts in Nuig which has been set at 300 points for the last few years. I got 20 points off that but am sending my English paper to be rechecked. What are the chances I will get an offer of Arts in the second round? I know there is a big demand for arts but I have my heart set on it and can't see meself repeating for 20 points.
A: If you send your English paper to be rechecked, the results of the recheck will be available in mid October.   If you get an upgrade, the new points total will be backdated to round one offers day (Monday 18th) and whatever course you would have been offered then with the new points total must be offered to you in October.   If for some reason the college (NUIG in this case) cannot offer you a place at this stage (October) then at the very least they must offer you a deferred place for the following year.   I would think that NUIG should be able to offer you the place in October however in Arts as this is not a course dependent on lab space, placements, etc.   The recheck results are not available for round two.     

Q: I got 340 for my results and a D1 in Irish. I am hoping to get Arts in UCD. Is there any way I could just repeat Irish to get a C3, because I want to study primary education.
A: Yes, you can repeat one subject, in this case Irish, on it's own.   You are allowed to combine Leaving Certificates for the purpose of meeting entry requirements (not points). Having the C3 would then open the possibility of doing the postgraduate Primary Teaching course.   I have just copied a piece from the entry requirements in St. Patrick's Drumcondra for the postgraduate course in Primary Teaching and it shows some alternatives to getting the HC3 in LC Irish.   You may want to have a look at some of these before launching into repeating Irish.

 
Alternatives to second level qualifications in Irish

A Pass in a University First Arts Examination in Irish,   will be accepted in lieu of the Leaving Certificate Examination requirement.

In the case of Irish, a Grade C in the Matriculation Examination (which existed up to 1992) will also be accepted in lieu of the Leaving Certificate Examination / GCE / GC(S)E requirement. In addition, the following are accepted as satisfying the Leaving Certificate Examination / GCE / GC(S)E requirement.

      Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge , NUI Maynooth
      Teastas Eorpach na Ghaeilge (TEG) at Level B2, NUI Maynooth
      Diploma in Arts (Applied Irish ), University College Cork
      Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach,UCD
      Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, Level C1, NUIG
      Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge (An Ghaeilge sa Saol Comhaimseartha), University of Limerick
      Diploma in Irish at the University of Ulster

Q: When do we find out this year's points?
A: The points will begin to be known from next Monday the 18th, once the CAO begins to offer places.

The first round of offers and the cut off points will be known then. After students accept and reject courses the rejected places go back into the system for the next round and this means that some students on lower points get offered a place in subsequent rounds.

The offer and acceptance process goes on for weeks until the places are filled and the last student who got a place on a course dictates the level of the cut off points. It is only a guide for future years and paints a picture of what happened in a given year but every year is different so we will see what happens on Monday.