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Irish Leaving Certificate

Entry Requirements

Applicants presenting the Irish Leaving Certificate must have six recognised subjects, selected according to course requirements, and must obtain a minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and minimum Grade O6/H7 in the remaining four subjects. For all courses in UCC, this must include Irish (unless exempt) and English.

UCC is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland and full regulations are published on their website.

Specific subjects and grades required for courses are shown below.

Leaving Certificate Subject/Matriculation Entry Requirements

College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences

At least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish.

Programme Maths Other Language Lab Science Other
CK101 Arts   O6/H7    
CK102 Social Science   O6/H7    
CK104 Arts-Music   O6/H7   Entrance Exam
CK105 Film & Screen Media   O6/H7    
CK108 Arts International   O6/H7    
CK109 English   O6/H7    
CK110 World Languages   H3    
CK111 Early Years and Childhood Studies   O6/H7    
CK112 Theatre and Performative Practices   O6/H7   Entrance Exam
CK113 Criminology   O6/H7    
CK114 Social Science (Youth and Community Work)   O6/H7     
CK115 Social Work       Mature Entry
CK118 Digital Humanities and Information Technology   O6/H7    
CK120 Applied Psychology   O6/H7    
CK121 Psychology and Computing O2/H6 O6/H7    
CK122 Government and Political Science   O6/H7    
CK123 Anthropology   O6/H7    
CK124 Education - Gaeilge   O6/H7   H3 in Irish
CK125 Physical Education, Sports Studies & Arts   O6/H7    

 

College of Business & Law

At least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish.

Programme Maths Other Language Lab Science Other
CK201 Commerce O6/H7 O6/H7    
CK202 Accounting O6/H7 O6/H7    
CK203 Business Information Systems O6/H7 O6/H7    
CK204 Finance O6/H7 O6/H7    
CK212 Applied Economics O6/H7 O6/H7    
CK213 Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship O6/H7 O6/H7    
CK215 International Business with Languages O6/H7 O6/H7   H3 in a language other than English
CK301 Law (Pathways)   O6/H7    
CK302 Law and French   H3 in French    
CK304 Law and Irish   O6/H7   H3 in Irish
CK307 Law and Business O6/H7 O6/H7    

    

College of Science, Engineering & Food Science

At least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish.

Programme Maths Other Language Lab Science Other
CK401 Computer Science O2/H6      
CK402 Biological and Chemical Sciences O6/H7 or H4*   O6/H7 or H4*  
CK404 Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences O6/H7 or H4*   O6/H7 or H4*  
CK405 Genetics O6/H7   H4 Biology  
CK406 Chemical Sciences O6/H7 or H4*   O6/H7 or H4*  
CK407 Mathematical Sciences H3      
CK408 Physics and Astrophysics O6/H7 or H4*   O6/H7 or H4*  
CK411 Data Science and Analytics H3      
CK412 Agricultural Science O6/H7 or H4*   O6/H7 or H4*  
CK413 Science Education O6/H7 or H4*   O6/H7 or H4* H3 in Mathematics if selected as a subject
MT871 Biomedical Science - joint UCC & MTU programme O6/H7   H4  
CK504 Nutritional Sciences O6/H7 or H4*   O6/H7 or H4*  
CK505 Food Science O6/H7 or H4*   O6/H7 or H4*  
CK600 Engineering H4**   O6/H7⁺  
CK606 Architecture - joint UCC & MTU programme O6/H7      

 

* - H4 in either a Laboratory Science subject, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or Computer Science is required. If the H4 is in Mathematics, Applied Maths or Computer Science an O6/H7 in a Lab Science subject is required

** - H4 in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics; if the H4 is in Applied Mathematics, a H6 in Mathematics is also required

⁺  - Technology can be substituted for a Lab Science subject for CK600 Engineering

 

College of Medicine & Health

At least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish.

Programme Maths Other Language Lab Science Other
CK701 Medicine O6/H7 O6/H7 H4 in Chemistry & Physics or Biology HPAT Entrance Exam
CK702 Dentistry O6/H7 O6/H7 H4 in Chemistry & Physics or Biology  
CK703 Pharmacy O6/H7 O6/H7 H4 in Chemistry & Physics or Biology  
CK704 Occupational Therapy O6/H7 O6/H7 H4  
CK705 Speech and Language Therapy O6/H7 O6/H7 H4 H4 in a language other than English
CK706 Public Health Sciences O6/H7 O6/H7 H4‡  
CK707 Medical and Health Sciences O6/H7   H4 in Chemistry & O6/H7 in one of Physics, Biology or Agricultural Science H4 in another subject
CK708 Paramedicine  O6/H7   H4  
CK710 General Nursing O6/H7   O6/H7  
CK712 Children's and General Nursing (Integrated) O6/H7   O6/H7  
CK720 Mental Health Nursing O6/H7   O6/H7  
CK730 Intellectual Disability Nursing O6/H7   O6/H7  
CK740 Midwifery O6/H7   O6/H7  

 

‡ - H4 in either a Lab Science subject, Mathematics or Applied Mathematics

All students in the College of Medicine & Health are subject to Student Garda Vetting and Health Screening. The nature of the Health Screening tests is reviewed in line with medical best practice and may include tests for Hepatitis and TB. 

Medicine Additional Requirements

See the UG Medicine Entry Booklet 2023 for more information.

For undergraduate entry to medicine, school leavers, in addition to the application through the CAO, must also apply directly to ACER to complete the HPAT-Ireland test. HPAT-Ireland results can be used for application to Medicine for one year, meaning that if an applicant sits the test in February 2024 the resulting score is valid for 2024 entry only.

For school-leaving applicants who meet the minimum subject entry requirements and the 480 points criterion in the same sitting of the Leaving Certificate examination, allocation of places for Medicine will be determined on the basis of the weighted combination of the Leaving Certificate Examination points and the HPAT-Ireland score. Applicants cannot combine results achieved in different sittings for the purpose of meeting the minimum entry requirements for Medicine. 

The HPAT test measures a candidate’s logical reasoning, problem-solving skills, non-verbal reasoning and the ability to understand human thoughts, behaviour and intentions. It does not test academic knowledge and candidates do not require specific understanding of any academic discipline. However, some familiarity with the question types typically presented would be an advantage. Sample questions are available on the HPAT-Ireland website along with information about how to purchase further HPAT-Ireland Practice Materials. The test results will complement the Leaving Certificate Examination assessment for selecting applicants for admission to an undergraduate Medical School course. 

For entry to Medicine from 2017, points scores above 550 will continue to be moderated. Scores above 550 will be rounded up to the nearest 5 points and moderated as per the table below. For instance, a score of 562 will be rounded up to 565 and so will result in a moderated score of 553. 

Points Moderated Score
551-555 551
556-560 552
561-565 553
566-570 554
571-575 555
576-580 556
581-585 557
586-590 558
591-595 559
596-600 560
601-605 561
606-610 562
611-615 563
616-620 564
621-625 565

 

The maximum achievable score is 865. 565 is the maximum score in the Leaving Certificate after adjustment and the maximum HPAT score is 300.

Leaving Certificate Grading and Points Scales

‌The new Leaving Certificate grading system was implemented in 2017. The grade system, and how it corresponds with the scheme up to 2016 is outlined below. The minimum entry requirements are two H5 and four O6/H7 grades. The revised common points scale now applies for those presenting the Leaving Certificate:

Higher Ordinary
Grade Points Grade Points
H1 100    
H2 88    
H3  77    
H4  66    
H5  56 O1 56
H6  46 O2 46
H7 37 O3 37
H8 0 O4 28
    O5 20
    O6 12
    O7 0
    O8 0

Bonus points for Maths

25 additional points will be awarded for higher level Mathematics at grades H6 and above.

 

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) Link Modules

UCC awards the following points to the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Link Modules:

Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points

 

While Link Modules are counted for point scoring purposes they may not be counted as one of the six subjects to satisfy minimum entry requirements.

 

Scoring for pre-2017 Leaving Certificate applicants

All students applying through the CAO from 2017 will be awarded points under the new scale, no matter when they sat the Leaving Certificate. 

The pre-2017 E grade band covers from 25-39% and does not map directly to the H7 grade, which covers the range 30-39%. Therefore, the points awarded from a pre-2017 higher level E grade will be less than for a H7 and have been calculated mathematically on the non-linear scale at 33 points.

 

Admissions Office

Iontrálacha

1st floor, West Wing, Main Quadrangle, T12 K8AF

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