LEAVING CERT & EQUIVALENT

Applicants must be 16 years of age or over on 1st January of the year of entry to the course. Applicants for first-year admission to MTU Kerry Campus must satisfy the relevant minimum entry requirements for their category of application:

CAO APPLICANTS (1st Year)

The University evaluates applications through the CAO system in accordance with the following categories:

Standard Applicants

• Leaving Certificate
• Higher Education Links Scheme
• Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP)
• Leaving Certificate Applied Programme (LCAP)
• International students
• Craft or other qualifications

Apply Directly To CAO:

Applicants are evaluated on the basis of the national points scheme as detailed in the CAO Website/Handbook.  Points are counted for the six best subjects. Points  are counted from only one sitting of the Leaving Certificate.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Higher Certificate (NFQ Level 6) And Degree (NFQ Level 7)
Applicants must achieve a pass in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent examinations, obtaining a minimum grade O6/H7 in English or Gaeilge, O6/H7 in mathematics or a minimum grade of F2 in foundation level mathematics (in specified courses) and O6/H7 in three other subjects.

Honours Degree (NFQ Level 8)
Applicants must achieve a pass in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent examinations, obtaining two H5 and four O6/H7 grades. Candidates are required to obtain a minimum of O6/H7 in English or Gaeilge and mathematics.

Foundation Level Maths
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level mathematics fulfils the minimum entry requirements in mathematics for the following programmes:

• MT541/TL731 Bachelor of Business;
• MT574/TL781 Bachelor of Arts in Social Care;
• MT571/TL780 Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Care and Education;
• MT941/TL831 Bachelor of Business (Honours);
• MT974/TL881 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care;
• MT971/TL880 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Care and Education;
• MT974/TL881 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care

CAO POINTS SYSTEMS

Leaving Certificate Common Points Scale

The Department of Education and Skills has introduced a new Leaving Certificate grading scale in 2017. The new scale has 8 grades, the highest grade is a Grade 1, the lowest grade a Grade 8. The highest seven grades 1-7 divide the marks range 100% to 30% into seven equal grade bands 10% wide, with a grade 8 being awarded for percentage marks of less than 30%. The grades at higher level and ordinary level are distinguished by prefixing the grade with H or O respectively, giving H1-H8 at higher level, and O1-O8 at ordinary level:

Common Bonus Points Scale For Higher Level Mathematics

A bonus of 25 points will continue to be awarded to applicants who achieve a grade H6 or above in higher level (HL) mathematics. This means that the maximum cumulative LC points total will increase from 600 to 625 (existing maximum points plus bonus points).

Formula:

• All students presenting H6 or above in HL mathematics will have 25 points added to their score for mathematics;
• The six highest subject points scores will then be counted to achieve a cumulative points score, as is normal practice. The bonus points will only be relevant in cases where the subject HL mathematics (including bonus points) is scored as one of the candidate’s six best subjects for points purposes. Consequently, if HL mathematics (cumulative points score) is not among these six subjects, the bonus points will not be included in the total points score. Bonus points will be awarded irrespective of the year in which the examinations were taken.

The new Common Points Scale that has been developed is Non Linear. Under the old system, the points allocated were in increments of 5 points per band. The new Common Points Scale does not have equal divisions between each value on the scale as can be seen from above. This should be kept in mind, if an applicant is working out what the value of their grades may be. The Non Linear scale will also apply to applicants presenting pre-2017 Leaving Certificates (See table below).

Scoring for pre-2017 Leaving Certificate applicants. All of the pre-2017 LC grades from D3- A1 can be mapped directly to a grade on the new grading scale. For example, the existing A2 and B1 grade bands are both collapsed into the new grade 2. This means that for students who sat the Leaving Certificate before 2017, the A2 and B1 grade should both be treated the same as a new grade 2. The points to be awarded from 2017 for pre-2017 Leaving Certificate grades are set out in the tables below. In line with the decision to award points to students who achieve a grade of H7 under the new Leaving Certificate grading scheme, students who achieved an E grade at Higher Level under the earlier grading schemes will from 2017 be awarded points. The pre-2017 E grade band covers from 25–39% and does not map directly onto the new H7 grade band, which covers the range 30-39%. Therefore, the points awarded for 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.

SECOND CHANCE MATHEMATICS

MTU Kerry Campus Second Chance Mathematics Examination

MTU Kerry Campus holds a mathematics examination in August each year for applicants to MTU Kerry Campus who fail to meet the required minimum levels of performance in Leaving Certificate mathematics.

A pass in the MTU Kerry Campus mathematics examination i.e. 50% will allow an applicant to replace the leaving certificate mathematics requirement of Grade O6/H7 minimum with a grade O6/H7 minimum in another Leaving Certificate subject i.e. applicants must have passed six subjects in the leaving certificate.

The MTU Kerry Campus maths examination reflects the actual mathematical requirements of the MTU Kerry Campus and is marked in accordance to procedure and criteria set out by MTU Kerry Campus. It is only relevant for applicants who have applied to MTU Kerry Campus.

This examination does not affect your application for any other course through the CAO system and CAO points are not awarded for this examination.

Attaining a qualifying standard in the MTU Kerry Campus mathematics examination does not in itself guarantee a place on any course in MTU Kerry Campus. The cut-off points for all courses will still apply.

DISABILITIES

If you have physical /sensory disabilities which require supports for this assessment you should contact the following person for assistance:

Valerie Moore, Access Officer:
Phone number: 066-7191682

If you require reading support for this assessment OR if you have a learning difference which, require reading supports for this assessment please contact the following person for assistance:

Siobhan Mac Garry, Officer for Students with Learning Difference:
Phone Number: 066-7191678

LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED PROGRAMME

*Holders of an LCA certificate, who have a minimum of one year of relevant work experience, post qualification, may apply through CAO for the following programmes:

*To be updated

Candidates will also be required to pass an interview with the University.

GARDA VETTING

The University provides a number of programmes where students are required to do a placement as a mandatory part of the programme. To ensure the protection of the public and to justify public trust and confidence, the University is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake work placements which involve contact with children or vulnerable adults.

To ensure that only suitable students are sent on work placement, the University requires students registering to complete the Garda Vetting process for programmes listed in the MTU Kerry Garda Vetting Policy.

Satisfactory Garda Vetting is a mandatory part of registration for these programmes. Failure to obtain satisfactory Garda Vetting will result in de-registration. Any offence and/or convictions arising after the student has been registered must be disclosed to the University immediately. The University reserves right to review the registration status of a student in light of additional information received subsequent to registration.

Additional courses may be included each year at the discretion of the University and the nature of the work placement. Please review our Garda Vetting policy