Leaving Certificate Students can apply to the University of Limerick through the Central Applications Office (CAO).

Details about the University of Limerick, including a full list of courses and course requirements, can be found in the Undergraduate Prospectus.

Due to the number and calibre of applicants to the University of Limerick, qualified candidates to all undergraduate degree courses are placed in order of merit based on a points system

**Candidates may fulfil course requirements and minimum entry requirements from more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate.**

Age requirements

  • Applicants must be at least 16 years of age on the 15 January of the year of entry.
  • If a candidate below that age wishes to enter the University of Limerick, a special application must be made to the University via the Admissions Appeals Process.
     

Course Specific Entry Requirements

 

Minimum Entry Requirements for Degrees (Level 8)

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include:

  • Two H5 (Higher Level) grade, AND
  • Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades OR four H7 (Higher Level) grades. 

Minimum Entry Requirements for Certificate/Diploma (Level 6/7)

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of five subjects which must include:

  • Five O6 (Ordinary Level) grades, OR 
  • Five H7 (Higher Level) grades. 

Entry Requirement Details

  • Subjects must include:
    - Irish or another language
    - Mathematics
    - English
  • An F6 (Foundation Level) grade in Mathematics can be used as an alternate to an O6 (Ordinary Level) grade and can be used to satisfy the Mathematics subject requirement.
  • Candidates who have a hearing impairment or a specific learning difficulty may apply for an exemption from the second language requirement. A language exemption can only apply to those programmes where the second language requirement is an O6 (Ordinary Level) grade or a H7 (Higher Level) grade.
  Foundation Maths Foundation Irish LCVP 
Fulfilling Minimum Entry Requirements Yes No No
Fulfilling Specific Subject Requirements No No No
Included in Calculating Points Scores No No Yes

Subject Combination for Points Scores

There are restrictions in the use of combinations of certain Leaving Certificate subjects for the purposes of satisfying Minimum Entry Requirements.

  • Any combination of Home Economics (scientific and social), Home Economics (general), and Home Economics (single course) counts as one subject.
  • English and English Composition count as one subject.
  • Any combination of Music, Music & Musicianship, Music & Musicianship A, and Music & Musicianship B, counts as one subject.
  • Physics, and Physics & Chemistry count as one subject.
  • Chemistry and Physics & Chemistry count as one subject.
  • Physics, Chemistry, and Physics & Chemistry count as two subjects.

Who can apply for a Second Language Exemption?

  • If you are applying to UL but do not meet the second language requirement, you can apply for an exemption.
  • If you do not take Irish, but do take another language apart from English (e.g. French, German) you do not need to apply for a language exemption for UL.

Three categories of applicants may qualify for a UL Language Exemption:

Category Who may apply? Application details
1 Applicants with a Department of Education and Skills (DES) Language Exemption from primary or post primary school

Applicants submit the UL Language Exemption online application with the following evidence of eligibility:

  1. A copy of the DES language exemption signed and stamped by your school
2 Applicants without a DES Language Exemption but are exempt from taking a language due to the findings of a psychological report

Applicants submit the UL Language Exemption online application with the following evidence of eligibility:

  1. A copy of the UL Language Declaration Form, signed and stamped by your principal
  2. A copy of a psychologist report
3

Applicants educated / part-educated outside of the Republic of Ireland (ROI). You may be eligible for an exemption if you were either:

  1. Born outside of ROI and attended a least one year of second level education outside ROI, but are now attending second level in ROI and did not have the opportunity to take up a second language 

    or

     
  2. Born in ROI but now live and attend second level education outside ROI and did not have the opportunity to take up a second language

 

Applicants submit the UL Language Exemption online application with the following evidence of eligibility:

  1. A copy of the UL Language Declaration Form, signed and stamped by your school principal

 

How to apply?

Applications are only accepted online.

  1. Complete the UL Language Exemption online application.
  2. Category 2 and 3: Download and complete the UL Language Declaration Form and submit it with your UL Language Exemption online application.

Other required information:

To complete your online application you will require the following:

  • CAO Application Number
  • PPS Number/ National Insurance Number
  • Contact Details including email address and phone number
  • Have a legible scanned copy/digital photograph of your relevant supporting documentation ready to attach to your application.

Applications must be made through the Central Applications Office (CAO) in accordance with the rules and guidelines contained in the CAO handbook.
The current schedule of closing dates is as follows:

Normal Closing Date Late Application Date Change of Mind
1st February 1st May 1st July
 

The CAO, in conjunction with a number of Higher Education institutions, offers third level admissions schemes for school leavers requiring additional support.

Higher Education Access Route (HEAR)

HEAR is a third level admissions scheme for school leavers from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Students who secure a place through HEAR may be allocated places on a reduced points basis, and are offered a variety of academic, personal and social supports while studying at third level. 

Visit the UL Student Affairs website for more information.

Disability Access Route to Education (DARE)

DARE is a third level admissions scheme for students from non-traditional learning backgrounds, including students with disabilities. 

Students eligible for the DARE scheme may be allocated places on a reduced points basis, may apply for a language exemption, and are offered additional supports while studying at third level. 

Visit the Disability Services Office website for more information.

HEAR / DARE average lowest offer 2021 - 2023

Course 

HEAR average lowest offer

(2022 - 2024)

DARE average lowest offer

(2022 - 2024)

LM002 Arts 257 264
LM019 Social Sciences 371 388
LM020 Law and Accounting 394 411
LM027 Law Common & Civil Law New for 2024/25 entry New for 2024/25 entry
LM028 Criminal Justice 321 349
LM029 Law (Plus) 432 488
LM038 Psychology & Sociology 402 429
LM039 Journalism & Digital Communication 372 331
LM040 European Studies 556 None
LM044 Applied Languages None 327
LM050 Business Studies 376 401
LM056 International Business 486 489
LM058 Financial Mathematics None None
LM063 Technology Management None 347
LM066 Environmental Science None 418
LM068 Food Science and Health None 366
LM076 Product Design and Technology 369 None
LM077 Aeronautical Engineering 536 510
LM082 Construction Management and Engineering 363 402
LM089 Sport and Exercise Sciences 432 458
LM090 Physical Education 507 520
LM091 Languages (Ed) None 441
LM092 Biology with Physics OR Chemistry OR Agricultural Science (Ed) 465 458
LM093 Equine Science None 340
LM094 Graphics and Construction Tech (Ed) 401 430
LM095 Graphics, Engineering and Technology (Ed) 405 385
LM096 Physical Sciences with Chemistry & Physics (Ed) None None
LM097 Mathematics and Computer Science (Ed) None None
LM099 Architecture 422 502
LM100 Physiotherapy 554 586
LM101 Medicine (Graduate Entry) None None
LM102 Psychology 466 473
LM103 Paramedic Studies None 389
LM104 Occupational Therapy New for 2024/25 entry New for 2024/25 entry
LM105 Exercise and Health Fitness Management 369 368
LM113 Interaction Design New for 2024/25 entry New for 2024/25 entry
LM114 Music, Media and Performance Tech New for 2024/25 entry New for 2024/25 entry
LM115 Chemical and Biochemical None None
LM116 Engineering (Common Entry) 432 464
LM118 Electronic and Computer Engineering 368 None
LM121 Computer Science (Common Entry) 347 358
LM123 Biological and Chemical Sciences (Common Entry) 388 436
LM124 Mathematics (Common Entry) None None
LM125 Applied Physics None None
LM126 Electrical Engineering New for 2024/25 entry New for 2024/25 entry
LM131 Irish Music None None
LM132 Irish Dance None None
LM133 Contemporary Dance None None
LM134 Voice None None
LM135 World Music None None
LM150 Nursing (General) 414 436
LM153 Nursing (Mental Health) 378 369
LM154 Nursing (Intellectual Disability) 294 309
LM156 Midwifery 426 431
LM173 Immersive Software Engineering 703 728
LM174 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning None None
LM180 Equine Science (Cert/Dip) 311 275

The Special Mathematics Examination is for applicants who have not achieved the required grade in Higher Level Mathematics in the Leaving Certificate for entry to the Faculty of Science and Engineering undergraduate courses. It is only open to applicants who have chosen Faculty of Science and Engineering undergraduate course(s).  It is not available for entry to any other UL course.

In order to apply for the Special Mathematics Examination you must have the following:

  1. Sufficient CAO entry points for your chosen Faculty of Science and Engineering undergraduate course(s) and
  2. Satisfy all other entrance requirements for Faculty of Science and Engineering undergraduate course(s).

Candidates who pass this Special Mathematics Examination are deemed to have satisfied the Mathematics entry requirement. The Special Mathematics Examination will be corrected on a pass/fail basis and no additional bonus points will be awarded.

For more information please visit the Science and Engineering website.

HOW TO APPLY

Leaving Certificate students must apply to the
University of Limerick via the Central Applications Office (CAO)

Academic Registry Logo

Contact Academic Registry

Main Building, E0-001
University of Limerick

The information provided here is as a guide only, and may be updated from time to time. You are advised to consult official documentation, including the University of Limerick Academic Regulations, as the authoritative version

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