CAO FAQ's

The Undergraduate Admissions Office processes applications for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at the University of Limerick for EU students (or students with EU residency).  International applicants should apply to the International Education Division

There are 2 application routes to UL programmes for EU students (or students with EU residency). Most prospective students to UL make their application through the Central Applications Office (CAO), however, some programmes require students to apply directly to UL through the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Visit the CAO website to learn about offers made in each Round.

Congratulations on your offer of a place at the University of Limerick (UL). You can accept your offer online at CAO.ie.

Once you have accepted your offer, you will receive an email with instructions to help guide you through some UL onboarding tasks. Please allow up to five working days for this email to arrive.

In the meantime, you can browse our website to find lots of helpful information for new undergraduate students.

There are a number of reason why you may not have received an offer to the University of Limerick through the CAO:

• If you received an offer of a higher preference, you will not receive an offer of a lower preference.
• Did you meet the minimum entry requirements for admission to the University and the specific subject requirements for the course? Please note that some courses also have additional requirements that must be met which can also be viewed on the course webpage.
  Did you meet the points requirement for the course?

Did random numbering occur? In some instances, it is not possible to make offers to all candidates who achieve the same points score, having satisfied all other requirements. In this case, a random number is assigned to applicants by the CAO, and candidates with the highest random number are offered a place. 

Applications must be made through the Central Applications Office (CAO) in accordance with the rules and guidelines contained in the CAO handbook.
An applicant can apply for up to 10 programmes of study in order of preference. (Undergraduate Prospectus)

The current schedule of closing dates is as follows:

Applications can be made by paper or online at www.cao.ie

You may be able to defer entry to your programme for one year. 

Please note: There are no deferrals granted for LM101, BM BS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Graduate Entry).

Leaving Certificate - Specific Subject Requirements for Entry to Programmes of Study

To find the specific subject requirements for individual programmes please view the Undergraduate Prospectus.  It should be noted that candidates may continue to fulfil minimum and specific subject requirements for more than one sitting of the Leaving Cert.

Pre-2017 Leaving Certificate

Specific Subject Requirements for Entry to a Programme (Programme Requirements)
The specific subject requirements for entry to a programme of study are outlined in the next section. In addition to these requirements, applicants must satisfy the minimum entry requirements for admissions to the university.

Minimum Entry Requirements for Admission to the University (Minimum Entry Requirements)
Leaving Certificate - Minimum Entry Requirements for Entry to Degree Programmes
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) grades and  Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades.

Leaving Certificate - Minimum Entry Requirements for Certificate/Diploma Equine Science
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.

For the purposes of satisfying minimum entry requirements:

• Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and 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.
• Foundation Irish and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) are not recognised.
• 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.

Candidates may continue to fulfil programme requirements and minimum entry requirements from more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate.

Pre-2017 Leaving Certificate

Due to the number and calibre of applicants, qualified candidates to all undergraduate degree programmes are places in order of merit based on a points system. Points are awarded for the best six subjects from one sitting of the Leaving Certificate. The Leaving Certificate Vocation programme (LCVP) can also be included in the calculation of points scores.

Revised Scoring for LCVP Link Modules

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.

• Physics and physics and chemistry count as one subject
• Chemistry and physics and chemistry count as one subject
• Physics, chemistry and physics and chemistry count as two subjects.
• Home economics (scientific and social), home economics (general) and home economics (single course), any combination counts as one subject.
• English, English composition count as one subject.
• Music, music and musicianship, music and musicianship a, music and musicianship b, any combination counts as one subject.

Pre-2017 Leaving Certificate

No, Irish is not part of the minimum entry requirements.  The language requirement for admission to the University is 'Irish or another language and English'. Therefore, Irish may be used to satisfy the second language requirement instead of French/German/Spanish etc.

There is a Special Maths Exam (SME) held at the University of Limerick for school-leaving applicants in order to satisfy the specific subject requirement grade in Mathematics for programmes offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering.  This is held at the University, following the publication of the Irish Leaving Certificate Examination results in August.

If an applicant does not achieve the required grade in Mathematics for one of the University's full-time Undergraduate Science & Engineering programmes, the Special Maths Exam may be sat in order to gain this requirement. Only the Higher Level paper can be sat in the Special Maths Exam and applicants must have achieved the required points for entry.

Yes, Foundation Mathematics is acceptable in fulfilling minimum entry requirements; however points are not awarded for Foundation Mathematics. Applicants are advised to check specific programme entry requirements.

No, however the LCVP (Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme)  modules may be used for calculating points. These are calculated as follows: Distinction 66; Merit 46; Pass 28.

A valid provisional C1 or full C1 licence is required prior to offer of a place on the programme.  Applicants must produce a full C1 licence by the end of Year 1.  Penalty points may preclude progression.

Yes, places in Psychology will be competitive as there are limited places. Progression in to Year 2 will be dependent on the basis of Year 1 performance.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, an exception has been made this year for entry to LM099 Architecture. The portfolio is no longer required for Leaving Certificate entry for 2020 to LM099 Architecture

No, the Portfolio/Statement results are on a Pass/Fail basis and eligible candidates are then assessed on their Leaving Certificate and compete on their points calculation.  No additional points are awarded for passing the portfolio requirement.

Applicants may apply for an exemption from the second language requirement of Irish OR another language (excluding English) if they meet certain criteria.  

DES Certificate of Exemption under Circular M10/94

This applies when an applicant has a learning difficulty for a disability, as evidenced by a Department of Education & Skills (DES) Certificate of Exemption (Revision of Rule 46 "Rules and Programme for Secondary School) in relation to exemption from Irish - Circular Letter M10/94);
If you have a copy of DES Certificate of Exemption under Circular M10/94 signed and stamped by your school principal, you do not need to submit a psychologist report or a UL Language Exemption Declaration.

To complete your online application, you will require all of the following:

   1.  CAO Application Number
   2.  PPS Number/ National Insurance Number
   3.  Contact details including e-mail address and phone number
   4.  A copy of DES Certificate of Exemption under Circular M10/94 signed and stamped by your school principal.
   5.  Completed Online University of Limerick Application for Second Language Exemption

Please Note: If you have a DES Certificate of Exemption under Circular 12/96 - primary school exemption, you will need to get your principal to sign and stamp the M10/94. 

Due to Covid 19 an official email from the Principal stating that the applicant qualifies for a language exemption under DES rules will be acceptable to put with the online application in place of the Certificate of Exemption where the Certificate of Exemption is not available to the applicant.

DARE

Where an applicant is DARE eligible - please note: this is a separate application through the DARE scheme, to apply please refer to http://accesscollege.ie/dare/
You can still apply separately for a language exemption from UL if you wish under the following criteria:

   -  Autistic Spectrum Disorder (inc. Asperger's Syndrome)
   -  Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
   -  Deaf / Hard of Hearing
   -  DCD-Dyspraxia / Dysgraphia
   -  Specific Learning Difficulty (incl. Dyslexia & Dyscalculia)

Please complete an online Application for Second Language Exemption and include a copy of DES Certificate of Exemption under Circular M10/94 signed and stamped by your school principal.  You do not need to submit a psychologist report or a UL Language Exemption Declaration.

To complete your online application for UL you will require all of the following:

   1.  CAO Application Number
   2.  PPS Number/ National Insurance Number
   3.  Contact details including e-mail address and phone number
   4.  A copy of DES Certificate of Exemption under Circular M10/94 signed and stamped by your school principal.
   5.  Completed Online University of Limerick Application for Second Language Exemption

​Please Note: This is not a DARE application. You will need to apply directly to the DARE Scheme.

Non-State/Private Second Level School

An applicant who does not have a Department of Education (DES) Certificate of Exemption due to attendance at a Non-State/Private Second Level School.
To complete your online application, you will require all of the following:

   1.  CAO Application Number
   2.  PPS Number/ National Insurance Number
   3.  Contact details including email address and phone number
   4.  A copy of the UL's Language Exemption Declaration Form, signed and stamped by your school principal. 
   5.  A copy of the Psychologist Report.
   6.  A Completed Online University of Limerick Application for Second Language Exemption

You were born outside of the Republic of Ireland (ROI), attended part of your second level education outside of the ROI for at least 1 year but you are now attending second level in Ireland and were unable to be provided with the opportunity to take up a second language

OR

You were born in the ROI but now reside and attend second-level outside of the ROI and were unable to be provided with the opportunity to take up a second language. (Such applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.)

To complete your online application you will require the following:

• CAO Application Number
• PPS Number/ National Insurance Number
• Contact details including e-mail address and phone number
• A copy of UL's Language Exemption Declaration Form for candidates born outside (but living in) the Republic of Ireland (this must be signed and stamped by the post-primary school)
• A Completed Online University of Limerick Application for Second Language Exemption

Recognition of Pre-2017 Leaving Certificate

You calculate your points by adding the scores of your best six subjects together.  The six subjects you are counting for points purposes do not need to include subjects that are specific programme requirements. If, for example, you are required to get a particular grade in Mathematics and you achieve that grade, but you do better in your other six subjects, then you count the other six for points purposes and the Mathematics requirement is still met.

If you took six or seven subjects in your Leaving Certificate and also took the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP), you may count your LCVP score as one of your best six scores, if it is better than your sixth or seventh conventional Leaving Certificate subject.

An additional score of 25 points is awarded for grades H1 to H6 in the Higher Leaving Mathematics.  The additional scores are only where it is included in as one of the applicant’s best six subjects.

No, points are calculated from only one sitting of the Leaving Certificate to meet entry requirements; however subject entry requirements can be fulfilled from more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate.  The best six subjects in any one year are used for calculating points.

Where you get a recheck of your Leaving Certificate and one or more of your grades are raised resulting in an increase in your points score, in circumstances where your points score is now above the cut-off and you become entitled to an offer of a programme at the University of Limerick (or another UL programme of a higher preference) you are entitled to be offered a place on the programme.

The Admissions Office will be in contact with applicants to discuss their options and advise accordingly.