Mathematics (Common Entry)

Key information
About the course
What you will study
Entry requirements
How to apply
Fees and funding
Your future career

Mathematics (Common Entry)
NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree

Apply now for September

CAO points history:

437

Course code:

LM124

Duration:

4 Years

Fees: See what fees may apply to students
Subject area: Science

Course leader:

Dr. Alan Hegarty

Email:

alan.hegarty@ul.ie

Tel:

00 353 61 202291

Admissions:
Tel: 00 353 61 202015
Queries: www.ul.ie/admissions-askus

Work experience Electives Scholarships

Download our prospectus

You like mathematics and are good at it. You are interested in a career that involves Mathematics, but may also be interested in Physics or Economics.

Why study Mathematics at UL?

In UL the focus is on applied mathematics, not in the sense of the Leaving Certificate Applied Mathematics syllabus, but rather in the sense of mathematics being used to solve problems that arise in science, engineering, industry, finance or society. Applied mathematical modelling is a philosophy of asking, and trying to understand, how things work. A problem or phenomenon of some sort occurs outside mathematics and mathematics is used to explain, to understand and ideally to improve it.

Return to top

Read about our students experiences

What you will study

LM124 Mathematics Common Entry is designed to provide you with a gateway to better choice if you’re unsure which area you’d like to study. You can avail of a broad common first year which will introduce you to various topics in Mathematics, Physics and Economics. Having gained a better understanding of each subject area, you then choose your preferred pathway to specialise for the remaining 3 years of your degree programme. At UL, you get to try before you decide.

In the first semester, you will study calculus, linear algebra and computer programming and can choose from a selection of other modules, including physics and economics, before deciding whether to pursue a degree in

- Mathematical Sciences

- Mathematics and Physics; or

- Economics and Mathematical Sciences.

A Special Mathematics (Higher Level) Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement.

We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February.

Your choice of programme needs to be made before the end of the first semester; there is no restriction on this choice, except that to continue with Mathematics and Physics you must take the physics module Mechanics/Heat/Electricity/Magnetism (PH4131) in the first semester, and similarly to continue with Economics and Mathematical Sciences you must take an economics module in the first semester. It is possible for you to select modules which leave all three options open for the second semester.

Electives and Pathways information for incoming students

Module Electives - what are they?

Electives give you the opportunity to choose modules that you want to study.

Each Semester you will be given a choice of a number of modules and you will be asked to select a certain amount to study. This can range from 1 module to 4 modules, based on the course.

For example, you may be given a list of 4 modules, and will be asked to choose 2 to study for the upcoming semester.

Course Pathways - what are they?

A course pathway, or elective stream, is where you choose a particular area to specialise in within the broader course.

The pathway you choose will influence the modules you can study each semester and will be recognised in your final degree as an area of expertise.

For example, if you are studying Applied languages you are required to specialise in 2 languages from a selection of French, German, Irish and Spanish.

Electives and Pathways for Mathematics

Click here to see the various electives and pathways for this course.

Return to top

Entry requirements

CAO points history	437
Minimum grades	Applicants are required to hold 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. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.
Subject requirements	In addition, applicants must hold a minimum grade H3 in Mathematics.
Additional considerations	A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement. We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February.

Return to top

Fees & funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Centre Levy and Tuition Fees.

A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.

An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.

EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant

HEA pays	Tuition Fees	€4,262
SUSI pays	Student contribution	€3,000
Student pays	Student Centre Levy	€92
		€7,354

EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant

HEA pays	Tuition Fees	€4,262
Student pays	Student contribution	€3,000
Student pays	Student Centre Levy	€92
		€7,354

Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant

Student pays	Tuition Fees	€4,262
Student pays	Student contribution	€3,000
Student pays	Student Centre Levy	€92
		€7,354

Non-EU Students

Student pays	Tuition Fees	€16,373
Student pays	Student Centre Levy	€92
		€16,465

Student course fees are comprised of three components:

Student Contribution

Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The curent student contribution is set at €3000.

Student Centre Levy

All students are liable to pay the Student Centre Levy of €90. Please note the Student Centre Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

Residency
- You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
Citizenship
- You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
Course Requirements (all must be met)
- You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
- You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
- You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -

Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
EU Fee Status: You satisfy the citizenship and/or residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees
Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.

More information about fees can be found on the Finance website

These scholarships are available for this course

Title	Award	Scholarships available
Intel, Shannon Women in Technology Scholarship	€2,000 grant for the remainder of your degree
The Critchley Prize		1
Royal Irish Academy Hamilton Awards – Mathematics	€250	1
The Ei Electronics Women in Engineering Scholarship	€2,500 for 3 years	1

These scholarships are available for all courses

Title	Award	Scholarships available
Plassey Campus Centre Scholarship Programme
All Ireland Scholarships - sponsored by J.P. McManus	€6,750	125
Higher Education Grants & VEC Grants
Financial Aid Fund
Elaine Fagan Scholarship	€5,000	5
Stuart Mangan Scholarship
Provincial GAA Bursaries Scheme	€750
The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship	Various benefits equating to over €7,000 in value
Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship	€2,500
UL Sports Scholarships	Varies depending on level of Scholarship	Multiple
Cooperative Education Award		1 award per faculty
UL 40 Entrance Scholarship	€2,000	40

Return to top

Your future career

The career opportunities will depend primarily on the BSc course chosen by you. Graduates of UL Mathematics courses have successfully developed careers in the following employment areas:

Mathematical Sciences

Research; teaching; financial services including accounting, lending analysis and investment analysis; data analysis including market research, demographics and medical research; software development; manufacturing including production planning, quality control and research and development of new products.

Mathematics and Physics

Physicist, meteorologist; patent agent; planetary scientist; acoustical physicist; teacher.

Economics and Mathematical Sciences

Economist; statistician; market research analyst; securities trader; investment banking analyst; health policy planner; international trade specialist; demographer; banking; civil service; actuarial services, education including teaching and research.

Return to top