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A-Level

University of Galway welcomes applications for full-time undergraduate degree courses from students taking GCE exams in the UK or Northern Ireland.

Application Process:
Students with UK citizenship and who meet the criteria for EU/EEA fees should apply via the Central Applications Office (CAO). Students are encouraged to read the CAO Handbook which provides great detail on the application process. The CAO also provides a suite of helpful video guides explaining the application process.

Apply via the CAO

Prospective applicants presenting A-levels who are assessed for non-EU fees should apply direct to University of Galway.

Apply directly to University of Galway

Entry Requirements:
Students intending to study an undergraduate degree programme in University of Galway must satisfy the minimum entry requirements stipulated by the NUI for the respective Colleges and also any additional requirements for particular programmes. All subjects must be recognised for matriculation purposes as follows:

Matriculation
To matriculate, students presenting GCE and GCSE examinations must obtain a pass in at least six recognised subjects (you can refer to the National University of Ireland listing of recognised subjects for matriculation purposes) in accordance with programme requirements, as well as obtaining the following:

GCE
At least a Grade C at advanced level in two recognised subjects (Grade A with Grade E, or Grade B with Grade D, are considered equivalent of two Grade Cs).

GCE AS Level/GCSE
At least a Grade 4 (C) in four recognised subjects. The results of Leaving Certificate and GCE/ GCSE examinations may not normally be combined for purposes of application.

Acceptable Subjects
Not all GCE and GCSE subjects are recognised and some subjects may not be accepted in combination with one another. For further information and the full list of GCE and GCSE subjects acceptable for matriculation, consult the Entry Requirements section online. Find out more by searching for ‘entry requirements’: www.nui.ie

Irish Language Requirement and Exemption
If you were born outside the Republic of Ireland, you do not require Irish as a subject for entry to University of Galway. Candidates from Northern Ireland and Great Britain presenting GCE/GCSE qualifications will automatically be granted exemption from Irish and are not required to apply to the NUI for exemption.

Quick Guide
Please refer to our A Level Quick Guide (link will be added) for an overview of the minimum entry requirements for each of our undergraduate programmes offered through the CAO in 2025.

GCE/LC Points Equivalence 2025:

In addition to meeting the minimum entry requirements and the specific subject requirements of a programme (set out above), applicants need to be aware that offers will be made on the basis of CAO cut-off points. The CAO cut-off points are determined each year based on the demand for the programme, the number of places available and the standard of school leaving examination results of all applicants to that programme. See below the current GCE to Leaving Cert points equivalence. This table was updated in December 2024 to reflect approved changes for CAO intakes from 2025 onwards.

Points conversion table
Grade	Best 3 A-levels	4^th A level	AS Level/EPQ
A*	192	24	24
A	165	24	24
B	142	20	20
C	120	18	18
D	100	16	16
E	67	14	14

Extended project Qualification (EPQ) is scored as an AS level (A* is available in this). Throughout this section AS level can be read to mean AS level or EPQ.

Bonus Points for Maths

An additional 25 CAO points will be awarded for a grade E or better in A2 Mathematics. This will apply to only ONE mathematics subject of the following: Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Pure Mathematics, and only where that subject is used as one of the subjects for scoring purposes. Please note, Mathematics and Pure Mathematics cannot be counted separately for points purposes.

Important Notes:

Please note that a maximum of four different recognised subjects (not being mutually exclusive) may be considered for scoring purposes.
AS grades, if presented, will normally only be accepted for the year immediately preceding the grades in the A2 subjects.
Grades in the same subject in A2 and AS level cannot be combined.
Only GCE grades awarded at the same date can be considered for computation. AVCE subjects, or those titled as applied subjects, are NOT currently accepted for matriculation or entry purposes.

FAQs

Is there a minimum age requirement?

Students must normally have attained the age of seventeen years by 15 January following entry: e.g. for entry in 2025, date of birth must be on or before 15 January 2009. Where a student below that age seeks to enter the University, special application must be made to the President of the University.