Leaving Cert

‌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 2024, date of birth must be on or before 15 January 2008. Where a student below that age seeks to enter the University, special application must be made to the President of the University

What are the basic entry criteria for Admission to Undergraduate Courses? 

All students wishing to enter an Undergraduate Degree courses at University of Galway must meet the Matriculation requirements of the University.

What does matriculation mean? 

Matriculation refers to the minimum requirements for entry to the University.  Therefore before an applicant can be considered for admission they must meet these minimum standards.

What are the minimum entry requirements? 

For holders of the Irish Leaving Certificate, six subjects for Matriculation purposes are required, with at least two H5 and four O6/H7 Grades. ‌

Do some courses have additional entry requirements? 

Certain courses have additional requirements and these are specified in course entry requirements in the Undergraduate Prospectus (scroll down to the bottom of this page) and on our website here.

What does the points system mean? 

As fulfilment of the matriculation requirements is not in itself usually sufficient for admittance to courses sought, a Selection Scheme under which applicants are ranked in order of merit of performance at school leaving examinations is operated and this is called the points system.  Each applicant’s score is calculated by allocating points for grades achieved in one sitting of the Leaving Certificate examination.  Only the best six subjects are taken into account for points.

What subjects do you need? 

Information on subject requirements for entry to Undergraduate Degree Courses is available in the Undergraduate Prospectus (scroll down to the bottom of this page) and on our website here.

Can students combine the results of the Leaving Certificate Exam taken in different years for admission? 

An applicant may combine the results of Leaving Certificate examinations obtained in different years for Matriculation purposes. (This concession applies to Matriculation only; it does not apply to point’s calculation). Moreover, it should be noted that students seeking to enter Medicine must satisfy the minimum entry requirements in the same sitting. Students are advised to refer to the College of Medicine here.

Can students repeating Leaving Certificate submit point scores from different Leaving Certificate Years for the purpose of points calculation? 

Entry requirements can be taken from any number of Leaving Certificates but only the best six subjects in any one year can be used for scoring purposes. The exception is Medicine.  Students seeking to enter Medicine must satisfy the minimum entry requirements in the same sitting. Students are advised to refer to The College of Medicine  for information here.

Can subjects presented from LCVP (Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme) be used to satisfy the minimum requirements? 

Link modules of the LCVP are acceptable for points purposes for entry to University of Galway. Please note that the LCVP is not an acceptable qualification or subject for matriculation purposes.

Is General Home Economics acceptable as a subject? 

Home Economics – General is not an acceptable matriculation subject for admission to University of Galway. However Leaving Cert Home Economics – Social and Scientific is an acceptable matriculation subject for admission to University of Galway.

Are there any invalid Subject Combinations? 

The subject Physics and Chemistry may not be presented with either Physics or Chemistry. Only two of the following subjects may be presented: History, Economic History, Economics. Agricultural Economics may not be presented with Economics. Classical Studies may not be presented with Latin or Greek. 

Is Foundation Level Mathematics or Foundation Level Irish acceptable? 

The subject Mathematics (Leaving Certificate - Foundation Level) will be accepted for matriculation purposes, but not as a substitute for the subject ’Mathematics’ in faculties or courses for which the subject ’Mathematics’ is currently an entry requirement. Entry points will not be awarded for this subject. The Leaving Certificate subject ’Gaeilge - Bonnleibhéal’ (Irish - Foundation Level) will not be accepted for matriculation or points purposes. 

Is the Irish Language required for entry to University of Galway Degree Programmes?

Generally speaking, Irish is a standard subject requirement for matriculation for applicants with the Irish Leaving Certificate.  However certain applicants may be eligible for an exemption for this requirement (e.g. those born outside the Republic of Ireland).  Detailed information is available on the NUI Website, 49 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 (Tel: 01 4392424)

Do I need a third/modern language for University of Galway courses?

A third language is required for Arts, Commerce, Law, Medicine, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Podiatry.  It is not required for entry to Nursing or Engineering.  Nor is it required for Science Courses except for Biotechnology.

All applicants whose first language is not English, or who have not been educated through the medium of English language during their two most recent years  of study, must have advanced level English in Final School Exam or must present one of the recognised English Language qualifications (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL).  For further information please refer to NUI website.