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CAO Application Guidelines 2012


Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology offers a wide range of certified programmes at higher certificate, bachelor degree and honours bachelor degree levels.

Programme structures allow students great flexibility in deciding upon a career path. Students may elect to complete their studies after two years and graduate with a higher certificate or, having achieved adequate grades, they may progress to degree and/or honours degree level.

The CAO Handbook gives details of application dates and procedures.

Key Closing Dates for Application to the CAO for 2012

APPLICANT CLOSING DATE
All students taking the Leaving Certificate (Irish, European Union and Non-European Union); Mature Applicants* 01/02/2012
Late Applicants (including mature students)** 01/05/2012
Change of mind 01/07/2012
Applicants already in third level 22/07/2012


* Late applications from mature students

  • Late applications will be considered but interviews/ assessments may take place later than for on-time applicants.

  • Mature applicants may also apply for any programmee advertised with available/vacant places.

  • Applicants are advised to contact the Admissions Office in advance of applying to CAO.

** Late applications are not accepted

  • For restricted programmes requiring portfolio submission (i.e., the Bachelor of Arts in Art and Design).

  • From applicants with a qualification other than the Irish Leaving Certificate, FETAC Level 5/6 awards, Northern Ireland or British GCEs/GCSEs.

  • For Nursing Degree Programmes—Mature Codes.

Entry Requirements

A. Higher Certificates (Level 6) and Bachelor Degrees (Level 7)
The minimum Leaving Certificate entry requirement for all higher certificates (Level 6) and ab initio bachelor degrees (Level 7) programmes is pass (Grade D3 or better) in five Leaving Certificate subjects including Mathematics and English or Irish with a minimum of 140 points.

B. Honours Bachelor Degrees (Level 8)
The general minimum Leaving Certificate entry requirement is a pass (grade D3 or better) in six Leaving Certificate subjects including English or Irish and Mathematics, two of which must be passed in higher level papers at Grade C3 or higher.

The programmes listed below carry additional/different requirements:

Because of demand for places a selection scheme under which applicants are ranked in order of merit on their Leaving Certificate performance is applied to establish the 'cut off point' for each programme.

PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medical Science, GA785 A science subject and an Ordinary C3 in Mathematics
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in General Nursing, GA880 and Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychiatric Nursing, GA882  A laboratory science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics and Chemistry (joint), or Agricultural Science.)
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Design & Technology Education, GA980 Higher C3 in Design and Communication Graphics or Architectural Technology
Bachelor of Arts in Art & Design, GA270 Pass in five Leaving Certificate subjects.

Foundation Level Mathematics at B2 minimum is accepted as one of the five.

Pass in Portfolio assessment.
Higher Certificate in Business in Tourism, GA360
Higher Certificate in Arts in Culinary Arts, GA361
Higher Certificate in Arts in Hospitality Studies, GA362
Higher Certificate in Arts in Bar Supervision, GA363		 Pass in five Leaving Certificate subjects to include English or Irish with a minimum of 140 points. There is an exemption from Mathematics for the academic  years 2010, 2011 and 2012.

C. FETAC Awards
A pass in any FETAC Award at Level 5/6 meets the entry requirements for Higher Certificate or Bachelor Degree (Level 6 or Level 7) programmes.

A pass with distinction grade in at least three modules in any FETAC Award at Level 5/6 meets the entry requirements for honours bachelor degrees (Level 8) with the exception of nursing degree programmes.

Applicants for GA270 Art and Design will also have to pass the portfolio assessment.

The Higher Education Links Scheme, through specifically linked FETAC awards with specific module requirements, remains in place for progression to nursing degrees.

With the exception of a small number of programmes with limited places and Nursing degrees, FETAC award holders are ranked with the Leaving Certificate holders for admission to GMIT.

There is a specific quota of places reserved on nursing degree programmes and 5% of places are reserved for FETAC award holders on the programmes with limited places.

The programmes currently designated are: Film and TV, Medical Science, Furniture Design and Manufacture, Design and Technology Education, and Applied Social Studies.

Note 1: FETAC Level 6 award holders are eligible for admission to year 2 of approved GMIT programmes.

DOWNLOAD A FULL LIST OF FETAC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR GMIT (PDF, 169 KB)

D. GC(S)E and Other School Leaving Examinations
A combination of Northern Ireland or British GCSE and GCE A-Level and AS Level at certain grades will be considered.

E. Other European Union (EU) School Leaving examinations
Other European Union (EU) School Leaving examinations will also be considered. Applications are assessed and scored by the Institutes of Technology Central Evaluation Forum (IOTCEF). (See details on www.cao.ie [external link].)

F. FETAC Level 5 Certificate in General Studies (Foundation Certificate) or Joint GMIT/NUIG Foundation Certificates
Students who successfully complete these programmes are eligible for admission either through the guaranteed places process or through the mature student process.

(See the Access Office for more information)

G. Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP)
The LCVP 'subject' will be considered as a passing subject provided the student achieves a pass grade. This will apply to entry for higher certificate (level 6), ordinary degree (level 7), and honours degree (level 8) programmes with the exception of nursing degrees.

The 'Link Modules' result is considered and may be used as one of the best six subjects. Points are awarded on the basis of the classification below.

Pass

Merit

Distinction

30 points

50 points

70 points


H. Foundation Level Mathematics
A pass in foundation level mathematics at B2 level or higher will be accepted as meeting the minimum entry requirements for programmes which currently require a minimum entry level of D3 in ordinary Leaving Certificate mathematics, with the exception of engineering (including all programmes at Letterfrack) and nursing.

Where foundation level mathematics is accepted as a passing subject, at a minimum B2 grade, the following points scoring system will apply:

A1 A2 B1 B2
20 15 10 5


Note: Applicants are advised that while foundation level mathematics may meet the minimum mathematics requirement for entry to certain academic programmes, some employers require mathematics at ordinary level or higher to meet minimum educational attainment for some positions.

I. Higher E in Mathematics
A Higher E in Mathematics meets the minimum OD3 Maths requirement on all programmes.

J. Foundation Level Irish
Foundation Level Irish, at minimum B3 level, meets the minimum language requirement for entry to all programmes with the exception of nursing.

No CAO points are awarded for foundation level Irish.

K. Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA)
The Leaving Certificate Applied does not meet the minimum entry requirements to Institute programmes. Holders of the LCA may gain entry following completion of a FETAC Level 5/6 Award.

L. Advanced Craft Certificate (FETAC Level 6)

  1. The Advanced Craft Certificate qualifies applicants for entry to Year 1 of Level 6, Level 7 or Level 8 programmes (HETAC) or for entry to year 2 of linked/cognate programmes (e.g. electrical to electronic or energy engineering) either direct or after completion of a short bridging programme especially in Mathematics.

  2. Apprentices who have successfully completed phase 6 of the craft apprenticeship (Advanced Craft Certificate), but were unable to complete phase 7 because of the economic downturn, will be deemed eligible to meet the minimum entry requirements to all programmes in GMIT.

M. English Language Requirements

PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS
Non-EU applicants Non-native English speaking applicants must have a minimum score of 5.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent.
EU applicants Non-native English speaking applicants must have a minimum score of 5.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent.
N. International Students
For more information, please refer to this website's International Students' section.