Expand+Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements:
Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/ H7 in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language and three other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

G...

Hide-Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements:
Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/ H7 in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language and three other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Gaeilge
Riachtanais Iontrála Ardteistiméireachta: Íosghrád H5 in dhá ábhar agus pas i gceithre ábhar eile, ar a n-áirítear Gaeilge, Béarla, teanga eile agus trí ábhar eile atá aitheanta i gcomhair iontrála, ag leibhéal O6/H7 san Ardteistiméireacht. Tá H5 sa Ghaeilge riachtanach chomh maith.

Matriculation

For holders of the Leaving Certificate, six subjects are required, with a minimum Grade H5 in two subjects, and at least Grade O6/H7 in four other subjects.

An applicant may combine the results of the Leaving Certificate examinations obtained in different years for matriculation registration purposes for all programmes with the exception of Medicine (refer to section 1(h)). This concession applies to matriculation only; it does not apply to the calculation of points for admission.

Acceptable Subjects
All subjects of the current Leaving Certificate examination are accepted for matriculation purposes, with the following exceptions:

Gaeilge – Bonnleibhéal (Irish, Foundation Level) will not be accepted for matriculation or points purposes.

Mathematics (Ordinary Alternative/Foundation Level) will be accepted for matriculation purposes, but not as a substitute for the subject Mathematics in programmes for which the subject Mathematics is currently an entry requirement. Neither will a score be awarded for a grade in this subject.

Home Economics (General), which has been discontinued from 2004, is not an acceptable matriculation subject for admission to NUI Galway. However, Leaving Certificate Home Economics – Scientific and Social is an acceptable matriculation subject for admission. The combining of the following subjects is not permitted:

• Physics with Chemistry (joint) may not be presented with either Physics or Chemistry

• Only two of History, Economic History and Economics may be presented

• Music and Musicianship may not be presented with Music

• Agricultural Economics may not be presented with Economics

• Classical Studies may not be presented with Latin or Greek

Laboratory science subjects:
The following subjects in the Irish Leaving Certificate are recognised laboratory science subjects:

• Agricultural Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics and Chemistry (joint)
• Physics

Bonus Points for Maths
A bonus of 25 points will be allocated to students who achieve grade H6 or above in Higher Level (HL) Mathematics. This means that the maximum cumulative Leaving Certificate points total will increase from 600 to 625 (existing maximum points plus bonus points).

The bonus points will only be relevant in cases where the subject HL Mathematics (including bonus points) is scored as one of the candidate’s six best subjects for points purposes. Consequently, if HL Mathematics (cumulative points score) is not among these six subjects, the bonus points will not be included in the total points score.

The maximum possible adjusted points score for applicants to Medicine will increase from 560 to 565. (For all scores over 550, each 5-point band equals one extra point.) The baseline score of 480 points will still apply but can include the bonus points if HL Mathematics (cumulative points) is among the best six subjects.

Special Maths Examination
The Special Maths Examination is for students who achieve sufficient CAO entry points and satisfy all other entry requirements but who do not achieve the requisite grade in Mathematics in the Leaving Certificate for admission to certain undergraduate engineering courses. For information on the examination and details on how to apply, please consult our website.
Find out more
www.nuigalway.ie/engineering-informatics/prospectivestudents/ specialentrancemathsexamination

Selection Scheme for Medicine (allocation of places)
In order for school leavers to be eligible to compete for entry to undergraduate Medicine, they must:

a) achieve a minimum of 480 points, and

b) meet the minimum entry requirements for the programme in the same sitting of the Irish Leaving Certificate examination or equivalent examination, and

c) complete the required admissions test (HPAT-Ireland) in 2017. Results are now only valid in the year of entry.

Further information on the selection scheme and allocation of places is available online. Applications for admission to the MB (Bachelor of Medicine) programme in NUI Galway from students who are attending, or have previously attended, all or part of a medical degree programme in another institution are considered only from those who successfully complete the examination requirements of the year of the programme last taken by them or being taken in the year in which application for transfer is being made in the institution from which they are seeking to transfer.

If those examination requirements are not successfully completed, an application may be considered if a reasonable interval (normally not less than three years) has elapsed and if the applicant, through her/his intervening experience and/or otherwise, indicates better preparedness to successfully undertake university studies again.

All such applicants must satisfy the normal entry requirements and standards of the programme to which they are seeking admission.

Find out more www.nuigalway.ie/admissions/procedures/medindex.html

Expand+Mature – Applying on the Grounds of Mature Years

If you are at least 23 years of age on or before 1 January 2017 and if your school leaving examination results do not meet normal matriculation and entry requirements, you may apply on the grounds ...

Hide-Mature – Applying on the Grounds of Mature Years

If you are at least 23 years of age on or before 1 January 2017 and if your school leaving examination results do not meet normal matriculation and entry requirements, you may apply on the grounds of mature years. In general, applicants are selected on the basis of academic aptitude, which may include certain Leaving Certificate subjects, relevant work and life experience, and evidence of motivation and interest in the programme area. These areas should be addressed in the written application.

It is strongly advised that intending applicants consult the Mature Students’ Guide prior to making an application for information on the application process and assessment criteria. Full details are available from October 2016 in the Mature Students’ Guide, which can be found online or by emailing NUI Galway.

All applicants intending to apply for Arts (including denominated programmes) in 2017 on the grounds of mature years will be required to take the Mature Students’ Admissions Pathway (MSAP) test as part of the selection process. There will be one sitting only of this test in 2017 and it will take place on Saturday 4 March 2017.

All applicants intending to apply for Medicine in 2017 on the grounds of mature years will be required to take the HPAT Test. Registration closes on Monday 20 January 2017 and the test date is Saturday 25 February 2017. Mature applicants must also have an Honours Science subject to Leaving Certificate standard prior to taking the HPAT test. Successful candidates will be invited to the MMI interview in May.

Application must be made by 1 February 2017 through the Central Applications Office. Please note that a late application cannot be made by those applying on grounds of mature years. The applicant must ensure that copies of all relevant information – for example, certificates, transcripts and a personal statement – are included with the CAO application.

Admission on the grounds of mature years is competitive. Applicants who are successful in gaining admission on the grounds of mature years are also assessed on the basis of their school leaving qualifications (if any) in competition with other applicants.

Find out more
Mature Students’ Guide
maturestudents@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/mature
MSAP test information
http://msap-ie.acer.edu.au/

CAO
www.cao.ie
HPAT test information
www.hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au/
Further advice and guidance
T +353 91 492 695
www.nuigalway.ie/mature

Expand+Early online application (discounted): Fee €25 Closing Date: 20th January 2017 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €40 Closing Date: 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €50 Closing Date: 1st May 2...

Hide-Early online application (discounted): Fee €25 Closing Date: 20th January 2017 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €40 Closing Date: 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €50 Closing Date: 1st May 2017 at 5:15 pm

Change of Mind: Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1st July 2017 5:15 pm

Exceptional online late application - see page 14 of the 2017 CAO Handbook: Fee €50 Closing Date: 22nd July 2017 at 5:15pm

You should avoid submitting an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all fees are non-refundable.

LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5:15pm on 1st February 2017 and will be accepted up to 5:15pm on 1st May 2017, subject to the restricitions listed on page 3 of the 2017 CAO Handbook.

Late Applications (Exception to Timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22nd of July at 5:15pm applies only to applicants who are currently undergraduate students in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system.

If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.

Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.

Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Trinity College Dublin and the University of Limerick have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these three HEIs, you should apply through CAO.

Refer to page 15 of the 2017 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.

Restricted-category Applicants
Mature applicants – most HEIs will require mature applicants, who wish to be assessed on mature grounds, to have applied to CAO by 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm. (This restriction does not apply if the applicant wishes to be considered on the basis of school leaving qualifications only.) For more information about applying to CAO on the basis of mature years go to www.cao.ie/mature.

Applying for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes – to be considered for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes applicants must have registered on the CAO system by 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm and must have completed the HEAR/DARE application form by 1st March 2017 at 5:15pm – supporting documents must be sent to CAO offices before 1st April 2017 at 5:15pm.

Expand+This is a highly flexible programme, offering you a very wide range of two-subject combinations to degree level. See the table on page 33 to see all of the two-subject degree combinations available. In addition to academic rigour, you will acquire tr...

Hide-This is a highly flexible programme, offering you a very wide range of two-subject combinations to degree level. See the table on page 33 to see all of the two-subject degree combinations available. In addition to academic rigour, you will acquire transferable skills designed to make you career-ready and equipped for employment and further study in Ireland or abroad. Over the course of your three-year degree, you will be able to pursue and develop your interests across a broad range of subjects. The Joint-Honours BA will help you become a disciplined and creative thinker, capable of expressing your thoughts coherently and persuasively.

Programme structure
You will study three subjects in First Arts. You will then
pursue two of the subjects that you pass in first year
to degree level - in Second and Final Arts.

Choosing subjects
During Orientation Week, you will be given the opportunity to learn about all the subjects we offer and how particular subject combinations fit well together. In addition, you will be assigned an Academic Advisor for the duration of your programme, who can help with subject choices and other academic matters. Talks by students and lecturers on the different subjects available in Arts can be found on the following website: www.youtube.com/user/thinkingaboutnuig/

Work-related experience
Throughout your studies on the BA, you will acquire skills that are needed in the workplace. These include communication skills, making presentations, using information technology and social media effectively, group-working, and problem-solving. In addition, there are service-learning modules in some subjects, where students bring their knowledge into the community and the experience acquired back to the classroom. Fieldwork is a feature of certain subjects, where, in addition to specialist skills, students learn how to work in teams and independently. Final year research projects encourage independent working, knowledge acquisition and evaluation, and the writing of polished reports.

International links
Through the BA (International) option, students on the Joint-Honours BA can opt to spend a year studying abroad. In addition to an extensive network of Erasmus links with universities across the EU, we have study-abroad opportunities in Canada and the USA, Central and South America, and China. Some language students spend their year abroad on approved work placements as language assistants.

Studying a modern language to degree level involves spending a period, normally an academic year, in a country or region where the language is widely spoken. You will pursue both of your degree subjects during the period abroad. Students registered for two languages are required to spend a minimum of twelve weeks in each of the countries / regions where the relevant languages are spoken. This will usually consist of an academic year abroad arranged by the University in one language and a summer placement arranged by the student in the other country / region. Non-language students may also take a BA (International) by spending a year abroad in China, North America, or on European exchanges where programmes are available through English.

Subjects
Students of the BA may be considered for admission to the BA (International) degree if their degree subject(s) are drawn from the following: Archaeology, Celtic Civilisation, Classics, Economics, English, French, Geography, German, History, Information Technology, Irish, Irish Studies (Literature and Music), Italian, Léann an Aistriúcháin, Léann na Cumarsáide, Law, Mathematics, Mathematical Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Psychological Studies, Sociological and Political Studies, and Spanish.

Bachelor of Arts (International) Programme Structure
The four-year programmes involves students spending a period of study in another country in the third year of the programme before returning to complete their final year.

Expand+In First Arts, students choose THREE subjects and not more than ONE from any of the following groups.

Group One
▶ Archaeology
▶ French 2, 3
▶ Mathematics 6

Group Two
▶ Law 5
▶ Psychology 4, 5
▶ Celtic C...

Hide-In First Arts, students choose THREE subjects and not more than ONE from any of the following groups.

Group One
▶ Archaeology
▶ French 2, 3
▶ Mathematics 6

Group Two
▶ Law 5
▶ Psychology 4, 5
▶ Celtic Civilisation

Group Three
▶ Classics
▶ Geography
▶ Irish Studies (Literature and Music)
▶ German 2, 3

Group Four
▶ English
▶ Economics

Group Five
▶ Sociological and Political Studies
▶ Information Technology 1
▶ Léann an Aistriúcháin

Group Six
▶ History
▶ Spanish 2, 3

Group Seven
▶ Gaeilge 7
▶ Italian 2, 3
▶ Philosophy

The Bachelor of Arts (Joint-Honours) is a three-year degree. Students must register for three subjects in First Arts. In Second and Final Arts, students continue with two of the subjects passed in First Arts.

Footnotes
(1) A class limit of 120 places operates in Information Technology in First Arts. Places are offered in the first week of registration.

(2) Italian, German and Spanish may be taken in First Arts without previous knowledge of those languages. Students wishing to take first year French are expected to have attained a Grade H4 in Honours French in the Leaving Certificate.

(3) Students should note that choosing to study a modern language to degree level involves spending a period, normally a year, abroad in a country or region where the language for which they are registered is widely spoken. Students registered for two languages are required to spend a minimum of twelve weeks in each of the countries/regions where the relevant languages are spoken. This will usually consist of at least one semester in one language area and a summer placement in the other.

(4) Psychology is offered in First Arts of the BA (Joint-Honours) degree (CAO Code GY101) and the BA CONNECT programmes (CAO Code GY110, GY111, GY115, GY119). Students may progress with Psychological Studies in Second Arts and Final Arts in combination with one other subject of the BA (Joint-Honours) and relevant CONNECT programmes only. Progression to Psychological Studies in Second Arts is subject to a merit-based quota of 100 places.

(5) For students entering First Arts in September 2017, a restriction on progression to Second Arts in 2018-2019 in Law of 100 places, and in Second Arts Psychological Studies of 100 places will apply. Places in Law will be decided on academic merit in that discipline, based on the results of the first sitting (Semester 1 and Semester 2) of the First Arts examination in the student’s first year of attendance (2017-2018), where the student must have passed the First Arts Examination outright by achieving an average of 40% or higher in each of the three subjects. A maximum of 100 places in Second Arts Psychological Studies applies to students progressing to Second Arts in 2018-2019. Places for Psychological Studies will be decided on academic merit in that discipline, based on the results of the first sitting (Semester 1 and Semester 2) of the First Arts examination in the student’s first year of attendance (2017-2018), where the student must have passed the First Arts examination outright by achieving an average of 40% or higher in each of their three subjects.

(6) Students passing First Arts Mathematics may progress to Second Arts in Mathematical Studies. Students achieving a mark of 60% or higher in First Arts Mathematics and who have taken and passed module MA186 may take Mathematics in Second Arts.

(7) Students wishing to take first year Gaeilge are expected to have attained a Grade H5 in Gaeilge in the Leaving Certificate. Students continuing with Gaeilge to Degree level will be required to spend an additional year immersed in an Irish-language environment/work placement before commencing Final Year.

Expand+Further study
Many Arts graduates undertake research-based or taught postgraduate programmes. These may be academic or vocational in their focus and they prepare graduates for a wide range of careers, including teaching, law, languages, social work,...

Hide-Further study
Many Arts graduates undertake research-based or taught postgraduate programmes. These may be academic or vocational in their focus and they prepare graduates for a wide range of careers, including teaching, law, languages, social work, performing arts, journalism, policy development, creative industries, business, heritage, information technology and public administration. The University offers a wide range of taught masters degrees and postgraduate diploma programmes of interest to Arts graduates. In the past number of years, the College has pioneered the development of structured PhD programmes which combine the traditional research dissertation of the PhD with generic and discipline specific training modules designed to enhance students’ skills and employability. These programmes can be viewed at: www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taughtpostgraduate- courses/ www.nuigalway.ie/courses/research-postgraduateprogrammes/

Career prospects
Arts graduates can be found in almost every walk of life and BA graduates from NUI Galway occupy leading positions in commercial, social, educational, and public organisations at home and abroad. This website gives examples of careers taken up by Arts graduates and has useful advice for those seeking to take up employment on completion of their Arts degree:
www.nuigalway.ie/artscao/#course_why