Expand+Course Requirements
Subjects Required
Minimum of H3 in Mathematics

General Entry Requirements
A minimum of six Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade O6 or H7, with at least two at H5, which must include the subjects Mathematics AND either Engl...

Hide-Course Requirements
Subjects Required
Minimum of H3 in Mathematics

General Entry Requirements
A minimum of six Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade O6 or H7, with at least two at H5, which must include the subjects Mathematics AND either English or Irish.

Leaving Certificate Mathematics Requirements
DCU does not award points for the subject of Mathematics at Leaving Certificate Ordinary Alternative or Foundation Level.

This subject will be accepted for admission purposes for the following courses:

BA in Applied Language and Translation Studies
BA in Contemporary Culture and Society
BSc in Education and Training
BA in Journalism
BA in International Relations
BA in Communication Studies
BA Gaeilge agus Iriseoireacht (Irish and Journalism)
Bachelor of Civil Law (Law and Society)
BSc in Multimedia
Bachelor of Arts (Joint Honours)
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

Leaving Certificate Subject Combinations
Certain subjects will not be scored separately if they occur in combination with subjects that are similar in content. In each case, the highest individual grade will be scored.

The following six groups of subjects are affected by this:
1 Music and Musicianship, Music A, Music B

2 Economics, Agricultural Economics

3 Physics with Chemistry – if combined with Physics and Chemistry, only two best scored – if combined with Physics or Chemistry, only best scored

4 History, Economics and Economic History – if all three are taken, only the best two will be scored

5 Latin, Classical Studies

6 Greek, Classical Studies

Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded in 2017 for higher level mathematics, at grades H6 and above in the Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent.

Expand+EU/EEA and Non-EU
DCU has an active mature student body and strongly encourages applications from mature candidates (those aged 23 years or above on 1st January in the year of entry). As a mature student, your wealth of knowledge and experience wi...

Hide-EU/EEA and Non-EU
DCU has an active mature student body and strongly encourages applications from mature candidates (those aged 23 years or above on 1st January in the year of entry). As a mature student, your wealth of knowledge and experience will make a valuable contribution to the university, and we are always working towards widening participation to allow mature students gain entry onto DCU courses.

What are the entry requirements?
Applying as a mature applicant means that you do not compete with Leaving Certificate students for places at DCU. Instead, experience other than examination grades is taken into consideration – this may be work experience, further studies or other relevant experience. For some courses, however, particular Leaving Certificate subjects may be necessary. In all cases, the university will want to know that you have the ability and motivation to make the most of your studies at DCU.

What supports are available for mature students?
There is a wide network of services. The Mature Student Academic Writing Week prepares you for college life through workshops on topics such as academic writing, citing and referencing. Other topics include supports for students at DCU, such as the Mathematics Learning Centre, IT supports and the Mature Student Society. You will also have access to Student Support and Development workshops throughout the academic year for example CV Clinics, Learning Students and Motivational Workshops.

What financial supports are available to mature students?
There are a number of sources, including the Government’s Free Fees Initiative, the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Back to Education Allowance and the DCU Student Assistance Fund, once a registered DCU student. Information on these schemes is available at www.studentfinance.ie.

Where can I find out more?
For the Mature Student Officer, please contact 01 700 6987. For general and admission enquiries, please contact the Registry on T +353 (0)1 700 5338 E registry@dcu.ie

How do I apply?
All mature applicants for full-time study must apply to the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1st February in the year of entry.

Expand+There are many different ways to enter DCU. While candidates are primarily assessed on the basis of their second level examinations, other assessments are in place for mature students, students from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds, students ...

Hide-There are many different ways to enter DCU. While candidates are primarily assessed on the basis of their second level examinations, other assessments are in place for mature students, students from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds, students with disabilities/specific learning difficulties and transfer students. The university is committed to welcoming students from countries worldwide. For Undergraduate Admissions - General Information please go to: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/undergrad.shtml

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+Why DCU?
• You have the option to choose between two qualifications.

• At the end of Year Two, you choose between Actuarial Mathematics and Financial Mathematics. Entry to Actuarial Mathematics is on a competitive basis, and is subject to perfo...

Hide-Why DCU?
• You have the option to choose between two qualifications.

• At the end of Year Two, you choose between Actuarial Mathematics and Financial Mathematics. Entry to Actuarial Mathematics is on a competitive basis, and is subject to performance in Years One and Two and to availability of places.

• Students opting for the BSc in Actuarial Mathematics have the opportunity to obtain exemptions from all the Core Technical examinations of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

About You
If you have an interest in, and aptitude for, high-level mathematics and enjoy the challenge of problem solving but want flexibility in deciding on your eventual career path, choose Common Entry. It offers entry into two BSc degree courses: Actuarial Mathematics and Financial Mathematics.

A report on the future of the international financial services sector in Ireland by Deloitte concludes that, “It is imperative that Ireland builds its pool of mathematically literate skill sets as they will be a key enabler to a successful, high value financial centre”. These BSc courses address this imperative.

Understanding Actuarial, Financial and Applicable Mathematics:
DC127 is a common entry route to three B.Sc. courses in the areas of actuarial, financial and mathematical sciences. They are:
• B.Sc. in Actuarial Mathematics
• B.Sc. in Financial Mathematics

The BSc in Actuarial Mathematics also has a direct entry route. Prospective students wishing to directly enter the Actuarial Mathematics course should apply to the BSc in Actuarial Mathematics (see page 64). Access to Financial Mathematics is exclusively through the Common Entry route. The advantage of Common Entry into two courses is that after two years of study, you will be better placed to know which of the options you will most enjoy.

Course Structure
All of the courses emerging from Common Entry last for four years. The structure allows you to make an informed decision about which stream to specialise in after studying fundamental courses such as analysis, algebra and probability, together with computing and statistics. At the end of the second year, students on the Maths Common Entry Programme enter one of two courses.

The number of students in the third year of each course is limited and entry to a specific stream will be on merit, based on performance in Years One and Two. In light of this, we offer the following advice:

• If you are certain that you want to pursue an actuarial career, apply for the BSc in Actuarial Mathematics.
• If you wish to keep your options open within the actuarial or financial range, you should apply for Common Entry.
• If you wish to maximise your chances of accessing an actuarial or financial course, you should apply for Common Entry and the BSc in Actuarial Mathematics in an order that reflects your priorities.

Students in the Common Entry programme will go on a nine-month work placement (called INTRA). Our INTRA programme offers paid, relevant work experience to our students. The placement provides students with a wonderful opportunity to experience a real work environment, make more informed decisions about their career choice and make useful contacts with prospective employers.

Expand+What Will I Study?

YEAR ONE
Mathematical Concepts and Skills
Calculus
Probability
Computing for Mathematics
Linear Mathematics
Microeconomics
Sequences and Series
Macroeconomics

YEAR TWO
Statistics
Calculus
Linear Algebra
Num...

Hide-What Will I Study?

YEAR ONE
Mathematical Concepts and Skills
Calculus
Probability
Computing for Mathematics
Linear Mathematics
Microeconomics
Sequences and Series
Macroeconomics

YEAR TWO
Statistics
Calculus
Linear Algebra
Numerical Methods
Analysis
Differential Equations
Probability
Mathematics of Finance
Accounting

YEAR THREE
(FINANCIAL MATHEMATICS)
Stochastic Modelling
Financial Mathematics
Partial Differential Equations
Financial Data Analysis
INTRA

YEAR FOUR
(FINANCIAL MATHEMATICS)
Probability and Finance
Stochastic Finance
Simulation for Finance
Fixed Income Securities
Computational Finance

YEAR FOUR OPTIONS
Time Series
Financial Engineering
Financial Economics

Expand+International Students
As a non-native English speaker who does not meet the English language requirements, you may be eligible to apply to the International Foundation Certificate (IFC) course. This course will help you to achieve the English langu...

Hide-International Students
As a non-native English speaker who does not meet the English language requirements, you may be eligible to apply to the International Foundation Certificate (IFC) course. This course will help you to achieve the English language requirements necessary for entry into this course. It will also help you to adjust to the culture of Irish university learning. See page 124 of the college prospectus 2017 for full details of the IFC course.

Additional Information
Graduates in Actuarial and Financial Mathematics are well placed to undertake a postgraduate qualification in teaching, and have completed over 90% of the mathematics required for Teaching Council recognition (see page 235 of UG College Prospectus 2017 for further details).