Expand+QQI FET / FETAC Scoring

This scoring scheme only applies where all the requirements for the major award are met, ie. when the named component awards specified have been achieved to a minimum of 120 credits.

Each component is scored as follows:...

Hide-QQI FET / FETAC Scoring

This scoring scheme only applies where all the requirements for the major award are met, ie. when the named component awards specified have been achieved to a minimum of 120 credits.

Each component is scored as follows:
Each component is given a score based on the credit value of the component and the weighting of the grade achieved:

1. Most component awards have a credit value of 15 (the possible
component credit values are 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30).

2. The following weightings will apply to the grades achieved: Distinction=3, Merit=2, Pass=1.

To calculate a component score:

1. List the components in order of achievement (D/M/P). Allow 120 credits worth of achievement.

2. Multiply the credit value of the component by the weighting for the grade achieved (3/2/1).

3. Add all of the component scores up to a cumulative credit value of 120. When adding up these scores begin with distinctions, then merits, then passes.

4. Multiply the total by 10 and divide by 9 to give the overall score (maximum 400).

The transcript for major awards lists the award code and title, grade and date of achievement for individual components required for the major award, and for any components achieved in any other certification period.

QQI FET / FETAC forwards all relevant results achieved by applicants
to the CAO.

This scoring system replaces that of the original higher education links scheme and that of the ‘pilot’ scheme, and applies to all results achieved from 2013.

Some applicants will combine components achieved prior to the introduction of CAS with others which are part of CAS. The scoring is managed by CAO according to the system above.

Level 5 and 6 Certificates, ie. major awards, achieved before the introduction of CAS are also scored according to the system outlined above. To view the list of QQI FET / FETAC awards, see www.fetac.ie/fetac/awardsinfo/directory/directory.htm

QQI FET / FETAC results cannot be added to Leaving Certificate points. Where applicants have taken both exams, the higher points will be considered for rating purposes.

Expand+Going to college is an exciting time, full of expectation, trepidation and hope for the future. It can also be an anxious time, no more so than for students coming back into further education after being away from it for a few (or many) years. At WIT...

Hide-Going to college is an exciting time, full of expectation, trepidation and hope for the future. It can also be an anxious time, no more so than for students coming back into further education after being away from it for a few (or many) years. At WIT we have lots of support services to help you in deciding what option is best for you and in your transition to college life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I qualify as a Mature Student?
A mature student is someone who is at least 23 years of age on 1st January of the year of entry to an undergraduate course and who may not meet the normal admission requirements. There is no upper age limit.

Why should I consider third level education as a mature
student?
Mature students decide to enter third level education for a variety of reasons:

• To complete their education and get a qualification
• To further develop an interest in a given subject
• To improve their job prospects
• To retrain for another career
• To develop their social and personal skills

How do I apply for a place on an undergraduate course?
There are two main steps to take:

How do I apply for a place on an undergraduate course?
There are two main steps to take:

• Complete your CAO application by* 1 February 2017. Note that there is a late application deadline of 1 May 2017.

• See Mature Applicant policy documents for details regarding additional assessment processes for WIT courses.
Web: www.wit.ie/admissionspolicies

Note: You must apply for Nursing & Music courses by 1 February.

What are the key points when applying to the CAO?
• Read the CAO Handbook carefully
• Read the information on www.wit.ie/caomature
• Ensure you complete the Mature Applicant Sections
• Ensure you post your supporting documents to the CAO
within 10 working days

Selection Process – Mature Applicants (excluding Nursing & Music)

For full details on the selection process, please visit www.wit.ie/admissionspolicies

Selection Process - Mature Nursing
Mature applicants for Nursing courses will receive correspondence under separate cover from the Nursing Careers Centre (Public Appointments Service - PAS). For full details on the application proces see www.nursingcareers.ie.

Selection Process - Music Applicants
If an applicant includes WD027 BA (Hons) in Music (Level 8) as a choice, applicants will not be scored for WD027 and will be assessed solely on the basis of the WIT Music Audition.

Mature Applicant Policy
For full information, please refer to the Mature Applicant policy at www.wit.ie/admissionspolicies

Mature Applicant – Change of Mind
The Change of Mind facility becomes available after 1 May and the closing date is 1 July. The Change of Mind Facility affords mature applicants an opportunity to change the order of preference only of their course choices. If applicants introduce a new programme to their list of choices by way of Change of Mind, they will compete for a place on that programme based on their Leaving Certificate or equivalent results only. They will not compete as a mature applicant.

Restricted-Application Course – WD027 BA (Hons) in Music – if added for the first time via a Change of Mind is invalid and will not be considered. Closing date is strictly 1st February for application to this course.

Nursing - All applicants apply using the standard nursing codes WD116, WD117 and WD120. These codes can be added at Change of Mind. However, in order to compete as a mature applicant, at least one such code must have been among your 1 February listing

Mature Applicant - Decisions & Offers
Successful candidates will be offered a place in the highest of their course preferences to which they are entitled (if any). This will be done, independently, in respect of level 8 and level 7/level 6. Applicants may, therefore, receive two offers at the same time, one for the highest level 8 preference to which s/he is entitled and the other for the highest level 7/level 6 preference to which s/he is entitled. Offers to mature applicants are normally made in Round A from the CAO, which normally happens in early July, in advance of the Leaving Certificate offers.

Mature Applicant - Deferral of Places
WIT will consider sympathetically requests from applicants, who, having been successful in gaining a place in the Institute, decide that they wish to defer their entry until the following year.

Additional Assessment
See the Mature Applicant policy documents for details regarding additional assessment processes for WIT courses. www.wit.ie/admissionspolicies

More information:
Email: maturestudent@wit.ie
Web: www.wit.ie/maturestudent

Expand+Student Contribution
The Student Contribution Charge for the academic year 2016/2017 is €3,000. The Student Contribution is an annual charge which is set by the Government and all third level students are liable to pay it, unless they have qualifie...

Hide-Student Contribution
The Student Contribution Charge for the academic year 2016/2017 is €3,000. The Student Contribution is an annual charge which is set by the Government and all third level students are liable to pay it, unless they have qualified for a grant (see below).

Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees are due to the Institute for all undergraduate students. The Department of Education provides a “Free Tuition Fee” Scheme. A student who qualifies for “Free Tuition Fees” will be exempt from paying Tuition Fees to WIT and those students who do not qualify for “Free Tuition Fees” will be liable to pay full tuition fees depending on the programme that you choose to complete.

Generally students who are first time undergraduates pursuing a full time undergraduate programme qualify for Free Fees Funding. However please refer to: www.studentfinance.ie for full details of the “Free Tuition Fee” Scheme.

WIT Student Card
This is a €15.00 charged to all first year students for the issue of a student card. This WITcard is required for access to student facilities (Should you already have a valid WIT student ID from previous years, you do not need to purchase another one).

Expand+Grants
Students who wish to apply for a Third Level Grant need to apply directly online to SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) through www.studentfinance.ie / www.susi.ie As soon as the online application system opens for the academic year, you...

Hide-Grants
Students who wish to apply for a Third Level Grant need to apply directly online to SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) through www.studentfinance.ie / www.susi.ie As soon as the online application system opens for the academic year, you will be able to apply online with SUSI. The online application facility will be available through www.studentfinance.ie / www.susi.ie Remember, it is not necessary to have received an offer of a college place or to be enrolled in college in order to apply online.

If your grant has been approved, SUSI will pay the Student Contribution Fee directly to the Third Level Institute. Students who have paid full or part fees will be refunded by the Grants Administrator once SUSI have paid full fees.

For further information please see:
www.studentfinance.ie

For further information regarding Grants please see: www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education www.studentfinance.ie/mp7919/maintenance-grant/index.html

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+What is Applied Biology?
Applied Biology is the understanding of how organisms work from subcellular to whole organism level. It also involves the use of living organisms (mostly microbes) to produce useful products. It includes traditional process...

Hide-What is Applied Biology?
Applied Biology is the understanding of how organisms work from subcellular to whole organism level. It also involves the use of living organisms (mostly microbes) to produce useful products. It includes traditional processes like brewing, cheesemaking and modern developments such as genetic engineering which can lead to new drugs against cancer and other diseases.

What is the BSc in Applied Biology Course?
This is a three year full time course. It is designed to provide students with the scientific skills, theoretical and modern practical skills to work in areas such as biopharmaceutical, food and environmental sectors.

Expand+Year 1:
Semester 1:
Introductory Biology
Introductory Chemistry
Introductory Physics
Introductory Mathematics
Good Laboratory Practice & Core Skills
Introduction to ICT for Scientists

Year 1:
Semester 2:
Physical & Organic Chemistry
Cell...

Hide-Year 1:
Semester 1:
Introductory Biology
Introductory Chemistry
Introductory Physics
Introductory Mathematics
Good Laboratory Practice & Core Skills
Introduction to ICT for Scientists

Year 1:
Semester 2:
Physical & Organic Chemistry
Cell Biology & Biochemistry
Physics for Scientists
Mathematics for Scientists

Choose 2:
Introduction to Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Science (E)
Plant Biology (E)
Science & Society (E)
Introduction to Food Science (E)

Year 2:
Semester 3:
Microbiology 1
Spectroscopic Techniques
Organic Chemistry & Biomolecules
Statistics for Scientists
Laboratory Data Analysis & Presentation
Topics in Biotechnology

Year 2:
Semester 4:
Microbial Biotechnology & Molecular Genetics
Chromatographic Techniques
Biochemistry
Food Microbiology
Applied Maths for Scientists
Environmental Science

Year 3:
Semester 5:
Chromatographic Method Development& Validation
Introduction to Research Methods
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Molecular Biology
Total Quality Management

Choose 1:
Manufacturing Production & Processing (E)
Microbiology 2 (E)

Year 3:
Semester 6:
Protein Chemistry & Enzymology
Laboratory Data Modelling
Microbial Ecology & Bioremediation
Applied Immunology
Sensors & Electroanalysis
Laboratory Project

E = elective module