Counselling with Addiction - Mature Applicants Only - Kerry
The purpose of this programme is to provide systematic training in counselling theory and practice at a level that prepares participants to counsel in a variety of settings and to use various counselling approaches. Counselling and psychotherapy are growing and evolving professions in Ireland and internationally.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Munster Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Munster Technological University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Score the necessary CAO points and meet Leaving Certificate Minimum entry requirements
6 Subjects
Subjects O6/H7 4
Subjects H5 2
Maths Grade 06/H7
English or Irish Grade O6/H7
Garda Vetting
Medical Certificate
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Minimum entry requirements may be satisfied by the results of more than one Leaving Certificate. The minimum entry requirements may be varied for non-standard applicants and holders of QQI-FET awards.
2nd Chance Maths Exam
Some students who apply for MTU courses may not achieve the required entry standard in Maths through the Leaving Certificate examination. For such applicants, the University offers a second chance to reach the required entry standard through a MTU Maths Exam.
This second chance facility allows applicants (depending on their results in the MTU Maths Exam) to gain entry to courses with an Ordinary Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard and (with a higher level of performance) courses with a Higher Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard.
Common Bonus Points Scale for Higher Level Maths
A bonus of 25 points is awarded to applicants who achieve a grade H6 or above in higher level (HL) Maths.
Formula:
All students presenting H6 or above in HL Maths will have 25 points added to their score for Maths.
The six highest subject points scores will then be counted to achieve a cumulative points score, as is normal practice. 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. Bonus points will be awarded irrespective of the year in which the examinations were taken.
Foundation Maths
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
MT 571 BA in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 574 BA in Social Care
MT 654 HC in Arts in Hospitality Studies
MT 655 HC in Arts in Culinary Studies
MT 971 BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 974 BA (Honours) in Social Care
Maths is not required for entry to:
MT 575 BA in Community Development
MT 572 BA in Early Childhood Education & Care
MT 820 BA (Honours) in Contemporary Applied Art (Ceramics, Glass, Textiles)
MT 821 BA (Honours) in Fine Art
MT 822 BA (Honours) in Photography with New Media
MT 823 BA (Honours) in Visual Communications
MT 931 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Guitar
MT 932 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Bass Guitar
MT 933 BA (Honours) on Popular Music - Keyboards
MT 934 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Drums
MT 935 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Voice
MT 936 BA (Honours) in Music
MT 938 BA (Honours) in Musical Theatre
MT 939 BA (Honours in Theatre and Drama Studies
Although not a requirement, if an applicant achieves a minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths, this grade is recognised for entry and CAO points are awarded as follows: F1 = 20 points, F2 = 12 points.
Full details of the minimum entry requirements for courses are outlined on the relevant course webpage. Applicants are advised to check the relevant subjects, tests, portfolios, and dates very carefully. In particular, there are early assessment procedures for some courses.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Holders of the LCVP apply in the normal way through the CAO. Points are awarded on the same basis as for the Leaving Certificate. The link modules ‘subject’ may not be used to meet the minimum entry requirements.
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
The LCA subjects do not meet the minimum requirements for entry to MTU full-time courses. Holders of Leaving Certificate Applied qualifications may wish to proceed to a FET-QQI course and in turn apply to third level on the basis of their FET-QQI award.
Careers / Further progression
Employment Opportunities
There are significant employment opportunities in the various specialised areas, such as addiction, victim support, marriage guidance, bereavement, substance abuse, homelessness, youth and community. Many counsellors work in private practice, private or public residential and non-residential youth and adult centres, schools, colleges, hospitals etc.
Further Studies
Suitably qualified level 8 honours graduates are eligible to progress to taught master programmes or to research at either master or PhD level.
Further information
September 2026
20
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Overview
This course is delivered at Galilee House of Studies, Athy, Co. Kildare (year 1, 2 and 3).
Counselling involves engaging and listening to clients about their emotions, relationships, thought processes, patterns of behaviour or life events such as bereavement, addiction, divorce, health issues or job concerns. Counsellors help clients to understand themselves better and find their own solutions to resolve or cope with their situation or issues. Counsellors play a crucial role in improving the health and wellbeing of people in society.
This is a collaborative programme between MTU and Cuan Mhuire/Galilee House of Studies. Cuan Mhuire is Ireland’s ‘largest multisite provider of residential detoxification and treatment for those suffering from addiction’ (www.cuanmhuire.ie). Galilee House of Studies is an established provider of a higher education undergraduate diploma programme in counselling located in Athy, Co. Kildare.
The course will be delivered by a team of experienced practising addiction counsellors/ psychotherapists and third level academic staff in Galilee House of Studies, Athy, Co. Kildare (year 1, 2 and 3), with practice placement undertaken in Cuan Mhuire’s residential centres or other relevant clinical sites across Ireland in year 4. Students will have the opportunity to seek their own practice placement sites, however MTU/ Cuan Mhuire/Galillee House of Studies will ultimately be responsible for ensuring that all students secure an appropriate practice placement site residential centres or other relevant clinical sites across Ireland in year 4. Students will have the opportunity to seek their own practice placement sites, however MTU/ Cuan Mhuire/Galillee House of Studies will ultimately be responsible for ensuring that all students secure an appropriate practice placement site.
The purpose of this programme is to provide systematic training in counselling theory and practice at a level that prepares participants to counsel in a variety of settings and to use various counselling approaches. Counselling and psychotherapy are growing and evolving professions in Ireland and internationally.
Also, addiction in recent years is becoming an increasing problem in Ireland, with the Government pledging to increase funding in the area of mental health initiatives as part of the national counselling service.
Accreditation
On completion of the programme, graduates can seek accreditation with the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI) and the National Association of Pastoral Counselling and Psychotherapy (NAPCP).
PLEASE NOTE: students will be required to pay for personal supervision and counselling fees over the duration of the programme. Where a student at any stage of the programme demonstrates active substance misuse they will be required to defer their programme for 1 year while working towards regaining sobriety and will require medical confirmation of recovery before registering to re-enter the programme.
What will I study?
First Year at a Glance:
• Human Development – Content and Theory: personal development of the student in three significant areas of growth for a prospective counsellor
• Personal Development – Process and Care: to provide a safe context in which students will be encouraged to explore and reflect on the links between personal and professional development
• Counselling Skills: provides a set of baseline counselling skills, which are fundamental to the therapeutic relationship
• Theoretical Perspectives in Counselling and Psychotherapy: equips students with a greater knowledge and understanding of historically recognised and contemporary counselling and psychotherapeutic theories.
• Person Centred Approach to Counselling and Psychotherapy: equips students with an experientially grounded understanding of the person-centred approach to counselling and psychotherapy
• Bereavement, Loss and Grief: develops knowledge, skills and attitudes on managing loss, bereavement and grief
• Addiction Studies: provides students with the knowledge-base on which to develop their therapeutic understanding of theoretical and clinical considerations concerning substance use
Dr Gerardina Harnett
T: +353 (0)66 719 1695
E: geradina.harnett@mtu.ie