Nursing - General Nursing - Kerry
While undertaking this programme, you will learn the skills to provide nursing care in a variety of settings. It emphasises the importance of working with other professions and planning individualised nursing care in partnership with patients. As with all nurse education programmes, our focus is on caring, communication and understanding the patient’s experience of health and illness.
| 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
Science Grade O6/H7
Maths Grade 06/H7
English or Irish Grade O6/H7
The O6/H7 Science requirement may be satisfied by any of the Leaving Certificate science subjects (chemistry, physics, biology, physics & chemistry (joint) or agriculture science
Garda Vetting Required
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
Career Options
There are many nursing opportunities after completing the BSc (Hons) in General Nursing.
General nurses work in a wide variety of settings such as hospitals, people’s homes, GP practices, residential care, nursing homes, nursing agencies, prison services, community health centres and hubs, and the pharmaceutical industry. Some of the more contemporary workplaces where general nursing roles are offered include homeless shelters, refugee centres, professional sports clubs, theme parks and cruise ships (NMBI, 2024).
New Graduates can work in a variety of acute medical or surgical care settings at home or abroad.
You can travel and work all over the world. General nurses can also work for voluntary organisations and international charities in areas of poverty and conflict - working to bring change and better health conditions for local people (NMBI, 2024)
Once qualified, nurses can diversify and progress their career path through continued study at graduate level. For example, opportunities to specialise in a particular line of nursing, such as Nurse manager, Prescriber and Nurse Tutor are available. This can lead to a career in management, clinical specialist practice, advanced practice, clinical research or teaching at clinical or university level. There are many opportunities for further study and to enhance your career at Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s and Doctoral Degree level.
Further Studies
Suitably qualified Level 8 Honours graduates are eligible to progress to:
• MSc in Nursing
• MSc in Professional Nursing
• MSc in Advanced Practice Nursing
at MTU Kerry Campus or to research at either master or PhD level.
Further information
September 2026
60
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
While undertaking this programme, you will learn the skills to provide nursing care in a variety of settings. It emphasises the importance of working with other professions and planning individualised nursing care in partnership with patients. As with all nurse education programmes, our focus is on caring, communication and understanding the patient’s experience of health and illness.
Over the four years you will learn about professional/ethical practice; holistic approaches to care and the integration of knowledge; interpersonal relationships; organisation and management of care; and personal and professional development. Nursing offers exciting opportunities to develop valuable specialist knowledge, and skills that are in demand both nationally and internationally.
This course consists of 76 weeks of classroom-based theory and practical learning, interspersed with 81 weeks of clinical placements. Nursing students complete their programme with a 36-week continuous internship rostered placement. Clinical practice can take place locally including counties Kerry and Cork, as well as internationally and encompasses a very broad range of clinical settings, including general medical and surgical nursing, accident and emergency, outpatients, operating theatre, and nursing children – among others. Erasmus opportunities are available in year three.
Our nursing programmes are taught in the purpose-built Sólás building at the MTU Kerry North Campus. This state-of-the-art facility has technology enhanced classrooms, lecture halls, practical skills laboratories, and computer suites. Our partnership with the HSE and Bon Secours Hospital in Tralee offers students a wide range of exciting clinical placement facilities. Throughout this programme, you will get great support from the University and from clinical staff, both in the classroom and on placement.
What will I study?
First Year at a Glass:
• Professionalism in Nursing Practice: introduces fundamental interpersonal, legal, ethical and regulatory dimensions of professional nursing practice.
• Health and Wellbeing: provides a broad understanding of nursing and healthcare for both the individual and population groups.
• Skills for Safe Practice: introduces fundamental knowledge and skills of nursing within the parameters of a safety culture in both general and mental healthcare settings.
• Developing Competency in General Nursing Practice: encourages active engagement in evidence-based nursing practice.
• Principles of General Nursing Care: introduces human anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology in conjunction with the evidence-based theory underpinning the nursing care and management of a person, from admission to discharge.
• Caring in Context: introduces caring in the context of: primary, secondary and tertiary health care settings, maternity care, infant, child and adolescent care, safeguarding the vulnerable adult at risk of abuse, disability awareness and intellectual disability, mental health, perioperative care, critical care/emergency care, and end-of-life care.
Dr Gerardina Harnett
T: +353 (0)66 719 1695
E: gerardina.harnett@mtu.ie