Expand+Foundation Level Irish
Foundation Level Irish at Grade F2 will meet the minimum language requirement for all courses.

Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will be awarded to any CAO applicant who has gained a grade H6 or higher i...

Hide-Foundation Level Irish
Foundation Level Irish at Grade F2 will meet the minimum language requirement for all courses.

Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will be awarded to any CAO applicant who has gained a grade H6 or higher in Leaving Certificate Honours Mathematics. For example, if an applicant receives a H6 grade an additional 25 points will be added to the 46 points already awarded for a H6 grade i.e. Higher Level Mathematics now carries a points score of 71 for this applicant.

Foundation Level Mathematics *
Foundation Level Mathematics at Grade F2 or Higher is acceptable as meeting the Mathematics
requirement for the following courses:

Courses located in Limerick, Tipperary and Clare campuses:

US808/US703 Music Production & Technology
US807/US702 Creative Broadcast & Film Production
US940/US790 Business Studies with Travel & Tourism Management
US941/US791 Business Studies with Event Management
US946/US792 Business Studies with Beauty & Spa Management
US953/US787 Business Studies with Sports Management
US954/US785 Sports Development & Performance
US640 Sports Development & Coaching
US927 Early Childhood Education & Care
US931/US631 Culinary Entrepreneurship/Culinary Arts
US793 Hospitality Supervision
US920 Social Care Work (Limerick)
US922 Social Care Work (Thurles)
US923/US781 Social Care Work Ennis

Courses located in Athlone Campus:

US 926 Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Early Years Care and Education
US 780 Bachelor of Arts in Early Years Care and Education.
US 782 Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care
US 921 Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Care Practice
US 700 Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design
US 802 Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Animation and Illustration
US 803 Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Graphic and Digital Design

*Please note, this list is correct at the time of print.

GARDA VETTING
To ensure the protection of the public and justify public trust and confidence the Technological University of the Shannon uses the Garda Vetting Unit (GCVU) service to assess the suitability of applicants to courses listed on the right:

Limerick, Tipperary and Clare based courses:

Art and Design
US801 Art and Design Teacher Education (Limerick)

Sport and Early Childhood Education
US640 Sports Development and Coaching (Limerick)
US953/US787 Business Studies with Sports Management (Limerick)
US954/US785 Sports Development and Performance (Limerick)
US955/US786 Applied Strength and Conditioning (Thurles)
US927 Early Childhood Education and Care (Limerick)

Hospitality, Tourism and Wellness
US940/US790 Business Studies with Travel and Tourism Management (Limerick)
US941/US791 Business Studies with Event Management (Limerick)

Applied Social Sciences
US920 Social Care Work (Limerick)
US922 Social Care Work (Thurles)
US923/US781 Social Care Work (Ennis)
US928 Community and Addiction Studies (Limerick)

Athlone based courses:

Nursing & Healthcare
US 877 General Nursing
US 878 Mental Health Nursing

Social Science
US 780 Early Years Care and Education.
US 926 Early Years Care and Education
US 700 Applied Social Studies in Social Care
US 921 Social Care Practice

Sport and Health Science
US 950 Nutrition and Health Science
US 951 Sport Science Exercise Physiology
US 956 Athletic and Rehabilitation Therapy
US 957 Physical Activity and Health Science
US 788 Exercise and Health Science

Expand+QQI-FET/FETAC
TUS accepts QQI-FET/FETAC awards for entry on all courses of study. The following minimum entry requirements will apply to graduates of QQI-FET/FETAC qualifications who are seeking admission to courses at TUS.

HIGHER CERTIFICATE (LE...

Hide-QQI-FET/FETAC
TUS accepts QQI-FET/FETAC awards for entry on all courses of study. The following minimum entry requirements will apply to graduates of QQI-FET/FETAC qualifications who are seeking admission to courses at TUS.

HIGHER CERTIFICATE (LEVEL 6)
Minimum entry: A full QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 award totalling 120 credits.

AB-INITIO BACHELOR DEGREE (LEVEL 7)
Minimum entry: A full QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 award totalling 120 credits.

AB-INITIO HONOURS BACHELOR DEGREE (LEVEL 8)
Minimum entry: A full QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 award totalling 120 credits and including a Distinction Grade in at least three modules.

Please note that special requirements may exist for particular courses, for example, a requirement
for a particular subject such as Mathematics.

A full QQI FET/FETAC award normally contains 8 modules.
A full award may be accumulated over more than one academic year. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the applicant to contact QQI FET/FETAC for a full award where programmes are taken over more than one year. A QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 or Level 6 Record of Achievement does not meet the minimum entry standards.

The maximum possible total score will be multiplied by 13 and divided by 12, to give a maximum overall points score of 390 for applicants from further education and training.

If a QQI FET/FETAC applicant also presents a Leaving Certificate, the CAO will use whichever is the better.
Applicants to Restricted Application courses or courses where a Portfolio is required will have their Portfolio Score added to their QQI FET/FETAC Score

Expand+Trade Qualifications
A trade applicant, seeking admission to the first year of a course, should do so through the CAO. Such application may be on the basis of National Craft Certificate, Senior Trades or Advanced Tourism Certification Board (NTCB)/...

Hide-Trade Qualifications
A trade applicant, seeking admission to the first year of a course, should do so through the CAO. Such application may be on the basis of National Craft Certificate, Senior Trades or Advanced Tourism Certification Board (NTCB)/QQI qualifications, instead of, or in addition to, Leaving
Certificate results. TUS welcomes applications from such candidates. Possession of these awards at advanced level normally qualifies an applicant for entry to TUS.

Other Qualifications
Applicants with qualifications other than those listed above (including EU and overseas qualifications) should apply in the usual way, giving full details of their qualifications/application category on their application.

Expand+All undergraduate course fees consist of two elements:

1. Student Contribution Fee and;
2. A Tuition Fee.

Student Contribution Fee
The Student Contribution Fee for the 2022/2023 academic year is €3,000. This is an annual charge, which is se...

Hide-All undergraduate course fees consist of two elements:

1. Student Contribution Fee and;
2. A Tuition Fee.

Student Contribution Fee
The Student Contribution Fee for the 2022/2023 academic year is €3,000. This is an annual charge, which is set by the Government for all full-time third level students.

Tuition Fee
Most full-time undergraduate students are covered for the tuition fee under the “Irish Government Free Fees scheme”.

Under this scheme, the Government (HEA) pays tuition fees for full-time, non-repeat undergraduate students from Ireland and other EU countries, who have been resident in an EU country for at least three of the last five years. For more information on the eligibility and criteria for the free fees scheme, please visit:
www.hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/course-fees

A student who wishes to repeat a full/part of a year or has a previous third-level educational history will be obliged to pay the appropriate tuition fee in addition to the student contribution fee.

Additional Fees
In addition to the Student Contribution and Tuition fees, there are a small number of courses that have a non-refundable Class Materials fee attached to them.

Please refer to the TUS website for a list of courses and the cost. Class material fees are not covered by any grant and must be paid at the time of registration.

Expand+Students can apply through the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) for a grant to cover the
Student Contribution Fee. SUSI is the single awarding authority for all grant applications. It is an “online application system” and is accessed at...

Hide-Students can apply through the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) for a grant to cover the
Student Contribution Fee. SUSI is the single awarding authority for all grant applications. It is an “online application system” and is accessed at www.susi.ie

Students are advised to apply early for the SUSI grant, as approval must be in place in advance of fee payment deadlines.

To assist all applicants in the application process:
SUSI Support Desk
Tel: 0761 08 7874
Email: support@susi.ie

Note: For the Student Finance office to process student grant awards, students must register online each academic year.

Financial Supports
We are very aware of the financial difficulties faced by many students. For most students, starting college coincides with moving away from home for the first time and trying to manage on a budget. You will have most outgoings at the start of the year, so it is important to budget for books, class
materials and rent deposits, as well as day-to-day living costs.

If a student is experiencing financial difficulties while waiting for a grant/scholarship, they should seek advice from Student Services, the Students’ Union, or the institute’s Access Office. You can find out all you need to know about other sources of assistance for students, such as the Fund for Students with Disabilities, Back to Education Allowance and the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) website.
https://hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/

For further information on fees, etc please contact the Grants and Fees team at:
TUS Midlands
Email: studentfinance@ait.ie
TUS Midwest
Email: studentfees@lit.ie

Expand+Courses US800 First Year Art and Design (Common Entry), US805 Digital Animation, US806 Game Art and Design, and US801 Art and Design Teacher Education require applicants to successfully complete a Portfolio for Assessment prior to entry.

T...

Hide-Courses US800 First Year Art and Design (Common Entry), US805 Digital Animation, US806 Game Art and Design, and US801 Art and Design Teacher Education require applicants to successfully complete a Portfolio for Assessment prior to entry.

The Portfolio Assessment is to determine your creative suitability and will consist of a review of your portfolio and a written assignment which helps to determine your comprehension of contemporary art and design practice. The portfolio will be scored out of 600 with a minimum score of 240 required. Only those who are successful at this stage will be considered for places. As the number of applicants who are successful after the Portfolio Assessment is normally greater than the number of places available, the system of final selection is done on the basis of points. The portfolio score will be added to the Leaving Certificate/QQI-FET/FETAC score to rank you for entry. In the case of Mature Applicants, an offer is made on the aggregated assessment result of the portfolio together with the Mature Suitability form to rank you for entry.

HOW TO APPLY
All applications should be made through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Application forms are available from the CAO in Galway or online at www.cao.ie. Approximately one week after the closing date of applications to the CAO, the LSAD Administration Office will send applicants an appointment to attend for a portfolio assessment in Limerick School of Art and Design. The portfolio assessment is carried out by a team of Art and Design staff. The applicants are greeted in groups and given an introduction to the School of Art and Design and the facilities. The Students’ Union is available to assist with guided tours during the time of portfolio assessment. Assessments may be held in either LSAD, Clare Street, Limerick or LSAD Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. Portfolio assessment results are notified to applicants by the LSAD Administration Office. TUS will try to assess all non-standard applications on the basis of information provided, but it reserves the right to call such applicants to the Institute to assess their cases.

A successful portfolio should adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Make it Exciting
Make your Portfolio reflect how enthusiastic you are about the prospect of studying Art and Design. Choose only your best work; work that expresses your skills, your abilities, your interests, your personality.

2. Careful Presentation You don’t have to spend lots of money on expensive presentation boards, mounts and sleeves, but all work will look better if it is carefully presented. Take time to order your portfolio into a neat, tidy and wellpresented representation of your work. Order your work logically; you can do this chronologically, by theme, or by medium, for example.

3. Be selective
Don’t put everything in. We will only look at a maximum of 15 sheets. These sheets may, however, contain more than one image, drawing or photograph of 3D work. If your portfolio contains more than 15 sheets you may be asked to withdraw work. Please avoid the embarrassment, by adhering to the 15 sheet limit.

4. Sketchbooks
Please include a maximum of three sketchbooks. These should contain analytical studies which explore and investigate aspects of your environment.

5. Don’t forget unfinished work or work-in-progress
If relevant, these can be worth including. It’s a good idea to attach sketches or plans to the finished work, (with a paper clip) to show that they are part of the same work.

6. Don’t leave out large work or 3D work
If you want us to see large work or 3D work, which you have made, just include a good quality photograph of it.

7. Label it
Make sure your name is on the front of your closed portfolio, and neatly label all the work inside, on the reverse side, with titles, where relevant, and approximate dates.

8. Your Assignment
Be sure to include your portfolio assignment. This forms part of your portfolio assessment and must be included in your portfolio.

Expand+Entry 2023

Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2023 at 5pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2023 at 5pm

Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2023 CAO Hand...

Hide-Entry 2023

Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2023 at 5pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2023 at 5pm

Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2023 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2023 at 5pm

Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2023 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2023 at 5pm

Exceptional online late application (see page 31 of the 2023 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2023 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 2023. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2023, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2023 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 6 March 2023 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.

Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2023 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. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.

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, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, Maynooth University 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 five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.

Refer to page 31 of the 2023 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.

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 2023 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

Expand+What is this course about?
The B.Sc. in Digital Animation develops animators’ creative voices by blending traditional techniques with digital tools. On this course, students learn to hone their design skills, and to animate their concepts for anim...

Hide-What is this course about?
The B.Sc. in Digital Animation develops animators’ creative voices by blending traditional techniques with digital tools. On this course, students learn to hone their design skills, and to animate their concepts for animation, television, online, film and games. There is a focus on developing students’ core skills in the traditional disciplines of drawing, illustration and animation asset design with a strong emphasis on the principles of animation.

Building on this foundation, students continue to develop their creative voice while training in the latest industry standard software, processes and technologies with the aim of bringing their ideas and concepts to life on screen.

Why take this course?
The course is suited to individuals with an artistic ability who wish to produce high quality digital animation by combining their artistic creativity with technical know-how. Emphasis is placed on the needs of animation studio production, with the course aiding and developing individuals to fulfil both generalist and specialist roles in such organisations.

Expand+What will I study?
Year 1: Introduction to Animation, Digital Technology Fundamentals, Drawing Principles 1, Visual Design for Animation 1, Audio Storytelling, Animation 1 – Basic Fundamentals, Professional Culture and Communication, Drawing Princ...

Hide-What will I study?
Year 1: Introduction to Animation, Digital Technology Fundamentals, Drawing Principles 1, Visual Design for Animation 1, Audio Storytelling, Animation 1 – Basic Fundamentals, Professional Culture and Communication, Drawing Principles 2, Visual Design for Animation 2, Creative Coding 1, Visual Storytelling, Animation 2 – Body Mechanics.

Year 2: Drawing Principles III, Illustration for Animation 1- Character Design, 2D Rigged Animation Techniques, Animation 3 - Pantomime, Media Writing for Animation, Short Film I, Compositing 1, 2D Rigging for Animation, Animation 4 – Acting and Performance, Film Studies 1, Team Psychology.

Year 3: Portfolio, Animation 5 - 3D Animation, Animation 6 – Studio Practice, Film Studies 2, Professional Career Skills, Illustration for Animation 2 – Production Design, Short Film 2, Compositing 2, Project Management for Animation, Narrative, Employment Placement.

Year 4: 2D Effects, Studio Project Preparation, Background Painting and Environmental Concepts (Elective 1), Animation 7- Animal and Creature Locomotion (Elective 1), Extended Research Essay, Emerging Technologies and Trends, Animation Psychology (Elective 2), Business Acumen (Elective 2), Studio Project (Elective 3), Industry-Based Internship Programme (Elective 3).

Expand+What can I do after this course?
This course produces graduates with an excellent knowledge and understanding of traditional animation on computers, suitable for employment in the digital animation, television, gaming and digital media sectors.

...

Hide-What can I do after this course?
This course produces graduates with an excellent knowledge and understanding of traditional animation on computers, suitable for employment in the digital animation, television, gaming and digital media sectors.

Graduates will have a strong foundation in the planning, production and management of animation projects. The combination of creative and technical skills on the course will ensure you are a versatile graduate who can fulfil more than one role in any studio, thus making you highly employable in studios but also be capable of working as an independent freelance.

Positions for graduates include: Character and Creature Animator (2D & 3D), 2D Rigged Animator, 2D Effects Animator, 2D Rigger, Compositor (In Nuke and After Effects), Scene Prep, Layout Artist, Storyboard Artist, Background and Environmental Artist, Production Designers, Art Direction, Animation Director.