Undergrad ER FAQs

Matriculation refers to the minimum requirements for entry to the University, often referred to as Entry Requirements. Before you can be considered eligible for admission you must meet these minimum standards. As there are normally more eligible applicants than places, admission is competitive based on a points system.

Applicants presenting the Irish Leaving Certificate (established) must have six recognised subjects, selected according to course requirements, and must obtain Grade H5, or better, in two subjects and Grade O6/H7, or better, in the remaining four subjects. For all courses in UCD, this must include Irish (unless exempt) and English.

UCD is a constituent university of the (opens in a new window)National University of Ireland and full regulations are published on their website.

Please note: the Applied Leaving Certificate does not meet matriculation and entry requirements.

In terms of A level/GCSE, matriculation is a minimum of 2 grades C at A level and 4 grades C at GCSE which must include English (and Irish if not exempt, see below). In addition, there are specific subject requirements for different courses. Please see the A level page for full details.

In addition there are specific subject requirements for each course.

As there are normally more eligible applicants than places, admission is competitive based on a points system.

You can combine the results of Leaving Certificate examinations obtained in different years for matriculation purposes. However, this applies to matriculation only. It does not apply to points which are calculated on results from one year only. Make sure you tell CAO about all your Leaving Certificate sittings when applying.

Please Note: for Medicine (DN400) you must achieve the minimum entry (matriculation) requirements and minimum course entry requirements in the same sitting of the Leaving Certificate and there are additional requirements.

Generally, a minimum grade of O6/H7 in Leaving Certificate Irish is required for all applicants born in Ireland.

You are automatically granted an exemption and do not need to apply for one, if you

• are resident in Northern Ireland and are presenting GCE/GCSE qualifications for matriculation. OR
• were born outside Ireland (32 Counties) and are permanently resident outside Ireland and are presenting qualifications other than the Leaving Certificate for matriculation

In the following situations, exemptions from the Irish requirement may also be possible but you must apply for an (opens in a new window)NUI exemption from Irish using the(opens in a new window)Exemption Application Form:

• born outside the Republic of Ireland and  presenting the Irish leaving certificate.
• educated for an extended period outside Ireland
• with specific learning difficulties affecting language acquisition

NB: A Department of Education and Science exemption will not suffice; it must be an NUI exemption. This will show on your CAO statement as "IRS X".

(opens in a new window)NUI is the National University of Ireland of which UCD is a constituent University. (opens in a new window)NUI is the degree awarding body for the constituent Universities.

The Leaving Certificate subject ‘Gaeilge – Bonnleaibhéal’ (Irish-Foundation Level) is not acceptable for matriculation registration purposes.

The Leaving Certificate subject ‘Mathematics Ordinary Alternative/Foundation Level’ is accepted for matriculation registration purposes (as a 6th subject), but not as a substitute for the subject ‘Mathematics’ in courses for which the subject ‘Mathematics’ is an entry requirement. Points are not awarded for this subject.

All languages currently offered in the Irish Leaving Certificate meet the general language entry requirement for UCD programmes. Please note, not all programmes require a language other than Irish and English - please see entry requirements table. The language does not have to be a modern language (e.g. Latin is acceptable)

The LCVP is accepted as a subject for points purposes only; it does not count as a matriculation subject.

Points are awarded as follows:
Distinction: 66; Merit: 46; Pass: 28

The Leaving Certificate Applied Programme does not currently meet matriculation and entry requirements.

GNVQ awards are not acceptable for purposes of matriculation in the National University of Ireland or admission to University College Dublin.

No, you can't combine BTEC qualifications with A-levels. There are some progression routes for those who have completed a BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND).

If you are being home-schooled, we recommend that you present a recognised qualification, such as ICCE or A-level and GCSE. If you are studying in the US system, you must have an official High School transcript together with SAT I scores. For more competitive courses SAT II will be required and for very competitive courses AP scores are also required.

We regret that if you don't have documented prior learning you cannot be considered for admission to UCD in competition with other school-leavers. For some courses, an alternative route is to take a 1 year QQI-FET course and apply on that basis.

Students must normally be seventeen years of age by 15 January following entry: i.e. for entry in 2025, date of birth must be on or before 15 January 2009. There is no upper limit.

If you will not be old enough and wish to appeal this, you can appeal to the Registrar. Your appeal should be accompanied by a letter of support from your School Principal. You can submit this via www.ucd.ie/askus