UCD University Access Courses
Applicants of mature years age who have achieved a specified Level in a UCD University Access course (Access to Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Law or Access to Science, Engineering and Agriculture) are eligible to apply for a number of reserved places in year 1 of specified linked programmes.
All EU/EFTA applicants to start stage 1, Autumn Trimester of a course apply via CAO.
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Application is made to CAO and the normal closing date is 1 February or 1 May otherwise. Please see www.ucd.ie/maturestudents for further information |
Applications open in mid-November |
UCD Open Learning Certificate
Applicants who have achieved the UCD Open Learning Certificate who meet the requirements shown below are eligible to apply for a place in year 1 of the following programmes, subject to availability of places:
Code | Programme | Requirement | Reserved Places 2022 |
DN130 | City Planning & Environmental Policy |
Minimum GPA 2.6 The certificate must be composed of 4 compulsory modules along with 2 other 5 credit modules: Compulsory Modules: PLAN10010 Intro to Spatial Planning PLAN10040 Research Methods ENVP10010 Environment Change & Policy PLAN10020 History of City Planning |
3 |
DN200 | Science |
Minimum GPA 3.08 6 modules must be completed for credit. At least 2 of these should be Science modules which are available through Open Learning. A minimum of 15 credits may be offset against the degree programmes. Applicants must meet the Leaving Certificate Mathematics requirement or have taken equivalent Mathematics modules offered through Open Learning.* |
10 |
DN201 | Computer Science |
Minimum GPA 3.08 6 modules must be completed for credit. At least 2 of these should be Science modules which are available through Open Learning. A minimum of 15 credits may be offset against the degree programmes. Applicants must meet the Leaving Certificate Mathematics requirement or have taken equivalent Mathematics modules offered through Open Learning.* |
2 |
DN250 | Agricultural Science |
Minimum GPA 3.08 6 modules must be completed for credit. At least 2 of these should be Science modules which are available through Open Learning. O6/H7 in Leaving Certificate Mathematics or equivalent Mathematics modules offered through Open Learning. |
2 |
DN261 | Food Science |
Minimum GPA 3.08 6 modules must be completed for credit. At least 2 of these should be Science modules which are available through Open Learning. O6/H7 in Leaving Certificate Mathematics or equivalent Mathematics modules offered through Open Learning. |
2 |
DN262 | Human Nutrition |
Minimum GPA 3.08 6 modules must be completed for credit. At least 2 of these should be Science modules which are available through Open Learning. O6/H7 in Leaving Certificate Mathematics or equivalent Mathematics modules offered through Open Learning. |
1 |
DN520 | Arts | Minimum GPA of 2.6 |
5 |
DN530 | Humanities | Minimum GPA of 2.6 |
5 |
DN600 | Law |
Minimum GPA of 2.6 Applicants must be 23 or above on 1 January prior to entry, and Certificate must include at least 20 credits from Law modules. |
5 |
DN650 | Commerce |
Minimum GPA 3.08 The certificate must be composed of 5 compulsory modules along with one additional 5 credit module. Compulsory Modules: BMGT10170 - Inside Organisations MATH10030 - Maths for Business MATH00030 - Access Maths I LAW10400 - Business Law I ECON10720 - Microeconomics for Business |
5 |
DN700 | Social Sciences | Minimum GPA of 2.6 |
10 |
DN750 | Social Policy & Sociology | Minimum GPA of 2.6 |
5 |
Where there are more qualified applicants than places available, applicants will be ranked on Certificate GPA.
*Mathematics Requirement
Please note for DN200 and DN201 evidence of ability in Maths, at minimum O2/H6 level, is required.
For applicants who have not achieved an O2/H6 grade in the Leaving Certificate, (or equivalent in another recognised school leaving examination), must present at least one Mathematics module from the following list
- MATH00030 or
- MATH00040
Any of the following three modules will also be accepted but these are more appropriate for those who have already attained O2/H6 standard in mathematics
- MATH00010 or
- MATH10310 or
- MATH10290
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Application is made to CAO and the normal closing date is 1 February or 1 May otherwise. Applicants must indicate previous third level on the CAO form and specify that they are applying on this basis (and include a copy of the Certificate if already completed). On gaining a place applicants may apply for Recognition of Prior learning for exemption from some modules on the new programme. |
Applications open in mid-November |
UCD Certificate in Equality Studies
Applicants who have successfully completed the UCD Certificate in Equality Studies with a GPA of 2.6 are eligible for admission to
- 1st Arts (DN520),
- 1st Humanities (DN530)
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Application is made to CAO and the normal closing date is 1 February or 1 May otherwise.
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![]() Applications open in mid-November |
UCD Level 7 Certificate in Women, Gender and Social Justice
Applicants who have successfully completed the level 7 University Certificate in Women, Gender and Social Justice with a GPA of 2.6 are eligible for admission to
- 1st Arts (DN520),
- 1st Social Sciences (DN700) or
- 1st Social Policy and Sociology (DN750)
and, upon RPL application, will be granted exemption from up to 10 level 1 credits.
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Application is made to CAO and the normal closing date is 1 February or 1 May otherwise. Please see www.ucd.ie/maturestudents for further information |
![]() Applications open in mid-November |
UCD Level 7 Diploma in the History of European Painting (from 2024)
Applicants who have successfully completed the level 7 University Diploma in the History of European Painting with a GPA of 2.6 are eligible for admission to
- 1st Arts (DN520),
- 1st Humanities (DN530)
and, upon RPL application, will be granted exemption from up to 20 level 1 credits.
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Application is made to CAO and the normal closing date is 1 February or 1 May otherwise. Please see www.ucd.ie/maturestudents for further information |
![]() Applications open in mid-November |
UCD Level 7 Diploma in Women, Gender and Social Justice
Applicants who have successfully completed the level 7 University Diploma in Women, Gender and Social Justice with a GPA of 2.6 are eligible for admission to 1st Social Sciences (DN700) and, upon RPL application, may be granted exemption from up to 15 level 1 credits.
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Application is made to CAO and the normal closing date is 1 February or 1 May otherwise. Please see www.ucd.ie/maturestudents for further information |
Applications open in mid-November |
UCD Diploma in Community Drugs Work or Drugs Counselling Theory and Intervention Skills
Applicants who have successfully completed a Diploma in Community Drugs Work or a Diploma in Drugs Counselling Theory and Intervention Skills may apply for progression to year 2 of the Social Policy and Sociology degree programme (DN750). A GPA of 3.08 is generally required.
Applications are made through the link for Social Policy and Sociology here.
Closing Date
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Applications open on Wednesday, 12 April 2023. The closing date is Wednesday, 21 June 2023. Incomplete applications will not be considered - your application, including application fee, must be submitted by the closing date. If your result won't be out by the closing date, you should enclose any results already available with a note saying when the final result is expected. Your result must be forwarded ASAP. As applications are assessed soon after the closing date, if you are awaiting results you will only be considered if places remain following initial offers. |
If you are considering applying for a transfer, please check the fees implications at www.ucd.ie/fees. Some programmes will not normally consider applicants who have been unsuccessful in a similar programme - full details are on the restrictions page. All offers of a place are subject to UCD's Terms and Conditions of Offer. In line with the Admissions Policy, offers for taught programmes will not be made after the third week of a trimester. Deferral or Leave of Absence is not permissible for the trimester following acceptance of a transfer/re-admission offer. In some cases, students may wish to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning in addition to that granted by the transfer process (see Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy). All students must comply with the regulations of the University. The above is summary information only. Full regulations are included in the Transfer Policy. |