Northern Ireland/UK Applicants for Undergraduate CAO Courses at DkIT / Undergraduate (CAO) Entry Routes / How To Apply / DkIT

DkIT is one of the only Higher Level Institutes in the Republic of Ireland to recognise Standard A Levels, Applied A Levels, BTECs and OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications, or a combination of all four.

Our first class teaching & learning environment, affordable tuition fees and convenient location makes us the perfect place to study at Higher Level if coming from Northern Ireland (NI).

In this section you will find the information you need to apply to DkIT including entry requirements, applications procedures, fees & grants and much more.

Make it with a degree from DkIT!

How to Apply

Students from Northern Ireland/UK who are considering joining us at DkIT, and who wish to start 1st year, can make their application via the CAO by the 1st May.

For students who havent applied by that date, Available Places (Clearing) opens up on 31st August, where many additional places are open to new applicants.

The CAO system is the equivalent to the UCAS system in Northern Ireland/UK.

See CAO Process Information

Tips and Guidance if applying from Northern Ireland/UK

Applications are done through CAO, the Irish vesion of UCAS - this is a somewhat easier process as there is no personal statement involved.
Fees are significantly more affordable than in NI and UK at €3,125. Financial support is available
Make sure you add in exam numbers to all results, and quote your CAO application number on all correspndence with CAO
We fully recognise NI qualifications and we currently accept A-Levels, Applied A-Levels, BTECs, OCR Cambridge Technicals or a combination of all four.
20+ direct public transport links every day to DkIT via bus and train (shuttle bus available from train station) and over 1400 car park spaces available.
Remember to send certified photocopies of any previous years' results or BTECs to CAO.
Order of preference is important! You have 10 CAO choices, make sure you use them all and in the right order. For example, if you are offered your 3rd choice, you will not be offered choices 4-10.

Standard Minimum Entry Requirements

Entry requirements will vary depending on your chosen course, please refer to the individual course page for courses with specific entry requirements.

Level 7 Degree Courses
Meet the matriculation requirement of 5 different subjects which must include: Mathematics at GCSE (Grade A* - C or better) English (or Irish) at GCSE (Grade A* - C or better) One subject at: ‘A Level’ (Grade A* - E or better) OR Applied A-Level (Grade A* - E) OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma) (Pass, Merit or Distinction). OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma) (Pass, Merit or Distinction). The remaining subjects must be different from those listed above and may be drawn from recognised subjects at: GCSE (Grade A* - C) AND/OR 'AS Level’ (Grades A - E) AND/OR ‘A-level’ (Grades A* - E) AND/OR Applied ‘A-level’ (Grade A* - E) AND/OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma) (Pass, Merit or Distinction). AND/OR* OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).

Level 7 Degree Courses

Meet the matriculation requirement of 5 different subjects which must include:

Mathematics at GCSE (Grade A* - C or better)
English (or Irish) at GCSE (Grade A* - C or better)
One subject at:
- ‘A Level’ (Grade A* - E or better)
- OR Applied A-Level (Grade A* - E)
- OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).
- OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).
The remaining subjects must be different from those listed above and may be drawn from recognised subjects at:
- GCSE (Grade A* - C)
- AND/OR 'AS Level’ (Grades A - E)
- AND/OR ‘A-level’ (Grades A* - E)
- AND/OR Applied ‘A-level’ (Grade A* - E)
- AND/OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).
- AND/OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).

*Some courses may require the BTEC Extended Diploma or Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma to be in a cognate area to meet the entry requirements – details are available from the Admissions Office.

Level 8 (Hons) Degree Courses
Meet the matriculation requirement of 6 different subjects which must include: Mathematics at GCSE (Grade A* - C) or better English (or Irish) at GCSE (Grade A* - C) or better Two subjects at either: ‘A Level’ (Grade A* - C) AND/OR Applied A-Level (Grade A* - C) AND/OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma) (Grade Merit or Distinction). AND/OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma) (Grade Merit or Distinction) OR BTEC National Level 3 Diploma (Grade min: MM) OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma (Grade min: MM) OR BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma (Grade min: MMP) The remaining subjects must be different from that presented above and may be drawn from recognised subjects at: GCSE (Grade A* - C) AND/OR AS Level’ (Grades A - E) AND/OR A-level’ (Grades A* - E) AND/OR Applied ‘A-level’ (Grade A* - E) AND/OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma) (Pass, Merit or Distinction). AND/OR* OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).

Level 8 (Hons) Degree Courses

Meet the matriculation requirement of 6 different subjects which must include:

Mathematics at GCSE (Grade A* - C) or better
English (or Irish) at GCSE (Grade A* - C) or better
Two subjects at either:
- ‘A Level’ (Grade A* - C)
- AND/OR Applied A-Level (Grade A* - C)
- AND/OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma) (Grade Merit or Distinction).
- AND/OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma) (Grade Merit or Distinction)
- OR BTEC National Level 3 Diploma (Grade min: MM)
- OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma (Grade min: MM)
- OR BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma (Grade min: MMP)
The remaining subjects must be different from that presented above and may be drawn from recognised subjects at:
- GCSE (Grade A* - C)
- AND/OR AS Level’ (Grades A - E)
- AND/OR A-level’ (Grades A* - E)
- AND/OR Applied ‘A-level’ (Grade A* - E)
- AND/OR BTEC National Level 3 (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).
- AND/OR OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 (Introductory Diploma, Extended Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, 90-Credit Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma*) (Pass, Merit or Distinction).

*Some courses may require the BTEC Extended Diploma or Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma to be in a cognate area to meet the entry requirements – details are available from the Admissions Office.

Scoring

Note: The following criteria and scoring is applicable to Dundalk Institute of Technology. Other colleges may use a different scoring scheme.

Summary of Recent Changes

DKIT now regard Applied A Levels in the same manner as Standard A Levels.
BTEC Nationals at Level 3 are now considered for entry requirements to our Level 8 programmes (previously for Level 6 and 7 programmes only).
Students taking A Levels, Applied A Levels and BTEC Nationals at Level 3 may combine all 3 for scoring purposes (subject to limits below).

A-Levels & AS Levels

Generally, all subjects carry equal points, and points for A-Level (or equivalent Level 3) grades must be obtained at one sitting.
AS-Levels must be in different subjects to those taken at A-Level and may be carried over from a previous sitting.
A Maximum of 4 subjects will be graded (maximum of three A-Levels plus one AS-Level).
Where four A-Levels are presented from the same sitting, the best three A-Levels will be scored and the fourth A-Level will be scored as an AS-Level.

A-Level	CAO Points Equivalent	AS-Level	CAO Points Equivalent
A*	175
A	165	A	75
B	140	B	65
C	120	C	50
D	100	D	35
E	50	E	20

*NOTE: A-Level Mathematics - a bonus of 25 points will be awarded to students who achieve a Grade E or better. This will apply to only ONE Mathematics subject from Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics, where that subject is one of the three A-Levels being counted for point’s purpose.

BTEC:

Extended Diploma (18 modules) is equivalent 3 A-Levels Max Score: 495
Diploma (12 modules) is equivalent 2 A-Levels Max Score: 330
90-Credit Diploma/Foundation Diploma (9 modules) is equivalent 1 ½ A-Levels Max Score: 247.5
Subsidiary Diploma/Nat. Award/Extended Certificate (6modules) is equivalent 1 A-Level Max Score: 165

Score per module: