QQI-Further Education Applicants for Undergraduate CAO Courses at DkIT / Undergraduate (CAO) Entry Routes / How To Apply / DkIT

We welcome applications from students presenting QQI (formerly known as FET/FETAC) Level 5/6 awards.

Through its strong links with Further Education & Training (FET) providers in the North East Region and beyond, DkIT is committed to supporting the progression of learners into third level education and reserves a percentage of places on relevant courses for FET progression students. DkIT also offers advanced entry places (i.e. post year one entry) on all courses to FET award holders – subject to certain courses-specific conditions.

DkIT is a member of the FET2HE group with partner higher education and further education providers – this group aims to increase FET to HE progression and to build on access routes for these students. DkIT also offers advanced entry places (i.e. post year one entry) on all courses to FET award holders – subject to certain courses-specific conditions.

See CAO Process Information

Standard Minimum Entry Requirements

QQI-FET level 5 and 6 awards are now made by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Applicants must have obtained a full QQI-FET Level 5/6 major award with a minimum credit value of 120. A Component Award will not suffice. A full QQI-FET major award normally contains 8 components. A full award may be accumulated over a number of years. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the applicant to apply to QQI-FET for a major award prior to the release of QQI-FET results.

The minimum entry requirement for graduates of QQI-FET (Level 5 and 6) awards to:

Ab-initio Ordinary Degree (NQAI Level 7) programmes (with the exception of Veterinary Nursing) is a full QQI-FET (Level 5 or 6) award, plus one Distinction or two Merits;
Ab-initio Honours Degree (NQAI Level 8) programmes (with the exception of nursing & midwifery programmes) is a full QQI-FET (Level 5 or 6) award including a Distinction grade in at least three modules.

In these three cases, a general specific requirement for Mathematics or a language will not apply. Notwithstanding the minimum entry requirements listed above, relevant cognate courses and/or specific pre-requisite QQI-FET modules may be required for some programmes. Further details can be acquired by contacting the Admissions Office or the ‘QQI- FET Information’ section of the CAO website.

In some programmes, a specific module such as a Mathematics or language module is a mandatory component of the QQI-FET award being presented. This requirement may be waived if the applicant has evidence of equivalent achievement from other examinations (such as a previous Leaving Certifcate award). It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence directly to the Admissions Office.

QQI-FET has introduced a new awards system known as the Common Awards System or CAS. All QQI-FET awards are part of CAS since 2014.

QQI Maths

A Merit in QQI Maths for STEM NFQ (5N0556) will meet the specific Mathematics entry requirement for the following Level 8 ab-initio programme(s)

QQI/FE Course-Specific Entry Requirements

For a detailed breakdown of our QQI/FE entry requirements by course, please download the document below.

Download QQI/FE Entry Requirements Document

Common Awards System (CAS) Scoring

This scoring scheme only applies where all the requirements for the major award are met, i.e. when the named component awards specified have been achieved to a minimum of 120 credits.

Each component is given a score based on the credit value of the component and the weighting of the grade achieved.

Most component awards have a credit value of 15 (the possible component credit values are 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30).

The following weightings will apply to the grades achieved:

Pass = 1
Merit = 2
Distinction = 3

To calculate a component score, multiply the credit value of the component by the weighting for the grade achieved. Add all of the component scores up to a cumulative credit value of 120. When adding up these scores begin with distinctions, then merits, then passes. Finally, multiply the total by 13 and divide by 12 to give the overall score (maximum 390).

* Further information and examples of the scoring scheme are available on the ‘QQI-FET Information’ section of the CAO website.

Examples of scoring:

8* Distinctions with a Credit Value of 15 (Distinction Weighting = 3)

Credit Value	Weighting	Component Score	No. of Modules	Score	Adjusted Score
15	x3	= 45	x 8	= 360 x 1.0833*	390

8* Merits with a Credit Value of 15 (Merit Weighting = 2)

Credit Value	Weighting	Component Score	No. of Modules	Score	Adjusted Score
15	x2	= 30	x 8	= 240 x 13 over 12	260

8* Pass with a Credit Value of 15 (Pass Weighting = 1)

Credit Value	Weighting	Component Score	No. of Modules	Score	Adjusted Score
15	x1	= 15	x 8	= 120 x 13 over 12	130

QQI-FET Links to Nursing Honours Degree Programmes

The table below outlines the QQI qualifications that meet the general requirements for the following DkIT Programmes:

QQI Code	Title
5M4349 or DCHSN	Nursing Studies
5M4468 or DCHSX	Community and Health Services
5M4339 or DHSXX	Healthcare Support
5M3782	Health Service Skills

With a minimum of 5 distinctions, including Distinctions in the following modules:

Module Code	Title
5N0749 or D20001	Anatomy and Physiology
5N4325 or D20012	Nursing Theory & Practice or Introduction to Nursing
5N1279 or D20032 or 5N2746 or C20006	Human Growth and Development or Biology

QQI-FET Links to Veterinary Nursing

The following qualifications meet the general requirements for the BSc in Veterinary Nursing:

QQI-FET Level 5 award in: Animal Care (CASAC or 5M2768)
With distinctions in Biology (C20006 or 5N2746) and Animal Anatomy & Physiology (C20153 or 5N0750).

Applications must be made through the CAO by the 1st February.

QQI-FET Links to Engineering Programmes

The following qualifications meet the general requirements for the bachelor honours degree courses in Engineering (Common) (DK843), Mechanical Engineering (DK844), Electrical & Electronic Engineering (DK845), or Civil Engineering (DK846).

Any LEVEL 5/6 award which must include 3 Distinctions
AND Maths at Grade H6 or O2 level

Applications must be made through the CAO by the 1st February.

QQI Quotas

The following high demand courses have a quota of places for QQI-FET Applicants. Please see details below (updated 25th March 2025):

Course Code	Description	Quota QQI/FET Places
DK710	Business and Management	40
DK711	Business and Technology	20
DK712	Digital Marketing and Public Relations	40
DK721	Computing	8
DK723	Computing Systems & Operations	8
DK730	Building Surveying	2
DK731	Architectural Technology	2
DK732	Construction Management	2
DK734	Quantity Surveying	2
DK740	Electronics - Electrical & Electronic Systems	8
DK742	Mechanical Eng.	8
DK744	Civil Eng.	8
DK750	Hospitality Management	10
DK752	Event Management	40
DK753	Culinary Arts	10
DK763	Sport, Exercise and Enterprise	30
DK767	Community Youth Work (interview)	30
DK768	Audio & Music Production	2
DK769	Creative Media	2
DK770	Theatre & Film Practice	4
DK781	Bioscience	4
DK783	Pharmaceutical Science	5
DK784	Veterinary Nursing	4
DK791	Audio Development	2
DK792	Music Performance & Technologies	2
DK793	Sound Design	2
DK801	International Business and Digitalisation	30
DK802	Business with Management	40
DK810	Accounting and Finance	30
DK816	Business Studies	30
DK818	Digital Marketing and Strategic Communication	40
DK820	Computing - Games Development	8
DK821	Computing - Software Development	16
DK823	Maths and Data Science	1
DK824	Computing Operations	4
DK830	Building Surveying	3
DK831	Architectural Technology	3
DK832	Construction Management	3
DK834	Quantity Surveying	3
DK843	Engineering	2
DK844	Mechanical Engineering	4
DK845	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	4
DK846	Civil Engineering	4
DK850	BA (Hons) in International Tourism Management	30
DK851	Hospitality Management with Business	10
DK852	Event Management with Marketing	40
DK853	BA (Hons) in Marketing & International Tourism Management	30
DK861	Arts	40
DK862	Social Care	10
DK863	Creative Media	6
DK864	Film & TV Production	8
DK865	Audio & Music Production	4
DK866	BA Hons in Applied Youth Work	30
DK867	BA Hons in Sport & Exercise with Business	30
DK870	General Nursing	12
DK872	Intellectual Disability Nursing	12
DK874	Mental Health Nursing	12
DK876	Early Childhood Studies	10
DK877	Midwifery	2
DK880	Health & Physical Activity	12
DK882	Agriculture	7
DK883	Science	13
DK888	Nutrition & Health	7
DK891	Audio Development	2
DK892	Music Performance & Technologies	2
DK893	Sound Design	2