Skip to main content

QQI-Further Education Applicants

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