QQI-Further Education Applicants

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)

• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Engineering (Common Entry)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering
• Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Civil Engineering
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Games Development
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Mathematics and Data Science

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) 

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

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

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:

• BSc (Hons) in General Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing
• BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing
• BSc (Hons) in Midwifery

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

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):