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Mature Applicants
ATU welcomes applications from mature applicants to all full-time undergraduate degree programmes.
On this page
- General Information
- Deciding on a course
- Applying as a mature applicant
- Programmes with Specific Requirements
Whether you want to gain a new qualification for your career or study something you have always been passionate about, we have the supports in place to help you succeed.
Mature Applicants are required to be over 23 on January 1st of the calendar year of application.
General Information
- Applications to be made via the CAO only.
- CAO deadline is 1st February but ATU welcome late applications up to 30th May (Please see programmes with specific entry requirements below)
- You may apply for up to ten level 8 programmes and ten level 7 or 6 programmes.
- ATU reserve a number of places on each programme for mature applicants. Where there are more qualified mature applicants than places, applicants will be ranked and placed on a waitlist.
- As well as competing on a mature basis, applicants can also compete using their Leaving Certificate or FET QQI results.
If you are not resident in the EU/EFTA/UK or are not an EU/EFTA/UK citizen, you should apply via the ATU International Office
Deciding on a course
- Attend ATU Open Days for courses you may be interested in
- Check out our Access Office for information on all additional supports available to mature learners in ATU.
- Research programme pages of the programme you are considering for career opportunities and pathways to further studies.
- Contact the nominated email address on each page for further information.
Applying as a mature applicant
Familiarise yourself with the Mature Applicant Section of CAO Central Applications Office (cao.ie)where you will find everything you need to know about the application process.
Your application will be assessed on all aspects of your prior certified learning and work experience.
As a general guide, the following is required:
- Your education record to date (copy of Leaving Certificate results or Leaving Cert Number, QQI FET Awards, certificates etc)
- A detailed statement of interest, which should be concise and contain the following information:
- Prior success and achievement in formal and informal education.
- Information and proof of on any relevant pre-entry preparatory courses or access programme(s) you may have completed
- Evidence of extra-curricular activities relevant to the programme applied for.
- Your employment history and how it may be relevant to the programme.
- Your knowledge, understanding and reasons why you are seeking to study the above programme(s).
- Any additional information you feel will enhance your application.
- Proof that you meet the English Language Requirement if English is not your first language. Details of acceptable proof can be found via this link – cao.ie.
- All documents must be submitted to the CAO (ensure to include your CAO number) and not to ATU directly. Any transcripts, certificates etc that are not in English must be submitted in their original language and a certified copy of an English translation must also be submitted.
Programmes with Specific Requirements
The following programmes require an ePortfolio to be submitted as part of the application process.
Further detail on what is required, and submission dates can be found on each course page.
The following course requires applicants to have obtained Art or Design and Communication Graphics at O6/H7 in their Leaving Certificate Or to submit an ePortfolio for assessment
Nursing Programmes
Mature applicants for Nursing are ranked based on their score in an assessment test which is required by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). Full details about the assessment are publicised on the NMBI website NMBI – Applying as mature student for nurse or midwife 3rd level courses