What type of Applicant am I?

• An Irish Leaving Certificate Applicant - Taking the Irish Leaving Certificate or presenting a previous year's Leaving Certificate.
• An EU Applicant - Usually presenting a school-leaving exam from an EU country such as the French Bac, German Abitur, European Bac, International Bac.
• A UK A-Level or BTEC Applicant - Taking UK-based GCE A-Levels and GCSEs or presenting previous year's A-Levels and GCSEs. Presenting specific BTEC Diplomas.
• HEAR Applicant - The HEAR Scheme supports school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are resident in the Republic of Ireland.
• DARE Applicant - The DARE Scheme supports school-leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second-level education.
• A Mature Applicant - An Applicant who is aged 23 years or above on 01 January in the year of entry, who wishes to pursue a full-time undergraduate degree programme.
• A QQI/FE Applicant - Taking exams in a recognised QQI linked course usually provided by Colleges of Further Education.
• An Advanced Entry (Transfer) Applicant - An Applicant looking to transfer to a year beyond 1st year from another Irish/EU University studying the same or similar course. 
• A Direct Entry Applicant - An Applicant applying directly to the Admissions Office for one of our Direct Entry courses including Dental Nursing and Dental Hygiene.
• A Flexi-Options Applicant - An Applicant applying to study up to thirty credits of a degree, but not the full degree.

Am I an EU or International Student?

For admission purposes all applicants are categorised into two categories: EU or International.

Fee status should be established prior to making an application to UCC. Fee status will be retained for the duration of a course. To determine whether you are an EU applicant or a International applicant check our Criteria for Determining the Fee Status of an Applicant.

If you require clarification on your Fee Status, contact the Fees Office fees@ucc.ie

EU Status: If your status is EU, you should apply through the Central Applications Office with support from the UCC Admissions Office. Please see below.

International Status: If your status is International, you should apply directly to the International Office using the undergraduate online application system: Undergraduate Programmes

How Do I Apply?

In the majority of cases, applicants must make an application through the CAO to be considered for a place in UCC. The CAO is an online application form that opens in early November and closes on 01 February for normal applications each year.

The following applicants apply through the CAO. www.cao.ie 

• Irish Leaving Certificate Applicants
• EU Applicants
• Mature Student Applicants
• QQI/FE Applicants
• A-Level and BTEC Applicants
• Advanced Entry Applicants

Direct Entry and Flexi-Options applicants apply directly through the Admissions Office by submitting the relevant course application form to the Admissions Office.

Find out more!

Need some help with your Application?

• CAO Applicants
• HEAR Applicants
• DARE Applicants
• Mature and QQI/FE Applicants

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