Am I a Mature Student?

In UCC, a mature student is someone 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.

How Do I Apply?

All interested applicants must make an application through the CAO to be considered for a place in UCC as a mature student. The CAO is an online application form that opens in early November and closes on 01 February each year.

Please check out the CAO website for more information on the application process as a mature student. There is a specific video guide for mature applicants, which can be accessed HERE. There is also an easy to understand presentation available HERE.

To apply as a mature applicant, you must tick Box 8 on the Qualifications and Assessment Summary section. This is on the first page of the CAO application:

Mature applicants can also apply to UCC on the basis of Leaving Certificate or QQI/FE results. You may submit an application under all three pathways, if applicable. Just ensure to tick boxes 1,2 & 8 on the Qualifications and Assessment Summary section, to be assessed under all three pathways.

For more detailed information on how to complete your application, visit our Mature Student Office. 

Mature Student Office Support

We are working remotely during the Covid-19 crisis. However, we are available to talk to you through Teams or Google Meet. So if you are thinking about studying at UCC or if you are a current student and you have a query, all you have to do is email us at mso@ucc.ie and a meeting can be set up using Google Meet or Teams. 

To request a copy of the Mature Student Guide 2021 please contact the Mature Student Office at email: mso@ucc.ie

What is the MSAP?

If you are hoping to pursue an undergraduate programme in the College of Arts, you must sit the Mature Student Admissions Pathway (MSAP) assessment.

This is a two-hour exam that is designed to test your verbal reasoning and written ability skills. The MSAP is independently administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).

Once you have a CAO number, you can make an application to ACER for the MSAP. The timeframe for making an application for the MSAP falls in line with the CAO application deadlines. This is an online application process also.

ACER do not accept late applications for the MSAP.

For further details on the MSAP please click on the following link - https://msap-ireland.acer.org/. 

The MSAP test dates for 2021:

- Saturday 06 March 2021 online

- Thursday 11 March 2021 online

Mature Nursing Applications:

Admission to UCC's Nursing and Midwifery programmes is based on an assessment test with An Bord Altranais/Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

Applicants must make an application for their desired programmes through the CAO (www.cao.ie), familiarise themselves with the assessment information and book their assessment through the NMBI.

Please register and apply through the NMBI website to arrange your Nursing Assessment for our Nursing Programmes. For more information, please follow this link to the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland.  

Late CAO Applications for Nursing Programmes:

Prospective mature applicants who wish to apply for our Nursing and Midwifery programmes through the mature entry route can make a late CAO application from the 5th of March. The CAO closing date is 1st of May.

Please note, if you include other courses other than Nursing programmes, your application will not be considered for these programmes through the mature entry route.

Nursing applicants are assessed and admitted based on the NMBI test, which takes place in April. You can find out more here.