Courses
ATU introduces new admissions approach to better support Northern Ireland A-level applicants
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has today announced new measures to better support Northern Ireland (NI) students applying through the CAO system, following extensive research into qualification trends and barriers to higher education access.
The initiative forms part of the University’s Technological University Transformation Funded (TUTF) project (2024–2026) focused on student mobility and improving progression pathways between Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI).
ATU’s research, using Department of Education Northern Ireland data, reveals a significant shift in how students achieve Level 3 qualifications. Across a five-year period, between 2018-2023, only 60–64% of NI school leavers now follow a traditional A-level-only pathway. Approximately 36–40% of students take mixed or vocational qualifications, including combinations of A-levels and BTEC/AAQs and in 2022/23 alone, over one-third (35.6%) of students did not complete the standard 3+ A-level route. (Department of Education NI, 2025)
Despite this, current admissions processes in Ireland tend to favor traditional A-level profiles, creating barriers for a large and growing portion of students. During this research project which mobilised engagement with schools and careers advisors in NI, ATU identified key challenges for NI applicants:
- Difficulty translating mixed qualifications into CAO points scoring
- Lack of clarity around how vocational qualifications are recognised in ROI
- NI students tend to have greater familiarity with UCAS than with the CAO system
- Lower awareness of Republic of Ireland university options among NI students and parents
- The research also found that a large majority of NI students remain within the UK system, with 77.9% progressing to institutions in Northern Ireland and 20.4% to Great Britain, highlighting an opportunity to widen participation south of the border
In response to the TUTF project findings, ATU’s Admissions Office has developed a new scoring approach to recognise mixed-qualification profiles, including combinations of A-levels and Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs).
The university will implement a two-year pilot scheme that will accept combined A-Level and BTEC/AAQ pathways and introduce a clear scoring framework aligned with UCAS-style recognition.
Dr. Billy Bennett, Registrar and Chief Academic Officer (R&CAO) at ATU commented,
The scoring reform acknowledges the changing profile of NI students and aims to ensure that access to programmes in ATU reflects modern qualification pathways. During the two-year pilot scheme, ATU will monitor student progression and outcomes, share findings nationally to inform broader policy development and expand our engagement activities with NI schools through dedicated outreach engagement.
Fiona Kelly, Marketing Manager at ATU further added, “Since completing this research project, ATU has received funding under the Technological Enhancement Fund (TEF) to mobilise these research findings and translate insights into actionable policy recommendations, institutional practices, and cross-border engagement. The university is committed to engaging and supporting students in the NI region and the appointment of a dedicated Schools Engagement Officer for the NI market is evidence of our commitment to same. With university fees considerably lower in ROI when compared with NI and British universities, we are keen to bridge the gap and address barriers to entry for NI students to create an all-island progression opportunity for students. The BRIDGE project will provide more inclusive pathways to higher education for students across NI.”
Jacinta Ryan, Admissions Manager, “Students applying to ATU from NI are increasingly combining A-levels with vocational qualifications. Our responsibility is to ensure admissions systems reflect this reality and do not disadvantage capable applicants. This pilot is an important step towards a more inclusive and transparent pathway into higher education. The new scoring model will be introduced for upcoming CAO applicants hoping to secure a place at ATU this September 2026, with a full review scheduled in 2027 to assess impact and consider wider adoption.”
ATU hopes this work will contribute to a more aligned, accessible system across the island of Ireland, ensuring that NI students feel confident and supported when considering studying at ATU.
For media enquiries, contact:
Aidan Haughey
Communications Manager
Tel: 086 086 6913
E: aidan.haughey@atu.ie
