Supplementary Access

The University provides opportunities for students of all backgrounds to find a pathway to higher education at various stages of their lives and career.

Advanced Craft Certificate (QQI FET Award Level 6)

The Advanced Craft Certificate qualifies applicants for entry to Year 1 of the majority of our Level 6, Level 7 or Level 8 programmes.  Certain programmes require specific QQI FET awards for first year entry and these are available on the FET QQI Applicants page

Entry to year 2 of linked/cognate programmes (e.g. electrical to electronic or energy engineering) will also be considered and may require the completion of short bridging programmes especially in Mathematics.

Certificate in Access for Higher Education

Students who pass the ATU Certificate in Access for Higher Education are eligible to apply for admission to a wide range of courses in ATU through CAO.

There is a quota of places reserved on each programme and where demand exceeds supply, ranking will take place.

Qualifying Maths Programmes

ATU run qualifying maths programmes for applicants who are otherwise eligible but who do not meet the maths requirement for the programme to which they have applied. These qualifying maths programmes are usually held after the Leaving Certificate results become available. Please see the ATU website for details of times and locations. Passing a qualifying maths programme at ATU will compensate for failure to matriculate in maths via the Leaving Certificate. Passing a qualifying maths course will not compensate for any other deficit in the entry requirements.

Students passing the Enabling Mathematics Course will be eligible for a place on ATU programmes where the Maths entry requirement is Ordinary Level Maths at 06/H7. There are some programmes where the Enabling Mathematics course is not accepted for entry

For more information on the Enabling Mathematics course click here.

Special Sports and Cultural Achievement (SSCA) Scheme

The SSCA Scheme is a special entry scheme (worth up to 50 points) targeted at outstanding sportspersons and those who have made a significant contribution to cultural activities.

For further information, please see our scholarships page

ATU STEM Passport for Inclusion Pathway

STEM Passport for Inclusion addresses gender inequalities among female students from socially disadvantaged communities in STEM courses, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics developing core competencies and skills transferable across a larger range of undergraduate degree programs and careers.

This innovative programme provides mentoring, and education supports to transition year students from DEIS schools who on completion receive a QQI level 6 Certificate award in STEM Skills. 

Atlantic Technological University is proud to partner with our colleagues in Maynooth University, MTU, TUS and TUD to deliver a programme that will ensure over 1,000 girls attending DEIS schools across Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Galway, Sligo, Mayo, and Roscommon can obtain a university-accredited STEM qualification. For more information email stempassport@atu.ie.

Details of How the CAO points concession works

The points concession is designed to allocate up to 50 CAO concessions points to Leaving Certificate CAO applicants who have passed and hold the ATU Certificate in 21^st Century STEM Skills subject to the following criteria and place allocations:

• Applicants must apply through the CAO for an ATU programme with places allocated under this pathway.
• Applicants will be required to achieve 160 points in the Leaving Certificate and meet all other entry requirements specific to the chosen ATU programmes.  Applicants must also be within 50 CAO points of the standard points threshold for the programme.
• ATU will verify CAO records for applicants who have completed the ATU STEM Passport in the corresponding year e.g. applicants who completed their STEM Passport in 2023/ 2024 will be checked on CAO in 2026.  Applicants seeking to use their STEM Passport for a non-corresponding year must contact admissions@atu.ie
• Applicants may be granted a concession of up to 50 points on their Leaving Certificate points score and offered a place on an ATU programme unless they have been offered a high preference course.
• Applicants may be eligible for HEAR/DARE or STEMP Pathway concessions of up to 50 points but not both.  The Admissions Officer at ATU will allocate the concession where it most benefits the applicant and is appropriate.
• Not every applicant to the STEMP Pathway is guaranteed an offer from the points concession.  ATU has an allocated quota for STEMP Pathway applicants on each programme.  Where there are more applications than available places then ATU will apply a selection process based on merit.
• If an applicant completed the STEM Passport Certificate at another university they may still qualify, please contact admissions@atu.ie

ATU has allocated two places on each programme for eligible STEMP pathway students with the exception of:

• One STEM Pathway allocated place
  • AU271 Veterinary Nursing
• No STEMP Pathway allocated places
  • AU170  Health Science with Physiotherapy Studies
  • AU171  Health Science with Occupational Therapy Studies
  • AU172  Health Science with Dietetics Studies
  • AU374  Physiotherapy
  • AU375  Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
  • AU975  Pharmacy

If you require any further information on completing the STEM Passport for Inclusion module, please contact stempassport@atu.ie