Northern Ireland/UK Applicants

Each year we are proud to welcome a new cohort of Northern Irish and UK students. With a top-class education guaranteed, a simple application process and all the financial benefits that come along with it – we can see why more and more Northern Irish and UK students are choosing Atlantic Technological University.

On this page

• Who can Apply?
• How to Apply
• Minimum Entry Requirements for Standard Applicants
• Points Calculation for Standard Applicants
• Minimum Entry Requirements for BTEC Non-Standard Applicants
• Points Calculation for Non-Standard Applicants

Who can Apply?

• Applicants who have completed a recognized award at UK Framework level 3 or higher are eligible for consideration for year 1.
• Standard Applicants: those presenting a combination of GCE A-levels, AS-levels and GCSEs.
• Non-Standard Applicants: those presenting Awards other than GCE/GCSE combination. Non-Standard Applicants include BTEC, AVCE, Foundation Degree and IGCSE award holders.
• Applicants must meet the minimum entry requirement for the course they are applying for before they can compete for a place.
• The subject entry requirements for each course and any extra entry requirements, (e.g. a Portfolio may be required for some Art Courses) must also be met.

The CAO issues offer of places based on a points competition. Applicants Examination results are “scored”, with the highest grades getting highest points.  The more points you achieve the better your chance of getting an offer.

How to Apply:

• All applications for entry to full-time undergraduate courses in ATU are made via the Central Applications Office (CAO).
• Applications open in November each year for entry the following September. 
• The CAO have an informative and helpful guide to “Applying for the CAO with GCE/A/AS Level & GCSE Qualifications”  
• The CAO Handbook gives details of the application process.

Minimum Entry Requirements for Standard Applicants

Standard Applicants (GCE A-levels, AS-levels and GCSEs) can present combinations of these awards to meet the minimum entry requirements for ATU.

• Full entry details for A-Level Students, including a full list of course requirements can be found in the Entry Requirements Criteria for EU/EFTA Applicants.
• Ensure you check for specific course subject requirements for the Course you are interested in. Links to all CAO courses can be found on the CAO Course Search Page
• Check if the course you are interested in is a “Restricted Application” Courses. They may require submission of portfolio.
• Applicants are advised to read the CAO  Information Sheet for GCE A/AS & GCS Applicants

Points Calculation for Standard Applicants

The results of standard exams from recognised boards are scored automatically by the CAO according to the GCE A/AS Levels/GCSE Scoring Scheme

A minimum of 160 points are required for an offer. However, admission to most courses is competitive, so usually an excess of the 160 minimum is required.

Your Points equivalence will be calculated as per the table below:

Notes:
Applicants are scored on a maximum of 4 different subject results at A and/or AS level/EPQ¹.

For scoring purposes, the following combinations of A Levels and AS Levels are permitted:

• 1. The best 4 A level results in a single sitting. If 4 A-levels are presented, the lowest grade is scored at the lower rate.
• 2. The best 3 A level results in a single sitting, plus the best AS level result from the previous or the same sitting.
• 3. The best 2 A level subject results in a single sitting, plus the best 2 results at AS level from the previous or the same sitting.
• 4. The best 1 A level subject result in a single sitting, plus the best 3 results at AS level from the previous or the same sitting.

Note:

• NB Grades in the same subject in A and AS level cannot be combined. Subjects must be mutually exclusive.
• Extended project (EPQ) is scored as an AS level (A* is available in this). Throughout this AS level can be read to mean AS level or EPQ.
• A single sitting refers to a single academic year (i.e. 2025 academic year runs from September 2024-August 2025)
• A minimum of 160 points are required for an offer. However, admission to most courses is competitive, so usually an excess of the 160 minimum is required.

Minimum Entry Requirements for BTEC Non-Standard Applicants

• ATU will consider awards at UK Framework Level 3 or higher, including BTEC Nationals (National Award, Subsidiary Diploma, Extended Certificate, 90-Credit Diploma, Foundation Diploma, AAQ), Cambridge Technical’ s AVCs, GNVQs, etc.
• These Awards are assessed and scored by the Admissions team within ATU, who input the marks manually onto the CAO System.
• All details of the alternate qualification(s) should be supplied to CAO.

Supporting Documentation for Award

• Please supply the following to CAO for any non-standard awards you may be presenting at UK Level 3 or higher
  • The Award Certificate and a transcript of results – showing subjects taken and grades achieved
  • A copy of the syllabus or the course schedule showing modules taken, credits that apply, and expected learning outcomes.

Points Calculation for Non-Standard Applicants

If you hold a full BTEC extended diploma or a BTEC Diploma you will be scored as follows depending on your result.

Mixed-Pathway Acceptance

ATU recognises that some UK/NI applicants applying for year 1 entry via the CAO present a mixed Level 3 profile, such as a combination of A-Levels and Level 3 BTEC/Cambridge OCR or AAQ qualifications. Through this pilot, these profiles are accepted in principle, provided the qualifications are appropriate for higher education progression and the programme’s entry requirements are met.

When reviewing a mixed pathway application, ATU will consider:

• whether the applicant meets the minimum entry requirements;
• whether any named subject requirements for the programme have been satisfied;
• and how the combination should be treated within the mixed-profile scoring process.

Points Calculation for Non-Standard Applicants

Subject to meeting minimum and named subject requirements, combined scoring allows the combination of AS/A-Level and Level 3 Certificate/Extended Certificate qualifications to occur as follows:

Applicants are scored on a maximum of 4 different subject results at A/Level 3 Extended Certificate and/or AS level/EPQ/Level 3 Certificate.  The standard 3+1 scoring will be employed, where the 4 highest-scoring qualifications will be selected and the 3 highest scored at A-Level/Extended Certificate Level and the final qualification will be scored at AS Level/Level 3 Certificate Level.

A mixed pathway may be accepted for admissions purposes, but the way qualifications are treated for programme entry and for scoring may differ depending on subject requirements and the degree of overlap between the qualifications presented.

Contact

Please contact Admissions@atu.ie with any queries you may have about your qualification and eligibility for courses in ATU