QQI FET (FETAC/PLC) 2026 Entry
Your QQI FET (formerly FETAC) or PLC results could be your route into DCU. Over 65 of our undergraduate courses have dedicated places reserved specifically for Further Education students - meaning you're not competing against Leaving Cert applicants for the same spots.
Up to 10% of places on qualifying courses are set aside for QQI FET applicants. To compete, you'll need a full Level 5 award with a minimum of five distinctions, achieved in one sitting. Some courses require a distinction in a specific Maths or Science module - so check your target course below before you apply.
Applications are made through the CAO at www.cao.ie. Full details on entry requirements, scoring, and offer dates are available on the CAO website. To get a sense of the QQI FET points needed in previous years, you can view the 2025 QQI FET Offer Statistics, 2024 QQI FET Offer Statistics and the 2023 QQI FET Offer Statistics.
If you have any questions about your options or which FET or PLC course best aligns with your target DCU programme, get in touch - we're happy to help before you apply.
Entry Requirements
- Full QQI FET/FETAC Level 5 Award: You must achieve a full Major Award in the appropriate qualification in a single sitting (Please check the recognized awards for each DCU course individually).
- Minimum of Five Distinctions: At least five distinctions must be achieved. Please note that places are competitive and awarded to the highest-scoring applicants first.
- Specific Module Requirements: Many DCU courses have specific module requirements, such as a distinction in a specific Maths or specific Science module (Please check each DCU course individually).
- QQI FET Points: Applicants who meet the above requirements will compete for a place based on their total QQI points score.
QQI FET Points
Application to DCU is competitive, and places are awarded on a merit basis.
- Advice for Applicants: While the minimum requirement is five distinctions, we strongly encourage you to aim for all distinctions in your QQI FET award. This gives you the best possible chance of securing a place, though it does not guarantee one.
- Plan Your Choices Wisely: It is worth keeping other DCU courses on your CAO Level 8 choice form as additional options to ensure you have multiple pathways into the university.
QQI FET Level 6 Awards
Applicants with a full FET Level 6 Major Award may apply for Year 1 entry through the CAO Level 5 pathway. However, all applicants must meet any published award requirements. Level 6 applicants may wish to apply for programmes that do not have a specific award or module requirement. FET Level 6 applicants may also consider applying for Advanced Entry for some DCU programmes - see the list of courses that accept Advanced Entry application. Further information is available on the Advanced Entry section of the Registry website.
Mature Application Route
If you are 23 years of age or older by 1 January of your year of entry, you can apply to DCU via the Mature Student route on the CAO website in addition to your QQI FET application. Applying through both pathways can significantly increase your chances of securing a place. To learn more about how mature applications are assessed, what to include in your statement of interest, and key deadlines, please visit the Mature Applicants section on the Registry website.
QQI FET Application
Applications are made through www.cao.ie. Please visit the CAO website for a detailed Video Guide on how to apply.
If you are looking for a QQI FET course to study before applying through the CAO, please visit the Careers Portal wesbite www.careersportal.ie
QQI FET Places and Entry Requirements Table
You can view the number of QQI FET places and entry requirements for each DCU course by faculty below. Please also visit the CAO website for details.
Business School
| CAO Code | Title | Approximate Number of QQI Places 2026 |
QQI Points Cut-Off 2025 | QQI FET Entry Requirements 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC110 | Business Studies International | 9 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC110 |
| DC111 | Business Studies | 22 | 390 | Requirements for DC111 |
| DC112 | Global Business - France | 1 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC112 |
| DC113 | Global Business - Germany | 1 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC113 |
| DC114 | Global Business - Spain | 1 | 390 | Requirements for DC114 |
| DC115 | Accounting and Finance | 12 | 390 | Requirements for DC115 |
| DC116 | Global Business (USA) | 1 | 390 | Requirements for DC116 |
| DC117 | Aviation Management | 7 | *390 | Requirements for DC117 |
| DC119 | Global Business (Canada) | 2 | *390 | Requirements for DC119 |
| DC240 | Marketing, Innovation and Technology (MInT) | 9 | *390 | Requirements for DC240 |
| DC241 | BSc In Digital Business and innovation | 7 | 390 | Requirements for DC241 |
* Due to the competitive nature of FET quota places, it was not possible to offer to all applicants on the same points range, so random selection was applied.
Humanities and Social Sciences
| CAO Code | Title | Approximate Number of QQI Places 2026 |
QQI Points Cut-Off 2025 | QQI FET Entry Requirements 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC009 | Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours (Humanities) | 30 | 341 | Requirements for DC009 |
| DC014 | BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance | 2 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC014 |
| DC118 | BA Gnó agus Gaeilge (Business and Irish [Irish-Medium]) |
1 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC118 |
| DC131 | BA in Communication Studies | 7 | 374 | Requirements for DC131 |
| DC132 | BA in Journalism | 5 | 374 | Requirements for DC132 |
| DC133 | BSc in Multimedia | 7 | 374 | Requirements for DC133 |
| DC155 | BA in Applied Language and Translation Studies | 4 | 390 | Requirements for DC155 |
| DC230 | BA in Economics, Politics and Law | 11 | 374 | Requirements for DC230 |
| DC231 | BA in International Relations | 7 | 374 | Requirements for DC231 |
| DC232 | Bachelor of Civil Law (Law and Society) | 11 | 390 | Requirements for DC232 |
| DC238 | BA in Social Sciences and Cultural Innovation | 5 | 358 | Requirements for DC238 |
| DC291 | Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours - Media Studies | 5 | 390 | Requirements for DC291 |
| DC292 | Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours - Law | 10 | 358 | Requirements for DC292 |
| DC293 | Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours - International Languages (French, German, Spanish) |
2 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC293 |
| DC294 | BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability | 2 | 390 | Requirements for DC294 |
| DC295 | Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours - Politics | 6 | 358 | Requirements for DC295 |
Faculty of Engineering and Computing
| CAO Code | Title | Approximate Number of QQI Places 2026 |
QQI Points Cut-Off 2025 | QQI FET Entry Requirements 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC120 | BSc in Computing for Business | 12 | 374 | Requirements for DC120 |
| DC121 | BSC in Computer Science | 15 | *390 | Requirements for DC121 |
| DC123 | BSc in Data Science | 3 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC123 |
| DC190 | BEng and MEng in Electronic and Computer Engineering | 2 | 390 | Requirements for DC190 |
| DC193 | BEng and MEng in Mechatronic Engineering | 3 | 390 | Requirements for DC193 |
| DC194 | BEng and MEng in Mechanical and Sustainability Engineering | 2 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC194 |
| DC195 | BEng and MEng in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering | 2 | 390 | Requirements for DC195 |
| DC197 | BEng and MEng in Biomedical Engineering | 2 | 390 | Requirements for DC197 |
| DC200 | Common Entry into Engineering | 12 | 390 | Requirements for DC200 |
* Due to the competitive nature of FET quota places, it was not possible to offer to all applicants on the same points range, so random selection was applied.
Faculty of Science and Health
| CAO Code | Title | Approximate Number of QQI Places 2026 |
QQI Points Cut-Off 2025 | QQI FET Entry Requirements 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC127 | Common Entry into Actuarial and Financial Mathematics | 3 | 390 | Requirements for DC127 |
| DC160 | BSc in Chemistry with Artificial Intelligence | 2 | 390 | Requirements for DC160 |
| DC161 | BSc in Analytical Science | 3 | 390 | Requirements for DC161 |
| DC162 | BSc in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 3 | 390 | Requirements for DC162 |
| DC163 | Chemical Sciences General Entry | 7 | 390 | Requirements for DC163 |
| DC166 | BSc in Environmental Science and Technology | 1 | 390 | Requirements for DC166 |
| DC168 | BSc in Genetics and Cell Biology | 4 | *390 | Requirements for DC168 |
| DC175 | Physics General Entry | 7 | 390 | Requirements for DC175 |
| DC180 | Biological Sciences General Entry | 9 | 390 | Requirements for DC180 |
| DC181 | BSc in Biotechnology | 4 | *390 | Requirements for DC181 |
| DC202 | BSc Sport Science and Health | 6 | 390 | Requirements for DC202 |
| DC204 | BSc in Athletic Therapy and Training | 3 | *390 | Requirements for DC204 |
| DC205 | BSc and MSc in Physical Education with Biology | 4 | 390 | Requirements for DC205 |
| DC206 | BSc in Physical Education with Mathematics | 3 | 390 | Requirements for DC206 |
| DC207 | Psychology and Mathematics | 1 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC207 |
| DC208 | Psychology | 4 | 390 | Requirements for DC208 |
| DC209 | BSc in Health and Society | 5 | *390 | Requirements for DC209 |
| DC210 | Psychology and Disruptive Technologies | 2 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC210 |
| DC215 | BSc in Nursing (General) | 15 | *390 | Requirements for DC215 |
| DC216 | BSc in Nursing (Mental Health) | 9 | 390 | Requirements for DC216 |
| DC217 | BSc in Nursing (Intellectual Disability) | 5 | 374 | Requirements for DC217 |
| DC218 | BSc in Nursing (Children's and General, Integrated) | 4 | *390 | Requirements for DC218 |
* Due to the competitive nature of FET quota places, it was not possible to offer to all applicants on the same points range, so random selection was applied.
Institute of Education
| CAO Code | Title | Approximate Number of QQI Places 2026 |
QQI Points Cut-Off 2025 | QQI FET Entry Requirements 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC001 | Education in Early Childhood | 7 | 374 | Requirements for DC001 |
| DC010 | Bachelor of Religious Education and English | 5 | *374 | Requirements for DC010 |
| DC011 | Bachelor of Religious Education and History | 5 | 374 | Requirements for DC011 |
| DC012 | Bachelor of Religious Education and Music - Restricted Entry | 2 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC012 |
| DC015 | Bachelor of Education in Technology, Engineering and Graphics | 3 | 358 | Requirements for DC015 |
| DC016 | Bachelor of Education in Home Economics and Technology - (Post Primary) | 3 | 390 | Requirements for DC016 |
| DC203 | BSc in Science and Mathematics Education | 3 | No Eligible Applicants | Requirements for DC203 |
| DC235 | BSc in Education and Training | 4 | 341 | Requirements for DC235 |
* Due to the competitive nature of FET quota places, it was not possible to offer to all applicants on the same points range, so random selection was applied.
QQI FET Points Explained
Your CAO points are calculated from your QQI FET modules up to a total of 120 credits (typically 8 modules at 15 credits each). If you have more than 120 credits, your best-performing modules are counted first, starting with Distinctions, then Merits, and lastly Passes.
Each module is scored by multiplying its credit value by a grade weighting:
- Distinction = 3
- Merit = 2
- Pass = 1
All of your module scores are added up (to a maximum of 120 credits), then multiplied by 13 and divided by 12. Your final score is rounded to the nearest whole digit.
For a standard 15-credit module, this means your grades translate to:
- Distinction: 48.75 points
- Merit: 32.50 points
- Pass: 16.25 points
The maximum possible score with all distinctions is 390 points. Full details on the QQI FET scoring scheme are available on the CAO website.
*QQI FET Points Estimator
Use your best module results to estimate your QQI FET CAO points.
(*This estimator is for guidance purposes only and does not guarantee you a place on a course in DCU. Please contact your FET college or provider if you need help calculating your module credits).
Student Stories
Explore our Further Education student journeys from the students themselves. Click on the circles to dive into four short stories from students who progressed from a PLC to DCU. Discover first-hand insights into what navigating the transition to university life at DCU is really like, from adapting to campus culture to finding your academic rhythm.
Each story offers a unique perspective on the DCU experience, highlighting the diverse pathways our students take and the dedicated supports available along the way. Read about their personal achievements, the skills they brought forward from their further education courses, and how their journeys could inspire you to start your pathway to DCU!
Biopharma to Business: How a Chance Walk-In Changed Everything
I didn't plan any of this. After the Leaving Cert, I started Biopharmaceutical Science at another institution, but realized after a year it wasn't right for me. So I walked away. On the first day of what would have been my second year, I drove to Drogheda Institute of Further Education (DIFE) to see what courses were available. Coming from a family business background, the Pre-University Business & Accounting course made sense immediately. The guidance counsellor at DIFE was extremely helpful and got me a place even though I walked in late. I went on to win Business Student of the Year, which gave me the confidence boost I needed heading into exams - I got my distinctions and secured my place. First year wasn't as daunting as people imagine; even though I was older and didn't know anyone, it didn't matter.
The PLC content aligned perfectly with first year, giving me a massive head start and a great foundation for the rest of my modules. The main reason I wanted DCU specifically was the built-in INTRA paid work placement. I spent my INTRA year as an Investment Analyst with Enterprise Ireland, getting exposure to deals you just can't get from a lecture. Off the back of that experience and my academic profile, I've already landed a job with a Fintech startup based in London and Dublin - and an athletics scholarship made choosing DCU an even easier call.
My Advice
If you're coming through a PLC, apply. Get your distinctions, check the entry requirements early, and don't underestimate the placement year. Most importantly, join a club or society. The academics are important, but the campus community is what makes the experience.
Going with My Gut: How a Creative PLC Unlocked My Path to DCU
I knew I wanted to take the QQI route halfway through sixth year. I wanted to go to college, but secondary school subjects didn't motivate me. Growing up, I'd always loved creating movies but never thought I could do it professionally - until I saw my brother do a Level 5 in Sound Design and watched his whole attitude to academic life change. That got me looking into creative courses. While I put DCU Multimedia first on my CAO, I deferred to do a Level 5 in Creative Digital Media at Cork College of FET.
At first, I was reluctant to start the course, but it turned out to be the best decision I ever made. Taking the year to complete the PLC course let me grow creatively and individually. The smaller class sizes, extra support, and time to progress through modules really benefited me. It was a completely new world for me, and by the time I moved to DCU, I felt genuinely ready. Reapplying to DCU couldn't have been easier - I linked both CAO accounts, so DCU received my Leaving Cert and PLC results automatically, and my accepted DARE application transferred seamlessly too, so I felt supported immediately. While parts of Year 1 felt familiar, I really enjoyed diving into the deeper academic side of digital media, combining both environments has genuinely elevated my knowledge. My favourite part about DCU is the strong sense of belonging; joining the Dance Society helped me find my own community while living away from home.
My Advice
My advice to anyone currently in a PLC course is to work hard for what you want. I'm forever thankful that I went with my gut and chose the path that inspired and motivated me.
From QQI to DCU: Finding My Path in Education
After moving to Ireland to pursue higher education, I was torn between two career paths: teaching and nursing. I chose the QQI FET route at Whitehall CFE. What I thought would be a stopgap turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made. During my time at Whitehall, I explored different subjects while developing valuable skills, and realized how much I enjoyed learning about education and working in learning environments. That interest grew into a clear goal to pursue the BSc in Education and Training at DCU and knowing there was a direct QQI pathway made it feel entirely achievable.
My FE experience prepared me incredibly well. Academic writing, referencing, research, and continuous assessment all became familiar long before I arrived at DCU. We even completed two DCU modules during the QQI course, giving us a realistic insight into Level 8 expectations, so by first year I felt confident managing my university workload. The transition felt natural, having spent time on campus through those two modules, I was already familiar with the lecture rooms, library, and student facilities, so instead of feeling overwhelmed, I felt comfortable and ready to begin. A major highlight was my teaching placement: returning to Whitehall CFE as a student teacher, working alongside my former tutor as a colleague, was a full-circle moment that helped me grow into a more confident version of myself.
My Advice
To FE students thinking of applying to DCU: trust yourself, stay consistent, and take feedback on board. The academic supports are there to help you believe in your own ability and shape your future.
Nursing to Numbers: My Path to Accounting and Finance
My transition to DCU has been an incredibly rewarding journey of self-discovery and growth. Coming from a PLC background at Cavan Institute, I wasn't sure what I wanted long-term, so I explored both Nursing Studies and Creative Digital Media. While nursing was fulfilling, I realized it wasn't my forever path. Switching to digital media let me discover a passion for digital marketing and, ultimately, the broader business world - which is why I chose Accounting and Finance at DCU: I wanted a deep, foundational understanding of how global organizations and business operations truly run.
The PLC route was an essential stepping stone that thoroughly prepared me for a university degree. Beyond the coursework, it taught me practical academic skills: how to reference properly, structure complex essays, and manage my workload independently while balancing a part-time job. Getting all distinctions, including in mathematics, gave me the confidence I needed to secure my first-choice course at DCU through the CAO Round Zero offer stage. Beyond academics, my highlight at DCU has undoubtedly been the vibrant, welcoming community - engaging heavily with clubs and societies has helped me sharpen my interpersonal skills, network with industry professionals, and build lifelong connections. Working as a student ambassador over the past year has also been incredibly meaningful, letting me guide incoming students and share the amazing experience I've had at DCU so far.
My Advice
To PLC students: embrace the process. Take that maths module to unlock more course options, and treat your PLC year as an introduction to university life. It's okay to be unsure of your destination while you find your passion.
Have questions about DCU student life? Chat with Emmanuella our QQI FET ambassador!
QQI FET Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about scoring, CAO applications, module requirements, and entry criteria in our QQI FET FAQ Hub.
View All QQI FET FAQs
Graduate Experience
Hear about Dearbhail's story, from entering DCU through a Further Education pathway to becoming the CEO of the National Adult Learning Organisation below.
Chat to our Student Ambassadors
If you have any questions about studying at DCU, you can chat to our Student Ambassadors.
Campus Tour
If you would like a guided tour of DCU, please email studentrecruitment@dcu.ie and place ‘Campus Tour’ in the subject line.
QQI FET Presentation
If you are a QQI FET provider and would like a DCU presentation delivered to your students please complete our Booking Form.
Email Us
If you have a question about QQI FET, please contact:
Paul Hegarty
Student Recruitment Officer - FE Specialist
Email: paul.hegarty@dcu.ie
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