Tertiary education programme

The tertiary education programme is a new way to get a degree at third-level in Ireland.

How the programme works:

1. You start your course in a further education college, usually an Education and Training Board (ETB). You attend the ETB for 1 to 2 years depending on your course. There are no fees when you attend an ETB.
2. You then progress to third-level to complete your degree in a higher education college or university. There are course fees when you move to third-level, but you may qualify for free fees and a student grant.

All courses lead to a degree at Level 7 or 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

No. You do not apply through the CAO and you do not need the same Leaving Certificate points to do a tertiary degree.

However, there are entry requirements to get on a course with the tertiary education programme. Each course has its own entry requirements, which can include getting minimum grades in certain subjects in the Leaving Certificate.

You can find out about the course and the entry requirements on the course page or contact the course coordinator. The coordinator can give you more information about what you need to include with your application.

Over 40 different courses start in 2025. These courses include degrees in:

• Business
• ICT
• Nursing
• Engineering
• Construction
• Software development
• Media production

All tertiary degree courses have in-person learning, so no courses are taught fully online.

You can find out more about what courses are available as part of the tertiary education programme and where they take place.

You start your course in a further education college, usually an Education and Training Board (ETB). There are no tuition fees or student contribution fees for the duration of the course delivered by the ETB.

When you progress to a third-level college, tuition fees and the student contribution fee will apply. You should check if you qualify for free fees or a student grant.

Other financial supports for people returning to education include:

• The Student Assistance Fund
• Back to Education Allowance
• The part-time fee scheme for undergraduate students

Read more about financial supports for students.

What if I don’t finish my course?

Tertiary degrees include embedded awards (or step-back awards), which recognise learning achieved during time in the tertiary education programme.

These awards can be provided to students who don’t finish the programme.

Embedded awards vary for each course. Check courses on the National Tertiary Office (NTO) website to see what awards they offer.

You apply for tertiary courses through the National Tertiary Office (NTO) website. You do not apply using the CAO.

Each course has its own entry requirements, so you should check the NTO page of the course you are interested in to find out what you need to apply.

Applications for courses in 2025-2026 are open from 1 February 2025 until late September 2025.

Application closing dates vary across course providers, so you should check the dates with the provider of the course you are interested in.

Contact a local FET Adult Educational Guidance Service for free guidance on all the education options available to you, including the tertiary education programme.

You can find more information about the tertiary education on the NTO website, including:

• Information for students about tertiary degrees
• Frequently asked questions about tertiary education

You can also follow the National Tertiary Office on social media for updates.