How to Apply

QQI - FET Applicants

The minimum entry requirements for graduates of QQI - FET (formerly FETAC) (Level 5 or 6) awards are as follows:

1.   For entry to a Higher Certificate course (NFQ Level 6) and to an Ab Initio Ordinary Degree course (NFQ Level 7) a full QQI-FET (Level 5 or 6) award is required.

2.   For entry to an Ab Initio Honours Degree course (NFQ Level 8) a full QQI-FET (Level 5 or 6) award including distinction grades in at least 3 components is required.

For entry to the majority of courses a full award may be accumulated over more than one academic year. In such cases it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their QQI-FET registered centre applies to QQI-FET for a major award prior to application to the CAO. However, for entry to certain courses an award acheived in a single sitting may be required.

Also, for some courses, specific component awards in mathematics must be included in the QQI-FET award presented for entry. See Table of QQI-FET (formerly FETAC) Awards below.

New award system for eligible QQI-FET applicants

QQI-FET introduced a new awards system in 2013 known as the Common Awards System, or CAS. CAS awards will replace existing linked QQI-FET awards. All QQI-FET awards will be part of CAS from 2014.

New scoring system for eligible QQI-FET( formerly FETAC) applicants for existing and new awards

A new scoring system for QQI-FET awards was applied for entry through the CAO to higher education from 2013. This scoring system applies to all relevant QQI-FET level 5 and 6 awards. It applies to all results achieved from 2013.

• A full QQI-FET Level 5 or 6 major award will have a minimum credit value of 120.

 

• Component awards, or achievement of less than 120 credits, do not constitute a full award.

Scoring Process

Each QQI-FET Level 5 and Level 6 component is scored as follows:

Each component is given a score based on the credit value of the component and the weighting of the grade achieved:

Most component awards have a credit value of 15 (the possible component credit values are 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30).

The following weightings will apply to the grades achieved:

Pass=1,

Merit=2,

Distinction=3.

To calculate a component score, the credit value of the component is multiplied by the weighting for the grade achieved.

All of the component scores are added up to a cumulative credit value of 120. When adding up these scores begin with distinctions, then merits, then passes.

Finally, the total is multiplied by 13 and divided by 12 to give the overall score to a maximum of 390 points. (This means that effectively, the weighting of a component will be approximately Pass=1.083; Merit = 2.167; Distinction = 3.250)

See table below :

In the old scheme the 305 would have been multiplied by 10 and divided by 9 to give 339

More worked examples are available on the CAO website.

Some applicants will combine components achieved prior to the introduction of CAS with others which are part of CAS. Level 5 and 6 (NCVA) Certificates, i.e. major awards, achieved before the introduction of CAS are also scored according to the system outlined above.

All QQI Level 5 and Level 6 awards will be scored using the best 120 credits to deliver a maximum of 390 points. This adjustment is required to accommodate the new Leaving Certificate scoring system and to maintain the previously established relativity between the QQI scoring system and the pre-2017 Leaving Certificate scoring system

HOW QQI-FET (formerly FETAC) GRADUATES APPLY FOR ENTRY TO AN ITB COURSE

Applicants who have spent at least one year on a recognised PLC course validated by QQI-FET (formerly FETAC) can be considered for entry. Applications should be made through the CAO. Applicants who have completed a full QQI-FET (formerly FETAC) award since 2002 or are in the process of completing a full QQI-FET award should follow the QQI-FET instructions on page two of the CAO application form and enter their PPS number in the relevant box. As indicated previously, applicants who have achieved their full award over more than one academic year must ensure that their QQI-FET registered centre applies to QQI-FET for a major award prior to application to the CAO.

Applicants who completed a full QQI_FET award before 2002 should tick the NCVA level 2/3 box on page three of the CAO application form and complete further details on page four since these courses cannot be automatically rated by the CAO.

In addition, applicants must forward a copy of these results to our Academic Administration Office before the end of June 2017.

QQI-FET results cannot be added to Leaving Certificate points. Where applicants have taken both exams, the higher points will be considered for rating purposes.

QQI_FET applicants must compete for course places with other QQI_FET applicants and Leaving Certificate applicants alike.

QQI-FET quotas are now in place for our Applied Social Studies in Social Care courses.

QQI-FET (formerly FETAC) Common Awards for entry to ITB :