Holders of FETAC awards may apply for places at 3rd level Higher Education Institutions through the CAO system. Applicants must present a full FETAC award at Level 5 or higher. This full award may be accumulated over more than one academic year. However, it is the responsibility of the applicant to apply to FETAC for a full award. A record of achievement does not meet the minimum entry standards.

Grading of FETAC Awards
An overall CAO point score is calculated based on results in the best 8 modules presented. For modules with a credit value of 1, scores are awarded as follows:

• Pass - 20 points
• Merit - 35 points
• Distinction - 50 points

Note!
FETAC results cannot be added to Leaving Certificate points. If an applicant presents both exams, the higher points will be considered for rating purposes.

Application
Application is made through the CAO by the 1st February of the year of entry by completing the CAO form which is available from the Central Application Office, Tower House, Eglington Street, Galway. Applicants may also submit the form on-line at www.cao.ie

Important Note
It is very important that applicants consult the relevant HEI as colleges and courses have specific minimum standards required in addition to those specified above.

Higher Education Links Scheme

The Higher Education Links Scheme enables students who have achieved the FETAC Level 2 award to apply for a place in a range of higher education institutions. Approximately 2,000 places are available on over 250 courses. Specific FETAC certificates are linked with these courses in various Higher Education Colleges. Applications for a higher education place through the scheme are made using the standard C.A.O. form.

The following courses at 3rd level are linked with Post Leaving Certificate courses at Coláiste Chathail Naofa.

Art, Craft, And Design
Athlone IT - National Diploma in Design. (Communications)
Carlow IT - National Diploma in Design (Industrial)
Cork IT - National Certificate in Design Communication
Dublin IT - Certificate in Design (Display), Certificate in Design Presentation
Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art - Certificate in Design (Make-up for Film)
Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art - Diploma in Art, Design & Technology
Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art - Diploma in Design (Animation)
Galway-Mayo IT - Diploma in Art and Design
Letterkenny IT - Diploma in Design-Graphics, Diploma in Industrial Design
Sligo IT - Diploma in Art
Sligo IT - Diploma in Industrial Design
Waterford IT - Diploma in Art
Waterford IT - Diploma in Design
Dundalk - Diploma in Communications
National College of Art & Design - Core Studies

Business Studies - Administration
Linked to Business Studies courses in Waterford IT, Athlone IT, Tipperary Institute, Tralee IT, Cork IT, Dundalk IT, Dublin IT, Galway-Mayo IT, Institute of Technology Carlow, Sligo IT and Limerick IT. And also linked to Government and Public Policy degree in University College Cork.

Information Processing
Linked to Business Studies, Office Information Systems and Computing courses in Waterford IT, Cork IT, Tipperary IT, Carlow IT, Sligo IT, Limerick IT, Galway-Mayo IT

Childcare
Athlone IT - Certificate in Applied Social Studies in Social Care
Athlone IT - BA in Social Care Practice
St Patrick’s Carlow College - National Cert in Applied Social Studies (Social Care)
Sligo IT - Dip in Social Studies
WIT - Diploma in Applied Social Studies in Social Care
Blanchardstown IT - Nat. Diploma in Applied Social Studies (Social Care)
IT Tralee - Nat. Diploma in Applied Social Studies (Social Care)
UCC - B.A Early Childhood Studies
IT Carlow - Bachelor of Arts Early Childhood Studies
IT Carlow - Bachelor of Arts Early Childhood Studies (Wexford Campus)
Dublin City University - BSc in Education and Training
Dublin IT - Social Care Practice Degree (Ordinary)
Dublin IT - Early Childhood Care and Education Degree (Ordinary)
Dundalk IT - National Diploma in Applied Social Studies in Social Care
Limerick IT - Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care
University of Limerick - BA in Early Childhood Care and Education
University College Cork - BA (Early Childhood Studies)

Community Care
Athlone IT - National Certificate in Applied Social Studies in Social Care
Athlone IT - BA in Social Care Practice
IT Blanchardstown - National Diploma in Applied Social Studies (Social Care)
St Patrick’s Carlow College - National Certificate in Applied Social Studies (Social Care)
Dublin City University - BSc in Education and Training
Dublin IT - Social Care Practice Degree (Ordinary)
Dublin IT - Early Childhood Care and Education Degree (Ordinary)
Dundalk IT - National Diploma in Applied Social Studies in Social Care
Limerick IT Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care
IT Sligo - National Diploma in Social Studies (Social Care)
IT Sligo - National Diploma in Science, Health Science and Physiology
IT Tralee - National Diploma in Applied Social Studies in Social Care IT Tralee - National Certificate in Science (Health and Leisure Studies)
Waterford IT - National Diploma in Applied Social Studies in Social Care