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Friday, 6 December 2024 01:46
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How do I Apply for an exemption from minimum entry requirements?

If you are seeking an exemption from minimum entry requirements such as Irish (ROI applicants only) or a third language you must do the following:

NUI Irish and/or Third Language Exemption:

In the case of NUI Institutions, you must make an application for exemptions at https://exemptions.nui.ie/.

For entry to Higher Education in 2025, applicants must apply to the NUI for an exemption no later than 7th July 2025. Exemption applications received after 7th July 2025 will be late. Late exemption applications will still be processed by NUI, and the results communicated to CAO, but they will not be prioritised and there is no guarantee that those received by NUI after 7th July will be processed in time (by both NUI and CAO) for consideration in Round One or subsequent CAO offer rounds.

Applicants who wish to have their NUI Exemption recorded on their CAO application in time for the Statement of Application Record process in May, must submit their NUI online Exemption Application to NUI no later than 31st March.

Typically, it takes 2-3 weeks (approximately) for Exemption Application Forms to be processed by NUI. Applicants should review their CAO account to ensure it accurately reflects the exemptions required.

NUI will begin notifying CAO of exemptions granted on a weekly basis from early 2025.

In the case of NUI Institutions (see here for member institutions of the NUI), you must make an application for exemptions at https://exemptions.nui.ie/.

Applicants must make arrangements for exemptions each year they apply.

Please note: CAO plays no role in processing NUI exemption applications.

University of Limerick second language exemption:

  • If you are applying to UL but do not meet the second language requirement, you can apply for an exemption.

  • If you do not take Irish but take another language apart from English (e.g. French, German) you do not need to apply for a language exemption for UL.

  • Further information on the exemption application process can be found here.

Other Higher Education Institutions:

If applying to Trinity College Dublin (TCD) or Mary Immaculate College, you must contact the relevant Admissions Office directly. See cao.ie/hei for contact information.