ATU Donegal Veterinary Medicine Entry Requirements & CAO Points (2026)

Key Takeaways

• A Historic Launch: Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is launching a brand-new Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) for the September 2026 intake under the CAO code AU375.
• A New 865-Point System: Entry is not based solely on Leaving Certificate results. Your final CAO score is a combination of moderated Leaving Cert points (maximum 565) and the Casper Situational Judgement Test (maximum 300), creating a total possible score of 865 points.
• Strict Science Requirements:Applicants must achieve a H4 in Chemistry (or Physics/Chemistry) AND a H4 in either Biology, Agricultural Science, or Physics.
• Mandatory Casper Test:All applicants must sit the Casper test—an online situational judgement exam assessing empathy and ethics—on specific dates in early 2026.
• Mandatory Work Experience:You must complete a minimum of 60 hours (two weeks) of animal-related work experience, covering both large and small animals, and submit the official form by July 31, 2026.

For decades, securing a place in Veterinary Medicine in Ireland meant facing an almost impossible CAO points bottleneck. With only a single university in the Republic of Ireland offering the degree, thousands of passionate, highly capable students were forced to either abandon their dreams or travel abroad to Eastern Europe or the UK to study.

That monopoly is officially over. In a historic expansion of agricultural and healthcare education, the Irish government approved the creation of new veterinary schools. Leading this charge is Atlantic Technological University (ATU), which is launching its highly anticipated Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) for the September 2026 intake.

However, gaining admission to this groundbreaking program requires far more than just straight H1s. ATU has designed a modernized, holistic, 3-stage admissions process designed to select students who possess both academic brilliance and the deep empathy required for animal care.

If you are a 5th or 6th Year student targeting Course Code AU375, you cannot wait until the CAO deadline to prepare. In this comprehensive 2026 guide, we will break down the exact Leaving Certificate subject requirements, explain how the new 865-point CAO moderation scale works, and outline the strict deadlines for the Casper test and mandatory work experience.

1. What is AU375? Course Structure & Overview

The ATU Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) is a rigorous, 5-year Level 9 degree. Upon graduation, students will be fully equipped to register with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) and practice across the globe.

• Campus Locations:The degree is primarily based at the ATU Donegal (Letterkenny) campus. This provides students with access to cutting-edge laboratories and brand-new clinical facilities. During Year 2, students will spend one full semester at the ATU Mountbellew campus in Galway to gain intensive, hands-on experience with large agricultural animals.
• Class Size:To ensure intensive clinical supervision and maintain stringent accreditation standards, the initial intake for September 2026 is strictly capped at 40 places.

2. Stage 1: Minimum Leaving Certificate Requirements

Before the CAO computer even looks at your total points, it will scan your application to ensure you meet the baseline matriculation requirements. Veterinary medicine is heavily rooted in complex biological and chemical sciences, and the entry criteria reflect this intensity.

To be eligible for AU375, you must present a minimum of six subjects at Grade O6/H7, which must include Mathematics and English or Irish.

Crucially, you must achieve specific high grades in your laboratory sciences:

1. Chemistry:You must achieve a minimum of a H4 in Chemistry (or a H4 in Physics/Chemistry).
2. A Second Science:You must achieve a minimum of a H4 in Biology, Agricultural Science, or Physics.

Note on Subject Combinations: You cannot present Physics/Chemistry alongside standalone Chemistry or Physics to satisfy these requirements.

3. Stage 2: The New 865-Point Moderation System

If you are familiar with the standard CAO system, you know that the maximum score a student can achieve is 625 points. However, because veterinary medicine attracts the highest-achieving students in the country, using the standard 625-point scale often results in random selection lotteries.

To prevent this, ATU uses a points moderation system (identical to the system used for human medicine degrees in Ireland) combined with an admissions test.

The Maximum Possible CAO Score for AU375 is 865 points.

Here is exactly how that score is calculated:

Moderating the Leaving Certificate (Max 565 Points)

If you score above 550 points in your Leaving Certificate, the value of your grades is “flattened”.

• Up to 550 points, every point you earn counts normally.
• For every 5 points you score above 550, you are only awarded 1 additional point.
• Therefore, if you achieve a perfect Leaving Certificate score of 625 points, your moderated score caps out at exactly 565 points.

Adding the Casper Test (Max 300 Points)

The remaining 300 points are generated entirely by your performance in the Casper Test.

• Calculation:565 (Max LC) + 300 (Max Casper) = 865 Total Points.

This system means a student with 560 Leaving Cert points who scores exceptionally well on the Casper test can easily beat a student who achieved 625 Leaving Cert points but failed to demonstrate empathy and ethical reasoning in their admissions exam.

4. Stage 3: The Casper Test (Situational Judgement)

The Casper test is the great equalizer for veterinary admissions. Developed by Acuity Insights, Casper is an online, open-response situational judgement test (SJT).

Veterinary professionals face highly emotional, morally complex situations daily—from advising farmers on herd culling to dealing with distressed pet owners. The Casper test evaluates how you handle these exact pressures.

What does the test involve?

You will be presented with video and text-based scenarios depicting ethical dilemmas. You must type or record video responses explaining how you would react. The test does not assess your scientific knowledge; it assesses your personal values, communication skills, social awareness, empathy, and decision-making capabilities.

Strict 2026 Test Dates:

You cannot sit the Casper test whenever you want. You must register and complete the online exam on one of the specific dates designated by ATU. For the 2026 intake, the confirmed dates are:

• 9th of January 2026 at 6:00 PM GMT
• 15th of January 2026 at 6:00 PM GMT
• 26th of February 2026 at 6:00 PM GMT

Strategic Advice: Do not leave this until the last minute. Register for the January slots so that technical difficulties or sudden illness do not ruin your chances of completing the mandatory exam.

5. Stage 4: Mandatory Clinical Work Experience

You cannot learn to be a vet entirely from a textbook, and ATU wants to ensure that every incoming student understands the physical, dirty, and demanding reality of the profession.

Every applicant to AU375 must complete a minimum of 60 hours (roughly two weeks) of animal-related work experience.

The Strict Work Experience Rules:

• Diversity of Animals:Your hours must include experience with both large animals (e.g., cattle, sheep, horses on a farm or large-animal practice) and small animals (e.g., dogs, cats in a domestic clinic or shelter).
• Timeframe:The experience must be completed within the three years immediately prior to applying.
• Submission Deadline: You must have your supervising veterinarians or farmers sign an official ATU Work Experience Form. This documentation must be submitted directly to the university no later than July 31, 2026.

If you achieve 865 points but fail to submit your work experience form by the summer deadline, your CAO application will be automatically rejected.

6. A-Level Applicants (Northern Ireland & UK)

ATU Donegal’s proximity to the border makes it a highly attractive option for students from Northern Ireland. The university provides a clear alternative entry route for students presenting GCE A-Levels and GCSEs.

A-Level Requirements:

• Applicants must present a minimum of six subjects, including at least two A-Levels at Grade B.
• One of these A-Levels must be Chemistry.
• You must also present four passes (Grade C or above at GCSE, or Grade E or above at A-Level).
• These passes must include Mathematics, English, a laboratory science, and one other subject.

UK applicants will have their A-Level grades mathematically converted into Irish Leaving Certificate equivalent points. This converted score will then be subjected to the exact same >550 moderation curve, and the applicant must still sit the Casper test and submit the 60 hours of work experience to generate their final score out of 865.

Summary

The launch of the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (AU375) at ATU Donegal represents a monumental shift for Irish education, finally providing a second, highly modernized pathway into the veterinary profession. However, the admissions process requires meticulous planning. You must secure a H4 in Chemistry alongside a second science, arrange 60 hours of diverse animal work experience well in advance, and prepare rigorously for the Casper Situational Judgement Test.By understanding how the 865-point moderation system works and hitting every administrative deadline in early 2026, you can confidently compete for one of the 40 coveted places in this historic inaugural class.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What were the CAO points for AU375 last year?

Because the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at ATU is a brand-new course launching for the first time in September 2026, there is no historical CAO points data. The cutoff points will be determined purely by the performance of the applicant pool in August 2026.

Can I use Agricultural Science as my second science subject?

Yes. To meet the specific subject requirements for AU375, you must have a H4 in Chemistry, and you can satisfy the second science requirement by presenting a H4 in Agricultural Science, Biology, or Physics.

Does the work experience have to be in a veterinary clinic?

While shadowing a veterinarian in a clinical setting is highly recommended, ATU allows the 60 hours to be “animal-related”.This means practical experience on a working dairy/sheep farm, at an animal rescue shelter, or an equine yard can count toward your hours, provided you cover both large and small animal categories.

How do I register for the Casper test?

You must register for the Casper test directly through the Acuity Insights website. When creating your profile, you will select ATU (Atlantic Technological University) as the institution and choose one of the designated Irish testing dates in January or February 2026.

Is the AU375 degree recognized internationally?

The BVMS program has been externally validated, and pre-accreditation visits with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) are planned for Year 1 and Year 3. Full formal accreditation is finalized after the first cohort completes the course, which is the standard legal process for all new medical and veterinary schools globally. Once fully accredited by the VCI, the degree will hold international recognition.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational planning and strategic guidance purposes only. Course codes, Casper test dates, CAO points moderation formulas, and work experience deadlines are subject to adjustment prior to the official 2026 launch. Always consult the official Atlantic Technological University (ATU) prospectus and the CAO Handbook for the most current, legally binding admissions directives.