National Tertiary Office Courses 2026: Degrees Without CAO Points

Key Takeaways

• No CAO Points Required: National Tertiary Office (NTO) degrees bypass the traditional points race. Admission is based on meeting baseline entry requirements, not on outscoring other applicants.
• Seamless Progression: Students complete the first year or two of their degree at a local Education and Training Board (ETB) college before seamlessly transferring to a partner Technological University or Higher Education Institution (HEI) to finish their Level 7 or Level 8 degree.
• Massive Financial Savings: There are zero tuition or student contribution fees for the duration of the course delivered at the ETB. You only pay standard university fees once you transfer to the partner university campus.
• Dual Student Status: From day one, NTO students are fully registered with both the ETB and the partner university, granting them immediate access to university libraries, clubs, and support services.
• Separate Application Process: You do not apply for tertiary degrees on your CAO form. Applications are made directly through the National Tertiary Office website (nto.ie).

For decades, the journey to an Irish university degree felt like a rigid, high-pressure, one-way street: sit the Leaving Certificate, tally up your points in August, and hope you outscored the national competition for a spot in a university lecture hall. If you missed out on your dream course by a margin of just five or ten points, your academic options often felt severely derailed.

However, while the points race remains the primary path for many school leavers, reading through our ultimate CAO entry guide reveals that higher education in Ireland is evolving at an unprecedented pace. The government is actively building alternative routes to bypass the stress of the points system entirely. The most exciting and revolutionary development in recent years is the launch of National Tertiary Office courses.

Spearheaded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), these “Tertiary Degrees” have completely rewritten the college rulebook. Instead of competing on the CAO, students can now enroll in a guaranteed degree program that begins at a local Further Education college and automatically transitions into a Technological University.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explain exactly how NTO courses work, outline the incredible financial benefits, list popular degree pathways, and show you how to apply outside of the CAO system.

What is the National Tertiary Office (NTO)?

Established as a joint initiative between the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and SOLAS (the state agency overseeing Further Education and Training), the National Tertiary Office was created to build a unified tertiary education system in Ireland.

Before the NTO was established, progressing from a Post Leaving Cert (PLC) course to a university degree was often uncertain. A student would complete a QQI Level 5 course at a Further Education (FE) college, and then they would have to apply through the CAO again, hoping their QQI grades were high enough to secure one of a limited number of reserved university spots.

The NTO eliminates this uncertainty. By officially partnering local Education and Training Boards (ETBs) with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Technological Universities (TUs), they have co-designed Joint Tertiary Degrees.

How Do NTO Tertiary Degrees Work?

An NTO course is a single, unified degree program split across two campuses.All tertiary courses lead to a recognized Level 7 (Ordinary) or Level 8 (Honors) Bachelor’s Degree on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

Here is how the transition works:

1. Start Local:You begin Year 1 (and sometimes Year 2) of your degree at your local ETB / College of Further Education.
2. Transition Seamlessly: Once you pass your exams and coursework at the ETB, your progression to the partner university is automatically guaranteed. You do not have to reapply through the CAO or compete for your spot.
3. Graduate from the University:You complete the final years of your degree on the main university campus and graduate with a standard university parchment, exactly the same as students who entered via the traditional CAO route.

The Major Benefits of the Tertiary Route

Why are thousands of Irish students—from 18-year-old school leavers to mature career changers—opting for NTO courses over traditional CAO applications? The benefits are immense.

1. No CAO Points Required

Tertiary degrees are driven by the career you want, not the points you get. Entry is not based on the competitive CAO points scale.Instead, you must simply meet the specific baseline entry criteria for the course, which may include passing specific Leaving Certificate subjects, holding a QQI Level 4/5 award, or completing a successful interview.If you meet the criteria and there is physical space on the course, you are accepted.

2. Massive Financial Savings

Attending university in Ireland is expensive, with the standard student contribution charge costing up to €3,000 per year. For NTO courses, there are zero tuition fees or student contribution fees for the duration of the course delivered at the ETB.

If your tertiary degree requires you to spend Year 1 at the ETB, your first year of higher education is essentially tuition-free. You will only become liable for standard university contribution fees when you physically transition to the HEI campus in Year 2 or 3. Furthermore, eligible students can still apply for SUSI grants to cover maintenance costs from day one.

3. Dual Student Status from Day One

You do not have to wait until you transfer to the university to feel like a university student. From the moment you enroll in an NTO course, you are officially registered at both the ETB and the partner university.This means you receive a university student card, granting you full access to the university’s library, sports facilities, healthcare, and campus societies while you are still studying at your local ETB.

4. Smoother Academic Transition

Moving straight from a secondary school classroom to a university lecture hall containing 300 students can be highly intimidating. Because you begin your NTO degree in a local FE college, class sizes are significantly smaller (usually 20 to 30 students). You receive more one-on-one time with tutors, helping you develop vital academic writing and research skills before you tackle the university campus.

Popular National Tertiary Office Degree Pathways

Since its initial pilot launch, the NTO has rapidly expanded its course offerings across Ireland. The courses are geographically spread out, ensuring students in rural areas have local access to high-demand degrees.

Below are examples of some of the most popular tertiary degree fields available:

• Business and Digital Marketing:Pathways like the BA (Hons) in Digital Business allow students to start at ETBs (e.g., Bray Institute of Further Education or Blackrock Further Education Institute) and seamlessly transition to complete their honors degree at IADT Dún Laoghaire.
• Media and Communications:For students targeting the creative arts, City of Dublin ETB (Ballyfermot and Rathmines colleges) has partnered with TU Dublin to offer highly sought-after Level 8 degrees in Politics, Society, and Media, as well as Immersive Media Production.
• Social Care and Community Development:Munster Technological University (MTU) partners with Cork ETB and Kerry ETB to deliver degrees in Applied Social and Community Development. Atlantic Technological University (ATU) offers pathways into Social Care Practice starting at various regional ETBs.
• Nursing and Healthcare: Several highly competitive nursing degrees—which normally require well over 400 CAO points—are now available as tertiary degrees. Students can begin nursing studies in ETBs in Donegal or Mayo before progressing directly to ATU to complete their clinical training.
• Engineering and ICT: Software development, sustainable engineering, and construction degrees are widely available through partnerships involving institutions like South East Technological University (SETU) and local Midlands/South-East ETBs.

How to Apply for an NTO Course

Because the entire purpose of the tertiary route is to bypass the competitive points race, you do not apply for NTO courses through your CAO portal.

The application process is handled separately, meaning you can keep your CAO application open as a backup while simultaneously applying for an NTO degree.

Step-by-Step Application Process:

1. Browse the NTO Portal:Visit the official National Tertiary Office website at www.nto.ie.
2. Search by Region or Interest:Use the course search tool to filter degrees by your preferred province (e.g., Leinster, Munster) or by industry sector (e.g., Business, Health and Welfare).
3. Check Entry Requirements: Click on the specific course to view the baseline entry requirements. Remember, these will not be CAO points, but rather specific academic benchmarks or interview criteria.
4. Apply via FETCH:When you click “Apply,” you will be redirected to the Further Education and Training Hub (www.fetchcourses.ie), where you will create a profile and submit your digital application.
5. Interview / Briefing:If shortlisted, you may be invited to an informal interview or a course briefing by the local ETB coordinator.
6. Accept Your Offer:If successful, you will receive a provisional offer.Once accepted, your place on the degree program is officially secured.

Application Timeline: NTO applications generally open much earlier in the academic cycle (often in November of the preceding year) and remain open until late September, or until all physical spaces on the course are filled.

Summary

National Tertiary Office courses represent a massive leap forward for educational equality in Ireland. By removing the stress of the CAO points race, wiping out Year 1 tuition fees, and offering guaranteed progression from local Further Education colleges to major Technological Universities, the tertiary route caters perfectly to the modern learner. Whether you are a Leaving Certificate student anxious about your upcoming exams, or a mature student looking for a structured, supportive return to education, NTO courses provide a direct, seamless, and highly respected pathway to securing a Level 7 or Level 8 degree.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are NTO courses recognized in the same way as CAO degrees?

Yes, absolutely. An NTO tertiary degree leads to a standard QQI Level 7 or Level 8 degree on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).Your final degree parchment is issued by the partner university, and it holds the exact same academic weight and industry recognition as a degree earned by a student who entered via the traditional CAO points route.

Do I lose my CAO choices if I apply for an NTO course?

No. The CAO system and the NTO application portal operate completely independently of one another. You can maintain your list of 20 course choices on your CAO application while separately applying for an NTO degree. This gives you multiple safety nets when results day arrives.

Are mature students eligible for tertiary degrees?

Yes. NTO courses are designed to be inclusive for learners of all ages. Mature students (aged 23 or older) do not need to present Leaving Certificate results and are generally assessed through an interview process and their prior life or work experience.

Can I get the SUSI grant while studying a tertiary degree?

Yes. Students enrolled in NTO tertiary degrees are fully eligible to apply for the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant, subject to the standard income and eligibility criteria. Eligible students will receive their maintenance payments while studying at the ETB and continue to receive them upon transferring to the university campus.

What happens if I fail my exams in Year 1 at the ETB?

The progression to the partner university is guaranteed only if you successfully pass your required academic assessments and coursework during your time at the ETB. If you fail modules, you will be subject to the standard academic repeat procedures of the ETB before you are permitted to transition to the university campus.