EU Applicants make an application for advanced entry to a TU Dublin course through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Individual course pages will outline if Advanced Entry is an option, courses open for Advanced Entry are listed on the CAO website. Please note that often courses fill up and the option for advance entry will depend on availability of places.

International Applicants must apply directly to TU Dublin. Apply via the Non-EU International Button on the relevant course webpage, ensuring to upload your most up to date and all other relevant supporting documentation including detailed exam results, transcripts and details of relevant work experience, cv etc.

• The closing date for advanced entry applications is 12^th July (Please note, some popular courses may close earlier due to high demand).  
• Follow the instructions outlined on the CAO website with regard to submitting supporting documentation. 
• Failure to supply supporting documentation may result in your application being rejected.

• Applications are assessed on the basis of availability of places in the relevant course year and on merit.
• Advanced Entry onto a course is not guaranteed. 
• Applications are assessed on their prior educational (Recognised Prior Learning or RPL) and/or work experience.

What is RPL?

RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) is a process which acknowledges, and gives value to, learning achieved prior to registering for a TU Dublin course.

Prior learning may be a result of successful participation in a formal learning programme for which you were awarded certification. If you use your prior certificated learning towards a TU Dublin award, the process is called: Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL).

Prior learning may also be an outcome of non-formal or informal learning achieved through work, voluntary activities or private study, for which you may not have a certificate. The process of using this type of learning for higher education purposes is called: Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

It is not uncommon for both APCL and APEL to be considered together in an RPL process.

The RPL Process

Applicants must provide evidence of appropriate past learning, whether that is certificated or experiential learning. In some cases it may be sufficient for the applicant to provide copies of appropriate certificates. In other cases there may be a self-assessment exercise, preparation of a file or ‘portfolio’ of appropriate evidence of learning, an interview, and perhaps a demonstration or assessment task.

Offers for Advanced Entry places are predominantly made during the months of July and August however, some courses may offer their places sooner than that. Offers are issued by the CAO via email. 

If you have a query on Advanced Entry email us at admissions@tudublin.ie.