Course Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for Teagasc level 5 courses have been updated and are effective for the academic year commencing autumn 2026.

To gain entry to a Teagasc level 5 course, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

Leaving Certificate

Applicants must be 17 years of age by 01 January following the year of entry to the Teagasc programme. They must have achieved either:

• The Leaving Certificate Established with minimum grades of O6/H7 in at least four subject or
• The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) with minimum grades of O6/H7 in at least two subjects and achieved a pass in at least two link modules or
• The Leaving Certificate Applied with a minimum pass grade achieved.

QQI Level 4 (or higher) Major award

• Applicants must be 17 years of age by 01 January following the year of entry to the Teagasc programme and hold a QQI Level 4 or higher major award.

Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA)

• Applicants must be 18 years old on 01 September on the year of entry to the programme and met the “Achieved” standard in four subjects.

Adult Learners

Applicants must be over 23 years of age on the 01 September on the year of entry to the programme.

Applicants who do not meet one of the above criteria will be required to attend for interview as part of the application process.

Please note:

Additional entry requirements specific to individual courses and/or delivery locations may be required in addition to those listed above for some courses. Where applicable, these are listed in the relevant course detail section on the Teagasc website/prospectus.

*The above entry requirements also apply to applicants for courses leading to component awards.

Further Education Courses – Language Requirement

Teagasc further education courses are delivered through the medium of English. Applicants are required to meet the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level B2 standard. The Certificate of the English language standard must have been issued within 2 years of the expected start of your course.

If you have any queries or comments about the entry requirements, please contact your nearest Agriculture/Horticulture college or Teagasc Advisory Office/Regional Education Centre.