John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of places that are allocated to FETAC level 5 students for nursing each year; and the criteria necessary to be allocated a college place to study nursing. [16567/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Information regarding the number of places that are allocated to Fetac level 5 students for nursing each year has been provided by the Higher Education Authority, and is available as follows.

As regards the question concerning the criteria necessary to be allocated a college place to study nursing, Universities and Institutes of Technology are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997 and the Institutes of Technology Act 2006. The management of their academic affairs, including admissions criteria for studying nursing, are therefore matters for the individual institutions concerned. Higher education institutions vary in their criteria regarding their admissions policies and procedures.

Further Details

Below is the Admission link with information on FETAC places:

`Students with appropriate qualifications and modules, with a minimum of distinctions in five modules, can be admitted on a competitive basis to the courses at UCD listed below......

DN450 General Nursing (BSc) - 6DN451 Children's and General Nursing (BSc) - 2DN452 Midwifery (BSc) - 1DN453 Psychiatric Nursing (BSc) - 1

As the number of places available will be limited, those places will be allocated on a competitive basis based on the student’s score (only the best 8 Modules in a single award for the calculation of points). Where more than one student has the same score, students will be ranked by the CAO on a random basis. Due to the competitive nature of the Nursing courses, scores will only be calculated where the appropriate award is presented in a single sitting together with all the required modules and grades.

For admission purposes, based solely on the FETAC points achieved, applicants are offered the quota of places reserved for FETAC applicants.

Entry Requirements are available along with details of

DN450-DN453: 400 FETAC points were required. It was not possible to accommodateall applicants with 400 so random selection was applied.'

UCC

9 places offered into Nursing (CK710, CK720 and CK730) through the FETAC level 5 route. To be considered eligible an applicant must have completed one of the following three FETAC programmes:

DCHSN/5M4349 Nursing StudiesDHSXX/5M4339 Healthcare SupportDCHSX/5M4468 Community and Health Services/Community Health Services

And Candidates must achieve Distinctions (i.e. 80% or greater) in 5 modules which must include the following modules:

and is required for students on Nursing programmes.

Comment: Every year the demand for these FETAC Nursing places far exceeds supply which means that in reality the successful candidates usually have 9 and 10 distinctions, leaving many eligible students without a place.

NUIG

NUI Galway offers 2 FETAC places for entry across three Nursing Courses.

The entry requirements are as follows:

TCD

Quota: A total of seven (7) places are available – General (2); Mental Health Nursing (2); Psychiatric Nursing (2); Midwifery (1).

TR091 & TR093 General Nursing

TR095 Mental Health Nursing

TR097 Psychiatric Nursing

DCHSN/5M4349 Nursing Studies DCHSX/5M4468 Community Health Services DHSXX/5M4339 Health Care SupportDistinctions (80% or better) in a minimum of five modules in the Qualification which must include distinctions in the following modules:D20001/5N0749 Anatomy & PhysiologyD20012/5N4325 Nursing Theory & PracticeD20032/5N1279 Human Growth & Development OR C20006/5N2746 Biology

In addition students must have taken and passed G20001/5N0690 Communications.

TR913 Midwifery

DCHSN/5M4349 Nursing Studies DCHSX/5M4468 Community Health Services DHSXX/ 5M4339 Health Care Support

Distinctions (80% or better) in a minimum of five modules in the Qualification which must include distinctions in the following modules:D20001/5N0749 Anatomy & PhysiologyD20012/5N4325 Nursing Theory & PracticeD20032/5N1279 Human Growth & Development OR C20006/5N0690 Biology

In addition students must have taken and passed G20001/5N0690 Communications.

All this information is published on the TCD website at

UL

UL allocates the following number of FETAC places to Nursing and Midwifery programmes:

LM150 – B.Sc. Nursing (General): 2 places

LM152 – B.Sc. Nursing (Mental Health) Nursing: 1 place

LM154 - B.Sc. Nursing (Intellectual): 1 place

LM156 – B.Sc. Midwifery: 1 place

Below are the general requirements for candidates presenting FETAC qualifications and the second section lists the specific Nursing and Midwifery requirements. As competition for places is very strong and a large number of applicants score the maximum points the FETAC Nursing and Midwifery places are normally offered on the basis of random selection.

General Requirements

The University of Limerick has entry routes to first year to 20 undergraduate degree programmes for students who have achieved the relevant FETAC Level 5 award. Candidates will be ranked on the basis of their performance in that award.

Application Process

All applications for admission under the FETAC entry pathway must be made through the Central Applications Office (CAO).

FETAC (Pre-Common Awards System) – Minimum Entry Requirements

Certain FETAC Level 5 awards are acceptable in fulfilling the admission requirements for each programme of study. In all circumstances candidates must present the full award having successfully completed 8 modules which must include a distinction in at least 5 modules.

In addition to satisfying the minimum entry requirements, candidate must also satisfy the specific module requirements as outlined below.

FETAC (Common Awards System) – Minimum Entry Requirements

Certain FETAC Level 5 major awards are acceptable in fulfilling the admission requirements for each programme of study. In all circumstances candidates must present the full award with a minimum credit value of 120 which must include a distinction in at least 5 component awards.

In addition to satisfying the minimum entry requirements, candidate must also satisfy the specific component award requirements as outlined below.

Scoring Process

This scoring process only applies where all the requirements for the major award are met i.e. when the specified component awards have been achieved to a minimum of 120 credits. Each component is given a score based on the credit value of the component and the weighting of the grade achieved.

Although most component awards have a credit value of 15, credit values of 5, 10, 20 and 30 also apply.

The following grade weightings will apply to the grades achieved:

-3.333333 for a distinction;

-2.222222 for a merit;

-1.111111 for a pass

-The component awards must have been taken in one sitting;

-Multiply the credit value of the component by the weighting for the grade achieved;

-Add all of the component scores up to a cumulative credit value of 120. When adding up these scores begin with distinctions, then merits, then passes.

Components leading to the best 120 credits are scored and applicants are ranked accordingly. The best 120 credits come from component awards achieved with the highest grades.

Some applicants will combine components achieved prior to the introduction of CAS with others which are part of CAS.

FETAC (NCVA) Level 5 and Level 6 Certificate Scoring

FETAC (NCVA) Level 5 and Level 6 Certificates i.e. major awards achieved in 2013 or in previous years are also scored this way.

FETAC (NCVA) Level 5 and Level 6 components usually have a credit value of 1 for example, L5 component G20001 Communications credit value of 1, multiply by 15 = 15 credits.

FETAC will only score the best 120 credits. The best 120 credits come from component awards achieved with the highest grades.

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1. Specific Nursing and Midwifery requirements

LM150 Nursing (General)

LM152 Nursing (Mental Health)

LM154 Nursing (Intellectual Disability)

LM156 Midwifery

DCU

FETAC Level 5 entry to DCU Nursing programmes

DC215 BSc in Nursing General

DC216 BSc in Nursing (Psychiatric)

DC217 BSc in Nursing (Intellectual Disability)DC218 BSc in Nursing (Children's and General Integrated)

(Mature Nursing Codes, DC225, DC226, DC227 and DC228)

1.DCU has a 10% FETAC quota for undergraduate Nursing programmes and fills this quota each year. For entry 2013, there were 217 places available on standard and mature nursing codes DC215-DC228.

2.FETAC Level 5 criteria for entry to Nursing: 5M4349 Nursing Studies/5M4468 Community and Health Services/5M4339 Healthcare Support. Distinctions in five modules in FETAC level 5/6 which must include: 5N0749 Anatomy and Physiology/ 5N4325 Introduction to Nursing/5N1279 Human Growth and Development OR 5N2746 Biology

Athlone Institute of Technology offers both general and psychiatric nursing programmes. Of the 35 places available on general nursing three places allocated to FETAC Level 5 students. On the separate psychiatric programme of the 15 places available five places are offered to the FETAC Level 5 students. The criteria is that students coming from the FETAC route must have realized five distinctions from eight modules taken in a single sitting. These modules must include Anatomy & Physiology, Introduction to Nursing, and either Human Growth & Development or Biology.

DKIT

The FETAC allocation for Nursing and Midwifery programmes at DKIT is as follows:

General Nursing 5

ID Nursing 3

Psychiatric Nursing 4

Midwifery 2

The FETAC allocation for Nursing and Midwifery programmes at DKIT is as follows:

General Nursing 5

ID Nursing 3

Psychiatric Nursing 4

Midwifery 2

The criteria for entry is outlined on the following link: . The FETAC minimum entry requirements are specifically as follows:

FETAC Level 5 award in Nursing Studies (DCHSN)

or

or

Healthcare Support (DHSXX)

with Distinctions in at least 5 modules which must include:

D20001 Anatomy and Physiology

D20002 Introduction to Nursing and

D20032 Human Growth and Development or C20006 Biology.

GMIT

GMIT Nursing Programmes and FETAC Allocation

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in General Nursing - 5 Places

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychiatric Nursing - 2 Places

All eligible applicants are scored by CAO per FETAC Scoring System and placed in rank order on a Wait List for each programme.

Commencing in Round Zero (early August), the highest ranking applicants for each programme are recommended by the Institute to CAO for the offer of a place. With reference to the number of places available and the preference number of the programme, more offers than the number of places available will be recommended by the Institute to try to fill the reserve in Round Zero.

If the quota is not filled, further offers will be similarly made in Round 1.

If after Round 1 the quota is not full, further offers will only be made should places be still available overall on the programme.

LYIT

Please find detailed below the FETAC place allocation and the matriculation requirements for nursing courses. The process of applicant selection is detailed in the prospectus page 250-251, with the break down for FETAC requirements for all LYIT courses given in pages 251-254.

WIT

3 FETAC places are allocated, 1 for each of the 3 Nursing programmes.

See also section from WIT Prospectus re criteria:

Nursing

Minimum Entry Requirements:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Courses Students are eligible for consideration for entry to nursing courses when they:1. Obtain a Level 5 award, with a minimum credit value of 120 in one of the following major awards:a. Nursing Studies : 5M4349Orb. Community Care: 5M2786Orc. Health CareSupport:5M4339

2. The applicant must achieve a minimum of Distinctions (i.e. 80% or greater) in 5modules, which must include:

a. 5NO749: Anatomy and Physiologyb. 5N4325 Nursing Theory and Practicec. 5N1279 Human Growth and Development OR 5N2746 Biology

Whilst FETAC applicants may meet the requirements outlined above and be eligible for a nursing degree programme, due to the small number of places available, a random selection system is operated by the CAO.

Tralee

4 on general and 2 on mental health

L880 Early Childhood Care and Education 8 Any Three Distinctions PT8/UPD/MLT/-

TL890 General Nursing 8

DCHSN

DCHSX

DHSXX

Must possess distinctions in 5 modules in the FETAC

level 5 (NCVA level 2) qualification which must

include: * D20001 Anatomy & Physiology D20012

Introduction to Nursing

* D20032 Human Growth & Development

* Or

* C20006 Biology

PT8/MAN/MLT/-

TL891 Mental Health Nursing 8

DCHSN

DCHSX

DHSXX

Must possess distinctions in 5 modules in the FETAC

level 5 (NCVA level 2) qualification which must

include: * D20001 Anatomy & Physiology D20012

Introduction to Nursing

* D20032 Human Growth & Development

* Or

* C20006 Biology

PT8/MAN/MLT/-

St Angela’s

Intellectual Disability Nursing

St. Angela’s College/NUI Galway Access Programme Places (1)Places (1)

Admission route via FETAC qualifications

Only one place is available per programme therefore places will be offered on a competitive basis, based on the student’s score.

General Nursing

St. Angela’s College/NUI Galway Access Programme Places (1)Places (1)HEAR Places (1)

Admission route via FETAC qualifications:

Only one place is available per programme therefore places will be offered on a competitive basis, based on the student’s score.