Going back to college at 23 or over (mature entry)
If you are 23 or over on 1 January of the year you start, you are a mature applicant. You apply through the CAO by 1 February and you are assessed on work, life and study since school, usually with a written statement and often an interview, rather than on points.
What you actually do
- 1Confirm you will be 23 or over on 1 January of the year the course starts.
- 2Apply through the CAO by 1 February and tick the mature applicant box.
- 3Write the supplementary statement the college asks for, covering work, study and why this course.
- 4Attend the interview or assessment if the college runs one.
The dates that matter
1 February is a hard deadline for mature applicants. The later 1 May window does not cover mature entry for most colleges.
The hard part, said plainly
Mature places are a small quota, so popular courses such as nursing, medicine and psychology are highly competitive. Some courses also require specific subjects or an aptitude test regardless of your age.
Courses you can get into this way
0 courses in our 2026 research set have this route. Type a course or college to narrow it down.
Questions students ask about this route
What age is a mature student in Ireland?
23 or over on 1 January of the year you begin the course. Your age on the application date does not matter, only that date.
Do I need my Leaving Cert for mature entry?
Usually not for the points, though some courses still require a specific subject, such as a lab science or a language. The college will state this.