Degrees with no points at all (tertiary degrees)
A tertiary degree starts in your local further education college and finishes in the university, and you apply directly to the college with no points requirement at all. You graduate with the same degree as students who came in through the CAO.
What you actually do
- 1Find a tertiary programme in the subject area you want.
- 2Apply directly to the further education college running the first stage, not through the CAO.
- 3Complete the college stage, then move into the university for the remaining years.
The dates that matter
Applications open in spring and are handled by each college, so ask about closing dates early. Places are limited.
The hard part, said plainly
The programmes are fixed pairings, so you cannot mix any FET college with any university. If the subject you want has no tertiary programme, this route is closed to you.
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
Is there a degree I can do with no points?
Yes. Tertiary degrees have no points requirement. You apply directly to the further education college that runs the first stage.
Is a tertiary degree the same as a normal degree?
Yes. The award comes from the university and the qualification is identical to the one earned by students who entered through the CAO.