Study engineering in Ireland and you are choosing a whole family of disciplines — civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, biomedical and more. This guide compares every CAO course and its points, the lower-points and apprenticeship routes, study options in Europe, and the path to becoming a Chartered Engineer.
Engineering is not one degree — it is a family of disciplines: civil, mechanical, electrical/electronic, chemical & biochemical, biomedical, structural, aeronautical, energy, mechatronic, manufacturing and more. Most Irish universities offer common (undenominated) entry, where you apply to a single CAO code, study a shared first year, then choose your discipline in second year once you know what you enjoy. Others let you apply directly to a named (denominated) discipline from day one. Common entry keeps your options open; denominated entry suits students already certain of their field. Both lead to the same accredited Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), and what matters for professional recognition is Engineers Ireland accreditation, not which entry route you took.
A representative selection of Level 8 (Honours) engineering degrees across the universities. Each institution also offers several denominated disciplines — see the university cards below for the full breakdown.
| UNIVERSITY | CAO CODE | PROGRAMME | AWARD | YEARS | 2025 R1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCD | TR032 | Engineering (common entry) | BAI | 4 | 577 |
| TCD | TR038 | Engineering with Management | BAI | 5 | 617 |
| UCD | DN150 | Engineering (common entry — 6 disciplines) | BE/ME | 4–5 | 578 |
| UCC | CK600 | Engineering (common entry) | BE | 4 | 543 |
| Galway | GY401 | Engineering (undenominated) — 6 disciplines | BE | 4 | 542 |
| UL | LM116 | Engineering (common entry) | BE | 4 | 510 |
| UL | LM077 | Aeronautical Engineering | BE | 4 | 556 |
| DCU | DC200 | Engineering (common entry) | BEng | 4 | 543 |
| DCU | DC197 | Biomedical Engineering | BEng | 4 | 544 |
| Maynooth | MH304 | Engineering (Electronic/Computer/Comms) | BE | 4 | 364 |
Points shown are 2025 CAO Round 1 cut-offs. Verify at cao.ie/points. All programmes are Level 8 and covered by the Free Fees Scheme for eligible EU students. Award abbreviations: BAI/BE/BEng = Bachelor of Engineering; ME = integrated Master of Engineering (5-year).
You do not need 500+ points to become an engineer. MTU, ATU, TUS, SETU and DkIT run accredited engineering degrees across dozens of disciplines — many under 350 points, several with built-in placements, and many with a Level 7-to-Level 8 ladder if you want to ease in.
For your degree to count toward professional recognition, what matters is that the programme is accredited by Engineers Ireland — not the points you needed to get in or whether the name above the door is a university or a technological university. A 300-point accredited BEng (Honours) from a TU leads to the same Chartered Engineer pathway as a 570-point degree from a traditional university. Always check a specific programme's accreditation status on the Engineers Ireland accredited-courses list before you apply.
| Institution | CAO Code | Programme | Level | Duration | 2025 R1 | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTU | MT830 | Engineering (Common Entry) | L8 | 4 yrs | 487 | Cork |
| MT839 | Biomedical Engineering | L8 | 4 yrs | 465 | Cork | |
| MT838 | Chemical & Biopharmaceutical Eng | L8 | 4 yrs | 477 | Cork | |
| MT832 | Civil Engineering | L8 | 4 yrs | 321 | Cork | |
| ATU | AU649 | Engineering (Common Entry) | L8 | 4 yrs | 465 | Galway/Sligo |
| AU647 | Biomedical Engineering | L8 | 4 yrs | 420 | Galway/Sligo | |
| AU354 | Electric Vehicle Engineering | L8 | 4 yrs | 320 | Letterkenny | |
| AU340 | Fire Safety Engineering | L8 | 4 yrs | 301 | Sligo | |
| TUS | US902 | Industrial Automation & Robotic Systems | L8 | 4 yrs | 301 | Limerick |
| US887 | Civil Engineering | L8 | 4 yrs | 348 | Athlone | |
| US900 | Electrical Engineering | L8 | 4 yrs | 348 | Athlone | |
| US910 | Mechanical Engineering | L8 | 4 yrs | 278 | Limerick | |
| SETU | SE700 | Engineering (Options) | L8 | 4 yrs | 307 | Waterford |
| SE714 | Aerospace Engineering | L8 | 4 yrs | 462 | Carlow | |
| SE713 | Civil Engineering | L8 | 4 yrs | 444 | Waterford | |
| DkIT | DK843 | Engineering (Common Entry) | L8 | 4 yrs | 285 | Dundalk |
| DK846 | Civil Engineering | L8 | 4 yrs | 317 | Dundalk |
A representative sample — MTU, ATU, TUS, SETU and DkIT together offer 70+ engineering programmes. Points are 2025 CAO Round 1 cut-offs; verify at cao.ie/points. Most also offer Level 7 ordinary degrees that ladder up to Level 8.
An engineer who entered a Level 8 accredited degree on 280 points completes the same Initial Professional Development and applies for Chartered Engineer status on exactly the same basis as one who entered on 580. Employers hire on your degree result, your placement experience, your final-year project, and your problem-solving — not your Leaving Cert points, which no employer ever asks about. The regional TUs produce design engineers, site engineers, process engineers and chartered professionals every single year.
The CAO points race is not the only way in. Apprenticeships, the Level 7-to-8 ladder, mature entry and trade-to-engineering routes all lead to the same accredited qualifications — and engineering is one of the few fields with a genuine earn-while-you-learn option.
Ireland now runs degree-level engineering apprenticeships where you are employed, paid, and study toward an accredited qualification at the same time. These run through the National Apprenticeship system and reach Level 8 in fields such as manufacturing, mechanical automation, and engineering services. You apply to an employer rather than the CAO, and there are no points — selection is by the employer.
Search current engineering apprenticeships at apprenticeship.ie. Options span Level 6 to Level 9, so you can start at craft level and progress to a chartered-track degree over time.
Almost every TU offers a Level 7 (ordinary) BEng at lower points than the Level 8. Complete it, then add a one-year honours top-up to reach the Level 8 needed for the chartered pathway. This is a deliberate, well-trodden route — ideal if your Leaving Cert points fall short of the honours programme but you are committed to engineering.
Three years, accredited, covering the core engineering science.
Progress into the final year of the Level 8 and graduate with an Honours BEng — the same award as direct entrants.
If you are 23 or over by 1 January of your entry year, you can apply as a mature student through the CAO. Points are not used — institutions assess relevant experience, motivation, and sometimes a maths/aptitude check or interview. Trade and technician backgrounds are highly valued for engineering.
Apply via the CAO by 1 February and tick the mature category. Many TUs offer a maths bridging or access programme over the summer if your Leaving Cert maths is dated — engineering is maths-heavy, so brush up before you start.
A craft apprenticeship (electrician, fitter, plumber, toolmaker) is a recognised stepping stone into engineering. Qualified tradespeople routinely progress to engineering degrees using their craft award plus the QQI advanced-certificate framework, often entering directly into year one or even year two.
An engineering-related QQI award lets you apply for Level 8 places reserved under the Higher Education Links Scheme.
TUs can grant advanced entry for relevant trade experience — contact the admissions office directly to have your experience assessed.
Whether you arrive via direct CAO entry, an apprenticeship, the Level 7 ladder, mature entry, or a trade background — once you hold an accredited Level 8 (or Level 9) engineering degree and complete your Initial Professional Development, you apply for Chartered Engineer status on identical terms. Engineers Ireland assesses your competence, not your starting point.
As an Irish EU citizen you can study engineering across the EU, frequently in English and at far lower tuition than the UK. The Netherlands, Germany and the Nordic countries have strong, internationally respected engineering schools. There is one thing to verify before you commit — read the recognition note below.
An engineering degree from an EU university is widely portable, but if you intend to become a Chartered Engineer in Ireland you should confirm the degree is recognised by Engineers Ireland. Many European programmes are accredited under the Washington Accord or listed on the European engineering databases, which Engineers Ireland recognises — but not all are. Check the specific programme before relying on it for the Irish chartered route, and remember that since 2013 the academic standard for Chartered Engineer is a Level 9 (Master's) or an accredited integrated five-year degree. For most graduate engineering jobs in Ireland a recognised EU bachelor's is perfectly employable; chartership is the step that needs the accreditation check.
Dutch statutory tuition for EU/EEA students is roughly €2,500–€2,700 a year. Public universities in Germany and the Nordics charge little or no tuition for EU citizens. Irish SUSI maintenance support may apply for study elsewhere in the EU.
Dutch and Nordic universities run many full English-taught BSc engineering programmes. German bachelor engineering is more often in German, but English-taught options are growing, especially at the technical universities.
TU Delft, Eindhoven, ETH-adjacent German TUs and KTH Stockholm are globally ranked. A degree from these carries weight with multinationals — many of which have major Irish operations.
Germany's technical universities (often free for EU citizens), the Nordic engineering schools, and several Belgian and Italian universities all offer respected engineering programmes, an increasing number in English. Verify the language of instruction, the entry route for Leaving Cert students, the tuition and SUSI position, and — for the Irish chartered route — the Engineers Ireland / Washington Accord recognition before you commit.
Engineering splits into many disciplines, and after your degree there is a recognised professional route to the protected title of Chartered Engineer. Here is the map of both.
Buildings, bridges, roads, water and infrastructure. Site and consulting roles; strong public-works and construction demand.
Machines, energy systems, production lines, HVAC. The most broadly applicable discipline across every industry.
Power, circuits, embedded systems, semiconductors. Feeds Ireland's large electronics and chip sector.
Process plants, pharma and biopharma manufacturing. Exceptional demand around the Cork and Dublin pharma clusters.
Medical devices, prosthetics, diagnostics. Ireland is a global medtech hub, especially around Galway.
The blend of mechanical, electronic and software for automation, robotics and smart devices — a fast-growing area.
Renewables, grid systems, building energy. Rapidly expanding with the offshore-wind and retrofit agenda.
Aircraft, propulsion and maintenance engineering. Offered at UL and SETU; ties to Ireland's aviation-leasing sector.
Agricultural, fire-safety, geospatial, automotive, polymer and precision engineering round out the family.
Graduate from an Engineers Ireland-accredited programme. Since 2013 the academic standard for Chartered Engineer is a Level 9 (Master's) or an accredited integrated five-year degree; an accredited Level 8 honours degree puts you on the "further learning" track toward it.
Become a member (Associate, then Member) and begin logging your professional development. Graduate membership is free or low-cost while you start out.
Around four years of structured engineering experience and CPD, covering project work, design, management and communication competences — usually within an employer's graduate programme.
Submit a competence report and attend a professional interview. On success you hold the protected title Chartered Engineer — recognised internationally.
Chartership is not compulsory to work as an engineer — many engineers practise without it — but it is the recognised mark of a fully qualified professional and is often required for senior, sign-off and consultancy roles. Engineers Ireland also offers Associate Engineer and Engineering Technician titles for Level 7 and technician routes.
Typical starting range across disciplines. Software, electronic and biopharma-process roles tend to sit at the upper end; civil and general roles nearer the lower.
Chartered status and a specialism lift earnings notably. Project and design leads in high-demand sectors command the top of this band and beyond.
Engineering managers, principal engineers and consultancy directors. Biopharma, semiconductor and data-centre engineering are among the best paid in Ireland.
Semiconductors (Intel, Analog Devices), medtech, advanced manufacturing, and the multinational data centres clustered around Dublin.
Consulting engineering firms, contractors, the public sector, and the renewable-energy and housing programmes driving sustained civil/structural demand.
Biopharma process engineering (Pfizer, MSD, Lilly), and the fast-growing offshore-wind, grid and building-energy sector. Chemical and energy engineers are in short supply.
Salary figures are indicative ranges drawn from Irish engineering recruitment surveys and vary by discipline, employer, location, and experience. Verify current figures before making decisions.
From your first CAO click to Chartered Engineer — the key deadlines and milestones. The CAO steps are the same for every course; the professional steps follow your degree.
Research and keep your maths strong. Engineering needs Higher Level maths at most universities (often a H4 minimum for the bigger schools), so prioritise it. Attend open days, visit engineering labs, and decide whether you prefer common entry (decide your discipline later) or a named discipline. Try to talk to working engineers across different fields.
CAO opens (5 Nov). Create your account early. The early-bird fee is €35 if you apply by 20 January. List engineering programmes in genuine order of preference — mix ambitious and safe choices across the points range.
Last day for the €35 fee. After this the application fee rises. Make sure any restricted or portfolio-based courses on your list are flagged in time.
Normal CAO application closes. Also the deadline for HEAR/DARE and for mature applicants. After this you can amend choices (5 Feb–1 Mar) and make a late application (until 1 May, with reduced options).
Change of Mind opens 5 May, closes 1 July (5pm). A free chance to reorder choices based on how the exams feel. If your maths or points look tighter than hoped, add accessible accredited options (TUS, DkIT, MTU) as safety net. Sit the Leaving Cert in June.
Leaving Cert results and CAO Round 1 offers arrive on the same day. Accept promptly (about a week). If you missed your first choice, watch Available Places and later rounds — engineering places do come up.
Study, choose your discipline, and get placement experience. On common-entry programmes you pick your discipline at the end of first or second year. Make the most of work placements (UL Co-Op, DCU INTRA) and your final-year project. Consider whether to take the integrated Master (5-year) for the direct chartered standard. Join Engineers Ireland as a student member.
Join a graduate programme and build competence. Around four years of structured engineering experience and CPD, ideally with an employer whose graduate scheme is mapped to the Engineers Ireland competences. Keep a portfolio of your project work for your chartership application.
Apply for CEng MIEI. Submit your competence report and attend the professional interview. You hold the protected, internationally recognised title of Chartered Engineer. Total journey from Leaving Cert is typically 8–9 years — but you are earning a graduate-engineer salary for most of it.
If you are not yet sure which discipline suits you, common (undenominated) entry lets you sample a shared first year before committing — the safer choice for most school leavers. If you already know you want, say, biomedical or aeronautical engineering, applying direct to the named degree guarantees your place in it. Both lead to the same accredited award.
UL's 8-month paid Co-Op and DCU's INTRA placement give you real industry experience and often a job offer before you graduate. Other schools offer strong Erasmus exchange instead. Decide whether a year of paid work or a semester abroad matters more to you — both strengthen a CV in different ways.
TCD (577), UCD (578) and UCC (543) sit at the top. UL, DCU and Galway land mid-range. But MTU, TUS, SETU, ATU and DkIT offer fully accredited engineering at 280–490 points, and the Level 7 ladder opens it further. Your engineering career depends on your degree result and experience, not your entry points.
If Chartered Engineer status is your goal, check that your programme is Engineers Ireland-accredited, and weigh the integrated five-year Master (which meets the academic standard directly) against a four-year honours degree plus a later Master's. Either works — but knowing the route from the start saves time and money.
There is no single "best" engineering school in Ireland — what matters is that the programme is Engineers Ireland-accredited and that you engage fully with it. The engineer who entered MTU or TUS on 300 points and threw themselves into placements, projects and professional development will out-earn and out-progress the one who coasted through a 570-point degree. Choose the discipline that genuinely interests you, in a place where you will thrive, and the title and the salary will follow.