Application Guide Spring 2023

BSc (Hons) in Nursing in General Nursing

Please ensure that you meet the entry requirements before starting your application. All applicants must satisfy the entry requirements of one of the three application pathways.

You must be 18 years of age or over on 1 January in the year of entry and must be resident in and eligible to work in the Republic of Ireland for the duration of the programme.

If you have further questions, please call our Enrolment Helpline at +353 (0)1 661 0168 (press 2) between 9 AM and 5 PM Monday to Friday.

Step 1: Review Entry Requirements and Online Application

Pathway 1: Further Education

NFQ Level 5 qualifications

Pathway 1 applicants must hold one of the following National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Level 5 qualifications aligned to nursing:

Nursing Studies (5M4349)
Healthcare Support (5M4339)
Community and Health Services (5M4468)
Health Service Skills (5M3782)

In all cases, applicants must have achieved distinctions in five components, including:

Anatomy and Physiology (5N0749 / D20001)
Nursing Theory and Practice (5N4325)
Human Growth and Development (5N1279) or Biology (5N2746)

English language proficiency

If your first language/primary mode of expression is not English, you will be required to provide evidence of the necessary knowledge of English to communicate effectively in your practice. The current requirements are IELTS 7.0 in all components or B2+ or higher in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

NMBI requirements

This programme is designed to lead to professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). For more details about their requirements, please the Careers in Nursing and Midwifery page of the NMBI website.

NFQ Level 5 qualifications certificate

Pathway 1 applicants will be required to provide details of their Level 5 qualification, including:

Institution: The name of the institution (e.g. Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute (DFEI))
Qualification: The course name (max. 30 characters)
Course code: 5M4349
Result: Your final result (e.g. Pass, Merit, Distinction)
Year taken: The year of your final exams

NFQ Level 5 qualifications certificates should include the course title, code, the components studied, the results received and the overall award obtained (e.g. Pass, Merit, Distinction).

Evidence of NFQ qualification must be on the official paper of the awarding body. If you are unsure of the level of your qualification, you should contact the awarding institution or body and/or contact Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) using the mechanisms listed on their website.

If your qualification is in another name such as a maiden name, you must include a copy of the evidence of the name change. Acceptable documents include a marriage certificate or deed poll.

If you have equivalent qualifications, you should consult with the Enrolment Team before uploading the appropriate documentation.

view sample NFQ Level 5 Qualifications certificate

Medical Assessment Self-Declaration Form

You will be required to complete a Medical Assessment Self-Declaration Form and undergo a medical assessment/screening and a vaccination programme as determined by the College, in conjunction with the clinical placement host.

Pathway 2: Mature Student

Minimum age requirement

If you were aged 23 or over on 1 January in the year of entry, you are eligible to apply as a mature student.

English language proficiency

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) requirements

This programme is designed to lead to professional registration with the NMBI. For more details about their requirements, please visit the Careers in Nursing and Midwifery page of the NMBI website.

Passport or driver’s licence

Pathway 2 applicants will be asked to upload a copy of photographic identification confirming their date of birth. Only a valid passport or driver’s licence is acceptable.

Medical Assessment Self-Declaration Form

You will be required to complete a Medical Assessment Self-Declaration Form and undergo a medical assessment/screening and a vaccination programme, as determined by the College in conjunction with the clinical placement host.

Pathway 3: Leaving Certificate

Leaving Certificate

Pathway 3 applicants must hold a minimum grade of H5 in two subjects of the Leaving Certificate and a minimum grade of O6/H7 in four subjects. These must include:

Gaeilge or English
Mathematics
A laboratory science subject (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Physics and Chemistry, or
Agricultural Science)
Three other subjects

Please note that the NMBI entry requirements do not permit Foundation Level Mathematics or Foundation Level Gaeilge.

English language proficiency

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) requirements

This programme is designed to lead to professional registration with the NMBI. For more details about their requirements, please visit the Careers in Nursing and Midwifery page of the NMBI website.

Leaving Certificate

If you are a Pathway 3 applicant, you must provide evidence of your Leaving Certificate examination—the year of completion and details of your relevant six results for that Leaving Certificate year.

You must provide your official Leaving Certificate Statement of Results from the State Examinations Commission. A version generated by a school or a copy certified by a school will not suffice.

To order a transcript of your Leaving Certificate results online, visit the State Examinations Commission website. This can take a minimum of two weeks and can take longer during peak times. Applications will not progress without all documents.

If you have equivalent qualifications, you should consult with the Enrolment Team before uploading the appropriate documentation.

Medical Assessment Self-Declaration Form

view sample Leaving certificate

Step 2: Interview

Are you ready for the interview?

Eligible applicants will be invited to interview. The interview will assess your motivation and professionalism, communication and organisational skills, and will evaluate your relevant experience and your knowledge of the profession. It will also consider your suitability to work in the sector. You will be assessed on your knowledge of Hibernia College and the Nursing programme, including programme requirements and demands.

Step 3: Aptitude Test

Are you ready for the aptitude test?

Applicants who are successful in their interview will be invited to register with the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to undertake the ACER STAT aptitude test, which focuses on logic and numerical reasoning. The test is held online and is proctored. Further test guidance and information will be provided by ACER. The test fee is payable directly to ACER.

Step 4: Final Documents

Are your documents in the correct format?

Medical Assessment Self-Declaration Form

Hibernia College operates an online application process and does not accept hard copies of original documentation, with the exception of those required for Garda Vetting clearance, which is dealt with at offer stage. Hibernia College will not return any original documentation.

You must scan and upload all documents in a clear, legible PDF format (one PDF file per document). We cannot accept Word documents, pictures or other formats.

If your file size is over 4 MB, you must use a file compressor. To find this tool, do an online search for ‘PDF file compressor’.
If you need to merge multiple pages into one document, you must use a file merger. To find this tool, do an online search for ‘PDF file merger’.

Note: Only documents submitted in the correct PDF format will be reviewed.