Application Guide

Spring 2025

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 or older on 1st January in the year of entry, be eligible to work and reside in Ireland either through citizenship and/or possession of a stamp 4 visa and provide evidence of IETLS 6.5 or a minimum of B+ in CEFR where English is not primary language. 

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

All applicants must: 

  1. Be 18 years or older on 1st January in the year of entry; 
  2. Be eligible to work and reside in Ireland either through citizenship and/or possession of a stamp 4 visa; 
  3. Provide evidence of IETLS 6.5 or a minimum of B+ in CEFR where English is not primary language. 

NFQ Level 5 qualifications

Pathway 1 applicants must possess a National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Level 5 award in one of the following:

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

In addition, the applicant 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)

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 show an official certificate of NFQ Level 5 qualification. Your QQI transcript (including evidence of having achieved the required distinctions) must be the official awarding body (e.g. QQI) certificate. This should include the course title, code, the components studied, results received and the overall award obtained (e.g. Pass, Merit, Distinction).

Check to make sure your NFQ Level 5 qualification includes the following:

  • 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

All applicants must: 

  1. Be 18 years or older on 1st January in the year of entry; 
  2. Be eligible to work and reside in Ireland either through citizenship and/or possession of a stamp 4 visa;
  3. Provide evidence of IETLS 6.5 or a minimum of B+ in CEFR where English is not primary language. 

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.

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

All applicants must: 

  1. Be 18 years or older on 1st January in the year of entry; 
  2. Be eligible to work and reside in Ireland either through citizenship and/or possession of a stamp 4 visa; 
  3. Provide evidence of IETLS 6.5 or a minimum of B+ in CEFR where English is not primary language. 

Leaving Certificate

Pathway 3 applicants must possess the minimum required results in the Leaving Certificate. Examination results in six subjects should include at least a grade H5 in two subjects and a grade O6 or H7 in four additional subjects. 

The six subjects must include the following: 

  • Irish or English
  • Mathematics
  • 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 Irish. Qualifications other than Irish Leaving Certificate will be assessed for equivalency using Entry requirements criteria for EU/EFTA Applicants.

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 Admissions Office before uploading the appropriate documentation.

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.

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? 

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.  Label each document clearly e.g. ‘Leaving Certificate John Smith. The use of apostrophes or any other non-alphanumeric character is not supported.

  • 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’. 

All documents should be uploaded in PDF format, no greater than 4MB in size per individual upload. Please ensure that scanned documents are clear enough to be reviewed.  

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

Ready to start your application?

go to spring 2025 application

+353 (0)1 661 0168

info@hiberniacollege.net

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