Ireland Academic Qualifications Exempt from Assessment

At a glance

This page details the academic qualifications awarded in Ireland that are exempt from NZQA International Qualifications Assessment and qualify for points under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), along with the applicable awarding institutions and timeframes. [I-ireland-academic-qualifications][I-ireland]

Definition

An Irish academic qualification is exempt from assessment and qualifies for the indicated SMC points if all of the following are met: [I-ireland-academic-qualifications][I-ireland]

1. The qualification is listed in the Academic Qualifications Table.
2. The awarding institution is listed in one of the Awarding Institutions Tables.
3. The qualification abbreviation is listed in the right-hand column of one of the Awarding Institutions Tables for that institution.
4. The qualification was awarded from or within the year range listed in the right-hand column of one of the Awarding Institutions Tables.
5. The qualification is not excluded by the notes listed under the Academic Qualifications Table.

If an applicant believes their qualification may be higher than the level stated they should apply to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment. [I-ireland-academic-qualifications][I-ireland]

Academic Qualifications Table

Qualification	Abbreviation	NZQF Level	SMC Points
Baccalaureus in Arte Ingeniaria with/without Honours	BAI	7	50
Baccalaureatus in Medicina, in Chirurgia, in Arte Obstetricia (Bachelor of Medicine of Surgery and of Obstetrics) with/without Honours**	BM	7	50
Bachelor of Architecture with Honours	BArch	7	50
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (a speciality may be stated)	BA	7	50
Bachelor of Business and Law with Honours	BBL	7	50
Bachelor of Business Studies with Honours	BBS	7	50
Bachelor of Civil Law with Honours	BCL	7	50
Bachelor of Commerce with Honours	BC	7	50
Bachelor of Corporate Law with Honours	BCOL	7	50
Bachelor of Dental Science with Honours**	BDSc	7	50
Bachelor of Dental Surgery with/without Honours	BDS	7	50
Bachelor of Engineering with/without Honours (until 2004)	BE	7	50
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (2005 onwards)	BEH	7	50
Bachelor of Midwifery Science with Honours	BMS	7	50
Bachelor of Nursing Science with Honours	BNS	7	50
Bachelor of Laws with Honours	LLB	7	50
Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours	BP	7	50
Bachelor of Science with Honours (a speciality may be stated)	BS	7	50
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Services and Energy Management with Honours	BSES	7	50
Bachelor of Science (Geographical Science) with Honours	BSG	7	50
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine with/without Honours	BVM	7	50
Master in Letters / Magister / Magisterii in Litteris	ML	9	70
Master of Arts	MA	9	70
Master of Fine Arts	MFA	9	70
Master of Letters	MLE	9	70
Master of Literature	MLit	9	70
Master of Philosophy / Magisterii in Philosophia	MP	9	70
Doctor in Philosophy / Doctores in Philosophia	DP	10	70
Doctor of Philosophy / Philosophiae doctor	PhD	10	70

Notes: [I-ireland-academic-qualifications][I-ireland]

• Abbreviations used are for the purposes of this list only.
• ** Baccalaureatus in Medicina … awarded in conjunction with study at Penang Medical College Malaysia, Perdana University in Malaysia, or the Medical University of Bahrain should be referred to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment.
• *** For “moderatores” wording for degrees from Universitas Dubliniensis (Trinity College Dublin), see Honours degrees section below.

Awarding Institutions Tables

National University of Ireland

The award certificate will state Universitas Hiberniae Nationalis and one of its constituent or recognised colleges. [I-ireland-academic-qualifications][I-ireland]

Universitas Hiberniae Nationalis (The National University of Ireland) with constituent college:

• Collegio Corcagiensi (University College Cork) – BM, BArch, BA, BC, BCL, BDS, LLB, BP, BS, BVM, PhD: 1982–1997; BE: 1989–1997.
• Collegio Dublinense (University College Dublin) – same qualifications, same date ranges.
• Collegio Galviensi (University College Galway) – same qualifications, same date ranges.

Constituent universities (1997 onwards):

• Universitate Hiberniae Nationali apud Galviam (NUI Galway) – BM, BA, BC, BCOL, LLB, BS, PhD: 1997; BCL: 2004; BE: 1997–2004; BEH: 2005; BNS: 2006; BMS: 2010; MLit: 2002.
• Universitate Hiberniae Nationalis apud Manutium (NUI Maynooth) – BA, BS, PhD: 1997; BCL: 2011; BE: 2003–2004; BEH: 2005.
• Universitate Hiberniae Nationali apud Corcagium (University College Cork) – BM, BA, BC, BCL, BDS, BS, MP, PhD: 1997; BE: 1997–2004; BEH: 2005; BP: 2008.
• Universitate Hiberniae Nationali apud Dublinum (University College Dublin) – BM, BA, BBL, BCL, BVM, MLit, PhD: 1997; BArch: 1997–2008; BE: 1997–2004; BEH: 2005.

Recognised colleges:

• Collegio Nationali Artis et Designationis (National College of Art and Design) – BA, PhD: 2003; MA: 2003–2013; MFA: 2008; MLE: 2007–2010; MLit: 2012.
• Collegio Regali Chirurgorum in Hibernia / Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – BM: 1982; BS: 2006–2010.

Universities and Higher Education Institutions

• DCU (Dublin City University) – BA, BS: 2003; BE: 1998–2004; BEH: 2005; PhD: 1998.
• DIT (Dublin Institute of Technology) – BArch: 2003; BA: 2001; BE: 2001–2004; BEH: 2005; LLB: 2009; BSES: 2010; BSG: 2003.
• Universitas Dubliniensis (Trinity College Dublin)*** – BAI: 1989; BM, BA, BBS, BDSc, LLB, BS, DP: 1982; ML: 1983; MFA: 2015.
• University of Limerick – BArch: 2010; BA, BS: 2003; BE: 2000–2004; BEH: 2005–2012; LLB, PhD: 2000.

Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) – Institutes of Technology and Colleges

The award certificate states study at one of the following:

• Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) – BE, BS: 2001–2004.
• Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) – BE: 2004 only; BEH: 2005 only; BS: 2001–2005.
• Dun Laoghaire IADT – BA: 2001–2006.
• Dundalk IT – BE, BS: 2001–2004.
• Galway-Mayo IT (GMIT) – BS: 2001–2004.
• IT Blanchardstown (ITB) – BE: 2004 only; BEH: 2005–2006; BS: 2003–2006.
• IT Carlow – BS: 2001–2005.
• IT Sligo – BE: 2004 only; BEH: 2005 only; BS: 2001–2005.
• IT Tallaght (ITT Dublin) – BE: 2001–2004; BEH: 2005–2006; BS: 2001–2006.
• IT Tralee – BS: 2001–2004.
• Letterkenny IT (LYIT) – BS: 2001–2004.
• Limerick IT (LIT) – BS: 2001–2005.
• National College of Art and Design – BA: 2001–2003.
• Waterford IT – BS: 2001–2003.

Institutes of Technology with delegated authority (awarding under HETAC/QQI):

• AIT – BE: 2004 only; BEH: 2005; BS: 2004.
• CIT – BEH: 2005; BS: 2005.
• IADT – BA: 2006.
• Dundalk IT – BE: 2004 only; BEH: 2005; BS: 2004.
• GMIT – BE: 2004 only; BEH: 2005; BS: 2004.
• ITB – BEH, BS: 2006.
• IT Carlow – BEH, BS: 2005.
• IT Sligo – BEH, BS: 2005.
• ITT Dublin – BEH, BS: 2006.
• IT Tralee – BS: 2004.
• LYIT – BA (Law speciality): 2009; BS: 2004.
• LIT – BS: 2005.
• Waterford IT – BArch, BS: 2004; BE: 2004 only; BEH: 2005.

[I-ireland-academic-qualifications][I-ireland]

Interpretation & edge cases

Award certificate language: Award certificates must be provided in their original language. Certificates from the National University of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin are issued in Latin; English translations issued by those universities should also be provided. Other institutions issue certificates in English or English and Irish. [I-ireland-academic-qualifications][I-ireland]

Qualifications that MUST be referred to NZQA: [I-ireland-academic-qualifications][I-ireland]

• All honorary degrees.
• Any listed qualification where study was completed at an institution outside Ireland, including overseas campuses of any listed awarding institution.
• Any listed qualification that contains cross-credited courses or papers.
• All qualifications awarded after 2017.

Honours degrees: [I-ireland-academic-qualifications][I-ireland]

• From 1982–2004, "honours" may be indicated by a class (e.g. First Class Honours, Second Class Honours).
• From 2005, award certificates for Bachelor degrees with Honours should state "Honours", "(Hons)", "with Honours", or a class of Honours.
• Trinity College Dublin Honours degrees may appear on certificates as Moderatorships (e.g. "Moderatores Secundae Classis Primae Divisionis") or as "Honours"/"Honores" followed by the class.

Date of effect: These instructions are effective from 27/08/2018. [I-ireland-academic-qualifications][I-ireland]

Citations

• I-ireland-academic-qualifications — Ireland - Academic Qualifications
• I-ireland — Ireland