We explain how a common entry honours degree at SETU eases difficult decisions, giving students time to choose what’s right for them while at college
Imagine it was possible to extend the time limit for refining college choices beyond the final CAO change of mind deadline of 1 July?
‘Common entry’ honours degrees at South East Technological University do just that. Seven of WIT’s 70 CAO courses are common entry courses, which means that students refine the areas they want to specialise in after starting college.
Time to choose
A common entry course is ideal for CAO applicants who know what area they broadly want to get into but don’t know which area they would like to specialise in.
Each of these courses works in different ways, however, the main thing they have in common is that students don’t have to decide on the area they want to specialise in straight away – they have time to choose, time to learn what is right for them.
The benefit of this to students is that they don’t find themselves studying a niche course that they discover is not for them too late.
Courses that give time to choose
Bachelor of Business (Hons)
Time to choose: 2 years
Number of options: 5
Streams:
- Economics and Finance
- Human Resource Management (HRM)
- Management
- Accounting
- Marketing
There are three options on the CAO. CAO applicants who are undecided on choices should choose WD048. In September students can change their specialisation and language options. The key benefit is students only have to finalise your specialisation option at the end of Year 2.
Engineering
Time to choose: 1 semester
Number of options: 5
WD007 or Engineering (Common Entry) is the gateway for the following Level 8 BEng (Hons) degrees:
- BEng (Hons) in Sustainable Energy Engineering
- BEng (Hons) in Sustainable Civil Engineering
- BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering
- BEng (Hons) in Electrical Engineering
- BEng (Hons) in Automation Engineering
In semester 1, students explore each of the different engineering disciplines via the ‘Introduction to Engineering’ module. Students start to specialise in one of the five specialist engineering areas in Semester 2 of Year 1 and further specialise in the next three years.
Health Sciences
Time to choose: 1 year
Number of options: 2
The BSc (Hons) in Health Sciences (Common Entry) is the gateway for:
In the first year students get an opportunity to study two areas of health care in both semesters including Applied Health Care and Public Health & Health Promotion and if uncertain about which area of health science to study, a decision on which area they would like to focus on does not have to be made until the end of first year. From second year onwards the student chooses to study either Applied Health Care or Public Health & Health Promotion.
Exercise Sciences
Time to choose: 2 years
Number of options: 3
Exercise Sciences (Common Entry) has three specialist exit pathways. Towards the end of your second year of the common entry degree programme you will be asked to select one of them to study in order to obtain your final award:
- BSc (Hons) in Sport & Exercise Science
- BSc (Hons) in Nutrition & Exercise Science
- BSc (Hons) in Health & Exercise Science
Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
Time to choose: Decide on your Majors in September
Number of options: 7 majors, 13 minor subjects
Arts students can postpone their choice of majors until September of first year when they choose three majors.
In years 2 and 3 they continue to study 2 of their chosen majors
Science
Time to choose: 1 year
Number of options: 4
Science (Common Entry) Degree Options
- BSc (Hons) in Pharmaceutical Science
- BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology with Biopharmaceutical Science
- BSc (Hons) in Food Science and Innovation
- BSc (Hons) in Physics for Modern Technology
At the end of year 1, students must confirm their degree option and may change their selection up to that date.
Applied Computing
Time to choose: 1 year
Number of options: 6
- WD001 (AAS) - Automotive and Automation Systems
- WD001 (CFS) - Computer Forensics and Security
- WD001 (CLN) - Cloud and Networks
- WD001 (GAD)- Games Development
- WD001 (MED) - Media Development
- WD001 (IOT) - Internet of Things
At the end of year 1, students must confirm their degree option and may change their selection up to that date. In years 2, 3, and 4 you will take a specialism or `stream’.
Choosing between different disciplines
Common entry isn’t for everyone – some people are very clear about what is right for them and will have niche or very specific courses at the top of their list. For others who are undecided between two very different disciplines e.g. Business and Engineering they will have to do a bit of extra research.
A person who cannot decide between engineering and business for example is best advised to do as much research as possible from attending open days and evenings to contacting lecturers.
One of the common queries we receive every year is ‘Can I get offered my second choice if I’ve already been offered my first choice and don’t want it?’ The answer is no. So do put your list in order of genuine preference.
CAO choices resources and inspiration
Need inspiration? We have got you covered at every stage of the CAO process from open days to getting your order of preference right to deciding on your CAO offer.
CAO hub 24/7
Visit our CAO hub at www.wit.ie/cao to take a virtual campus tour, ask questions via web chat, book a virtual meeting with our team and browse course talk videos.
Upcoming events listings
Check www.wit.ie/events and social media for upcoming events.
70 CAO courses
www.wit.ie/courses to explore our 56 CAO courses.
Student stories
Visit our student stories section at www.wit.ie/studentstories or go to the Stories tab on each course page to discover news and testimonials related to the course.
How to booklets and worksheets
Not sure what you want to study? Go to www.wit.ie/how. Review, download, fill out the worksheets in our separate advice booklets for students and parents/guardians to figure out what your future holds.
Related Courses
- Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Business (Common Entry)
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Engineering (Common Entry)
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Health Sciences (Common Entry)
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Exercise Sciences (Common Entry)
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Arts
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Science (Common Entry)
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science (Common Entry)