Tertiary Bachelors’ Degrees available in Kilkenny for 2025/2026 academic year

Applications have opened in Kilkenny for two Tertiary Bachelor’s Degrees that may be of interest to local students.

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless has announced the details of six new Tertiary Bachelors’ Degrees, bringing to almost 40 the number of Tertiary Bachelors’ Degrees now open to applications across the country, for the upcoming academic year 2025/2026.

The National Tertiary Office was established in 2023, representing a new era in higher education, providing enhanced access for people – of all ages - who may not be able to otherwise, to earn a Bachelor’s Degree.
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Tertiary Bachelors’ Degrees commence in Education and Training Boards (ETBs), with a seamless transition to Higher Education Institutions. Entry is not based on points, and there are no tuition fees for the first one to two years.

In Kilkenny, open to applications again this year are the following Tertiary Bachelor’s Degrees:

• Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Public Health and Health Promotion – commencing in Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (College of Further Education and Training, Kilkenny), with a seamless transition to South East Technological University’s (SETU) Waterford campus
• Bachelor of Science in IT Management- commencing in Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (College of Further Education and Training, Kilkenny), with a seamless transition to South East Technological University’s (SETU) Carlow campus

Tertiary Bachelors’ Degrees were first open to applications for the 2023 / 2024 academic year. There were 13 Tertiary Bachelor’s Degree programmes in the first year. That has almost trebled for 2025/2026 with 38 programmes nationwide, across Business, ICT, Arts, Engineering, Social Sciences, Early Learning & Care, Agricultural Science, Sport, Manufacturing & Construction and Health & Welfare. 

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, said: "I'm pleased to launch the third round of tertiary degree programmes. These initiatives are giving more students than ever the chance to pursue their ambitions without being tied down by the CAO points race.

“I understand that many young people feel anxious about their educational future, worrying each year if their Leaving Certificate results will be enough to get into the course they want. These programmes ensure that your exam results won't limit your options. If you're willing to study and work hard, there's a path for you in tertiary education."
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Tanya Jones, Deputy Director of the National Tertiary Office, said: “Whether you’re finishing school, returning to education, or upskilling later in life, Tertiary Bachelors’ Degrees are about meeting you where you are and helping you get to where you want to go.  Learners should be able to pursue a degree regardless of their background, family circumstances, or financial situation. No points are required, and there’s no college fees during in the early years in ETB. There are no compromises; students earn the same Bachelor’s Degree, it’s just a different route. Options and demand are increasing year on year, demonstrating the need for and importance of a more accessible route like the one presented by Tertiary Bachelors’ Degrees,” she added.
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Dr Sarah Sartori, Higher Education Strategic Project Lead, SETU, said; “SETU, KCETB, LOETB and WWETB are proud to be working together and offering a total of nine Tertiary Bachelors’ in our region across a wide range of disciplines including Business, IT, Tourism & Hospitality and Health Science. Our students say that without the benefit of being able to start their degree in their local Further Education college without fees, they may not have made it into, or back to, higher education.”

Host of the Talking Bollox podcast, Terence Power, is supporting the launch of the new Tertiary Bachelors’ Degrees. He said: “You don’t need points. All you need is potential. This kind of opportunity just wasn’t around for us when we left school. To see it available now, for people who otherwise might never get the chance to realise their full potential, is genuinely class.”

Find out more information about Tertiary Bachelors’ Degrees and to apply visit www.nto.ie.

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