Through a dynamic partnership between Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB ) and Atlantic Technological University (ATU ), new Tertiary Degree pathways are reshaping higher education.
If you didn't get the CAO points you needed for nursing, don't worry, your dream of becoming a nurse is still fully within reach, and you no longer need to let a single set of exam results define your future.
Instead of competing in the traditional points system, the Tertiary Access Route allows you to apply directly to GRETB. You spend your first year at a local GRETB Further Education and Training Centre, such as Oughterard, Co. Galway or Boyle, Co. Roscommon. This builds essential skills in a supportive environment with smaller class sizes.
Upon successfully completing your first year with a QQI Level 5 Award, you progress seamlessly into Year 1 of an Honours Degree at ATU. This pathway offers a direct route into the following programmes: Bachelor of Science (Hons ) in General Nursing; Bachelor of Science (Hons ) in Mental Health Nursing; Bachelor of Science (Hons ) in Intellectual Disability Nursing.
Along with dual access to student supports from both GRETB and ATU, the first year is free from fees with eligibility for SUSI maintenance grants and the Back to Education Allowance.
Whether you are a Leaving Cert student rethinking your options or a mature learner ready for a fresh start, your dream career remains completely within reach. The door to your nursing degree is wide open, it just starts closer to home.
Applications for September 2026 are now open. Visit www.gretb.ie or email [email protected] to secure your spot.
