Hewitt College, Cork

☀️🥵 Managing the heatwave and the sun in the upcoming exam period 💦📖

🎵 College Courses That Definitely Require Music 🎵

Thinking about studying Music at third level? 🎓🎶
There are certain college courses in Ireland that definitely require Leaving Certificate Music as an entry requirement ✅

Here are three important ones to know about 👇

🎼 MH101 – Music with Arts in Maynooth University
🎵 Perfect for students passionate about performance, composition, or music studies.

🎼 DN520 – Joint Honours Music in UCD
🎹 Combine Music with another subject while developing strong musical and academic skills.

🎼 DC012 – Post Primary Teacher Education, Religious Education & Music (DCU)
🍎 A fantastic pathway for students hoping to become secondary school Music teachers.

⚠️ For all of these courses, Leaving Certificate Music is essential, so subject choice matters! 📚🎶

If you’re choosing subjects for senior cycle and thinking about a future in Music, make sure to research course requirements early 📝✨

Follow for more student guidance, CAO tips, and subject choice advice 🎓💡

📚 TY Students & Parents — thinking about taking Physics for Leaving Cert? ⚡🔬

Many students are surprised to learn that very few college courses actually require Leaving Certificate Physics.
In fact, there is only ONE CAO course in Ireland that specifically requires it — Theoretical Physics at Trinity College Dublin 🎓
📌 Course Code: TR037

But Physics can still be an excellent subject choice if you’re interested in:
💻 Computer Science
⚙️ Engineering
📊 Data Science
🌌 Astrophysics
🧪 Science degrees

Physics helps students build problem-solving, analytical thinking, and mathematical skills that are valuable for so many future careers 🚀

TY students choosing your Leaving Cert subjects – do you need Chemistry? 🤔🧪

This is one of the most common questions I get from students every year 👇

If you’re thinking about careers in healthcare or science, Chemistry is often essential 💡

Courses that typically require Chemistry include:
🦷 Dentistry – UCC (CK702), RCSI (RC007)
🩺 Medicine – UCC (CK701)
💊 Pharmacy – UCC (CK703)
🐾 Veterinary Medicine – UCD (DN300)
🥗 Human Nutrition & Dietetics – TU Dublin (TU870)
🧬 Medical & Health Sciences – UCC (CK707)

🚨 Important: If you don’t have the required grade in Chemistry, you won’t be eligible for these CAO courses.

👉 So if you’re even considering any of these paths, keeping Chemistry could keep your options open!

🚨 Applying to college with a DES Irish exemption? Read this before you fill out your CAO! 🎓

If you're hoping to keep your options open (e.g. physiotherapy 🩺), it’s SO important to know that your exemption is not automatically applied everywhere 👇

👉 Applying to UCD, UCC, Galway, Maynooth or RCSI?
You MUST complete the NUI exemption form 📝
👉 Thinking about UL?
That’s a completely separate application ⚠️
👉 Applying to Trinity?
Yep… another separate form again 😅
👉 Good news!
TUD & Technological Universities don’t require Irish 🙌
➡️ No exemption form needed there!

💡 Bottom line:
One exemption ≠ one application
You may need to fill out multiple forms depending on where you apply!

Don’t get caught out — this is something so many students miss every year 🚫

Thinking about a career in healthcare, but not sure a 4-year degree is for you? 👀🦷

Dental nursing could be a great option to explore! 💡

Dental nurses work closely with dentists in clinics and hospitals—supporting patients, preparing equipment, and assisting during procedures. It’s a hands-on, people-focused role with real impact every day ❤️

One pathway is the Diploma in Dental Nursing at UCC 🎓
✨ Level 7 qualification
✨ Apply directly (not through the CAO!)
✨ Study options:
👉 2 years full-time
👉 OR 16-month part-time (evenings + work in a dental practice)
This route can be ideal if you want to get into healthcare sooner while gaining real experience 👏

As always, think about what suits YOU best—your interests, your strengths, and how you like to learn 💭

Thinking about studying Arts but not sure how to get there? 🎓✨

A PLC course can be a fantastic stepping stone! 🙌

The Pre-University Arts QQI Level 5 course (5M3114) is a one year course that gives you the chance to explore subjects like psychology 🧠, sociology 🌍, communications 🗣️ and cultural studies 🎭.

After one year, and with strong results, you can apply through the CAO using your QQI qualification to Arts courses in places like UCD, UCC, NUI Galway and other colleges across Ireland 🇮🇪

It’s a great alternative pathway if you’re not going directly from school to university — and it keeps your options open 💡

Study Politics and Society at Hewitt College Cork 🏛️🌍

At Hewitt College Cork, Politics & Society (PolSoc) is offered as an extra subject you can study outside of school as an additional Leaving Cert subject 📚

Perfect for students who are curious about how the world works, PolSoc is a great fit if you enjoy history 📖, big ideas 💡, and exploring topics like power, politics, and society 🌐

With a project worth 20% of your overall mark 📝 and engaging classes, Politics & Society is taught on Wednesday afternoons in Hewitt College 🙌

Step beyond the classroom and discover a subject that gets you thinking, questioning, and debating 🔍🗣️