Courses / Course

	Required	Ordinary level grade	Higher level grade
Irish		O6	H7
English		O6	H7
Language		-	-
Math		O4	H7
Science		O6	H7

This course requires 2 additional subjects

Mature Applicants

Mature applicants are assessed separately to school-leavers. Mature applicants are 23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University. For part-time/flexible degrees the mature age is 21. 

Click here to be taken to our mature applicant information page - tab 3 on that page outlines application steps for this degree.

Mature applicants who have a disability 

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia), and require support for any required written exercise/interview/ online video audition which may form part of your application assessment, you must complete an online request form and submit supporting documentation by 15 March 2026. Applications for alternative examination accommodation cannot be considered after this deadline.

For further information on the supporting documentation required, as well as examination and other supports visit the Access Office website.

Leaving Certificate Applicants

Required to present 2H5 & 4O6/H7, Irish, English & O4/H7 Mathematics & O6/H7 Science subject (one of Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geography, Physics or Physics with Chemistry). MH203 Round 1 Points 2025: see above

HEAR & DARE

DARE: The Disability Access Route to Education is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school-leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education.

HEAR: The Higher Education Access Route is a third level admissions scheme for school leavers from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Contact the Access Office for more information about these access routes.

The Maynooth Education

Click here for details about optional Critical Skills courses, Electives and degree pathways. 

APPLY TO THE CAO - WWW.CAO.IE

The application process depends on the type of applicant you are. Click here for all information about how to apply.

Categories of applicant:

• School-leavers (Leaving Certificate students)
• Mature students (23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University/part-time degrees the mature age is 21)
• EU/EFTA/UK students
• International students (outside the EU)
• QQI (Further Education) students
• Transferring students
• Deferring students

Duration: 4 years

1st year

• 15 credits Geography
• 15 credits Biology
• 15 credits Mathematics
• Either 15 credits of Data Science OR Experimental Physics 

2nd year

• 20 credits Biology
• 20 credits Geography
• 20 credits Statistics OR 10 credits of Statistics AND 10 credits of Critical Skills in Science Communication

3rd year

• Concentrate on Biological AND Geographical Sciences (30/30 credits), OR choose to also continue with Data Science (20/20/20 credits)

4th year

• Concentrate on Biological and Geographical Sciences and associated research activities (thesis) and/or a short work placement - subject to availabiity (5 credits)

Duration: 4 years

Disclaimer
The modules below are indicative of the content associated with this course of study.
The modules are subject to change as the curriculum is revised and reviewed annually. Please check periodically for updates.

Year 1

BIOLOGY BL1F15 - BIOLOGY Credits: 15 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION & DIVERSITY BI102 7.5 2 FROM CELL TO ORGANISM BI101 7.5 1 GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES GY1BF15 - GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES Credits: 15 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTS 1 GY161 7.5 1 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTS 2 GY162 7.5 2 LIVING LANDSCAPES 1 GY151 7.5 1 LIVING LANDSCAPES 2 GY152 7.5 2 MATHEMATICS MT1SF15 - MATHEMATICS Credits: 15 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS MT101SC 5 1 INTEGRAL CALCULUS MT102SC 5 2 LINEAR ALGEBRA 1 (S) MT113SC 5 Year-Long DATA SCIENCE DS1F15 - DATA SCIENCE Credits: 15 Not compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE 1 DS151 7.5 1 INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE 2 DS152 7.5 2 EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS EP1F15 - EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS Credits: 15 Not compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS I EP101 7.5 1 EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS II EP102 7.5 2

Year 2

SINGLE MAJOR BIOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES BG2SM - BIOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES Credits: 60 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY BI203 5 1 BIOGEOGRAPHY GY217 5 2 CLIMATOLOGY GY213 5 1 CRITICAL SKILLS: INTERSECTIONS OF SCIENCE WRITING AND MEDIA SK252 5 2 CRITICAL SKILLS: UNDERSTANDING SCIENCE WRITING AND COMMUNICATION SK251 5 1 DATA ANALYSIS ST201 5 1 DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTS ST202 5 2 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY BI207 5 1 EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY BI204 5 2 FIELD METHODS AND DATA ANALYSIS GY208 5 2 GEOMORPHOLOGY GY214 5 2 HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES GY212 5 1 INTRODUCTION TO FIELD ECOLOGY METHODS AND ANALYSIS BI220 5 2 INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS (S) ST221 5 1 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL BI210 5 2 NONPARAMETRIC STATISTICS ST204 5 2 R FOR STATISTICS AND DATA SCIENCE ST203 5 1

Year 3

SINGLE MAJOR BIOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES BG3SM - BIOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES Credits: 60 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR & COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY BI310 5 1 CLIMATE CHANGE GY313 5 1 DATA VISUALISATION ST302 5 1 DISSERTATION BI305 5 1 ECOLOGY BI303 5 1 ENVIRONMENTAL REMOTE SENSING GY314 5 1 FIELD COURSE IN ECOLOGY BI320 5 2 FIELD METHODS FOR GEOGRAPHY AND ECOLOGY GY308A 5 2 FLUVIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY GY312 5 2 GENERALISED LINEAR MODELS ST304 5 2 GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND SCIENCE GY304 5 1 GLACIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY GY315 5 2 LINEAR MODELS ST303 5 1 MICROBIOLOGY BI302 5 2 OCEANOGRAPHY GY369 5 1 PALAEOECOLOGY GY367 5 2 PLANT RESPONSES TO THE ENVIRONMENT BI306 5 2 PROBABILITY ST301 5 1 SCIENTIFIC WRITING (BIOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT) BI352 5 1 STUDY ABROAD, CHARLES UNIVERSITY PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC BG321 30 1 STUDY ABROAD, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON, UK BG322 30 1 TIME SERIES ST306 5 2

Year 4

BIOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES BG4SM - BIOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES Credits: 60 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory ADVANCED PALAEOECOLOGY GY467 5 1 BIOGEOGRAPHICAL LITERATURE PROJECT BI453 10 Year-Long BIOGEOGRAPHICAL PRIOR PROJECT BI452 10 Year-Long DATA INTERNSHIP BI450 10 Year-Long FIELD SCALE SURVEYING GY414 5 2 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES GY411 5 1 GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY & SUSTAINABILITY BI451 5 1 MOLECULAR ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY BI435 5 2 RESEARCH PROJECT GY403 10 Year-Long SEMINAR SERIES BI420 5 Year-Long STUDIES IN CONSERVATION GY412 5 2 SUSTAINABLE SOIL SYSTEMS BI454 5 2

Maynooth University Department of Biology
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/biology  

Maynooth University Department of Geography
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/geography

General enquiries

To:	ugadmissions@mu.ie
* Subject:
* Message:
* Your email:
	Please type the above security code into the field below.
* Security code:

Course enquiries

To:	biology.department@mu.ie
* Subject:
* Message:
* Your email:
	Please type the above security code into the field below.
* Security code:

After Graduation

• Examples of careers for graduates of this degree include environmental consultancy, geographical information systems officer, town planning (following relevant postgraduate study), careers in science publishing and communication, as well as biology careers in research, healthcare and conservation.
• Graduates can also continue their studies with a PME and become a second level teacher of Biology and Geography to HL Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate Science.
• Both the Department of Biology and the Department of Geography offer a range of postgraduate study options. See Get in Touch section for links to see their postgraduate options.

After Graduation

• Examples of careers for graduates of this degree include environmental consultancy, geographical information systems officer, town planning (following relevant postgraduate study), careers in science publishing and communication, as well as biology careers in research, healthcare and conservation.
• Graduates can also continue their studies with a PME and become a second level teacher of Biology and Geography to HL Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate Science.
• Both the Department of Biology and the Department of Geography offer a range of postgraduate study options. See Get in Touch section for links to see their postgraduate options.

For further information on Postgraduate options please go to the Graduate Studies site