You must apply online using the online application form. The online application form for this year will be available on this webpage.

Applications to the 2027 programme have not yet opened.

As a guideline, applications to the 2026 programme opened on 3rd February 2026.

Applications for 2026 are now closed.

There are currently five areas a student can make application for Creative Arts Points under. Those five areas are as follows:

• Creative Writing
• Drama and Theatre
• Film and Digital Media
• Non-fiction writing, including Journalism
• Music

Please note that Dance is not currently offered as an academic subject at University of Galway so it is not offered as a subject for award in this scheme.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate national or international levels of achievement within their field of practice. Indications of what constitutes national or international levels of achievement within each category are outlined below.

Drama and Theatre

1. Exceptional and/or sustained exceptional experience in drama and theatre studies (including writing, performance, design, dramatic criticism)
2. Evidence of recognition of exceptional achievement and/or professional involvement in drama and theatre

This might include: participation in a professional theatre production in performance, design, and/or other areas ; awards for writing, performance, design or dramatic criticism by a professional and/or non-school body; national or international news coverage of performance, writing, production involvement highlighting the individual’s role within it; sustained involvement with a professional theatre company in a professional and/or significant semi-professional or volunteer capacity.

NOTE: Criteria 1 and 2 should be supported where possible by documentation, photographs, video materials submitted via YouTube or Vimeo link or uploaded via application form.

Music

For consideration for an award, applicants should have exceptional potential—something equivalent in music to being an Olympian or senior county-level GAA player in sport. This means:

• (Classical music) Post-Grade 8, with experience of having a principal position in a national-level youth orchestra or choir, or a prize-winner in an advanced class in the Feis Ceoil, or the equivalent of this.
• (Composition) Experience of having a work performed or workshopped by a professional performer or ensemble.
• (Musical theatre) Experience of singing a principal role in a professional musical theatre company.
• (Popular music) Experience of professional work, ideally at a festival, and/or appearances on national radio or other media.
• (Traditional music) First prizes at national level in such competitions as the All-Ireland Fleadh (15–18 age-group), Bonn Óir Seán Ó Riada, Siansa Gael, or similar.

Recordings

• A recording, or recordings, of a complete song or movement of an instrumental piece. Excerpts are not acceptable.
• If more than one song or piece is submitted, there should be a contrast between them (in genre, style, tempo, etc.).
• The total time for the recording(s) should not be longer than 10 minutes.
• Solo performances are preferred, but in some cases a performance within an ensemble may work better. However, in an ensemble performance, the applicant’s contribution must be clearly audible.
• Composers submitting original compositions should submit a written score and, if possible, a sound file

Supporting documentation

This should emphasise why the applicant is exceptional, and draw attention to the professional or professional-level quality of their work (see above). Where possible by documentation, photographs, video materials submitted via YouTube or Vimeo link or uploaded via application form.

Creative Writing

For consideration for an award, applicants should have exceptional potential and significant experience in Creative Writing or any directly related area (for example: publications, prize-shortlisted or winning work, poetry slamming, editorship, publishing, text-related art or design).

Your application must be supported by:

1. Evidence (documentation or other materials) of this significant experience.
2. A personal statement (max 500 words) outlining your creative practice as it stands and how you envisage your future development in the Writing profession(s).

Non-fiction writing, including Journalism

For consideration for an award, applicants should have exceptional potential to become outstanding journalists, and be able to supply evidence of such under one or more of the following criteria:

1. Evidence of participation in school-based media work, including contribution to a school or local publication, online site, or social media outlet. This might include a portfolio of your best work.
2. Evidence of published or broadcast journalism at local or national level, in either print/digital, radio or television.
3. Evidence of interest in how society works, in the democratic process, or in the media generally.

Film and Digital Media

Applicants  are expected to demonstrate national or international levels of achievement within their field of practice. Indications of what constitutes national or international levels of achievement within each category are outlined below:

1. Acceptance of film or digital media work to a national or international festival or exhibition.

    2.  The receipt of local, national or international funding or awards for film or digital media work.

No, we do not conduct interviews for this scheme. Applications are assessed by submission only.

University of Galway courses must be on your CAO selection of courses but it/they do not necessarily have to be your first choice course.

Most successful applicants are likely to study the area of Creative Arts that they are seeking an award in; other students can practice their chosen art form by engaging with many of the university’s extra-curricular societies and clubs.

In 2024, there were a total of 20 awardees from 75 applications. The breakdown of offers by category in 2024 is outlined below. This will differ year to year, depending on the quality of applications in each category.

Creative Writing- 8

Film and Digital Media- 1

Drama- 4

Music- 4

Non-Fiction Writing- 3

We always commit to letting people know before the CAO change of mind deadline on 1st July.

If an applicant who receives the 40 additional performance points requests a deferral and is successful in having that request granted, the additional points will be carried over and included in the record for the following year.

Yes, students from Northern Ireland and the UK studying A-Levels can apply for the Creative Arts Performance Points.

Yes students from Europe taking A Levels, International Baccalaureate or equivalent examinations and applying through the CAO can also apply for the Creative Arts Performance Points Scheme.

We would encourage students to apply in the category that you are strongest in. A student can make an application under more than one category. However, a separate complete application would be required for each category that the student is applying under.

University of Galway notify the CAO of the students who have been successful in receiving the 40 bonus points. The CAO then apply those additional points only to applicants who have applied to a course at University of Galway.

The 40 bonus points can be applied to any undergraduate course at University of Galway with the exception of Medicine GY510.  However, a successful student must achieve a minimum of 350 points in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent examinations before they are eligible for the scheme.

For any further queries not covered by the FAQ, please email semca@universityofgalway.ie and ensure to put ‘Performance Points Query’ in the subject line.