There will be 78 Tertiary Bachelor's Degree programmes available to students for the 2026/2027 academic year, an increase of 32.
Among the new options available are a new route into primary teaching, as well as in health and welfare, business, applied sciences, arts and ICT.
Tertiary Bachelor's Degree routes are co-designed by higher education institutions and the education and training boards to provide new pathways from further education to higher education.
They are outside of the CAO points system, and there are no fees while a student is learning in the ETB setting.
The 2026/2027 year will be the fourth academic year they will be operating, having initially started with just 13 programmes.
Head of the National Tertiary Office, Tanya Jones, said the tertiary process provides an additional road into degree programmes outside of the CAO system.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said it is an alternative way into third-level education "outside of those traditional barriers like points and college fees for the first year".
She added: "You're still not compromising on quality, getting the same fully recognised degree as your peers who have followed the traditional routes."
Ms Jones explained that a Tertiary Bachelor Degree begins in the Education and Training Board for the first year or two of the programme with no fees for the students.
"And then they're seamlessly and guaranteed progress to higher education institutions."
She said that there are 16 ETBs across 24 counties in Ireland and 13 universities engaging in the delivery of the Tertiary Bachelor's Degrees in 2026.
Ms Jones said that the application process is simple and done through the ETB website.
She said that after an application is submitted, the applicant is called for an engagement with the education training boards.
"It could be an interview or personal statement. It's much more personalised process, not just counting the points and numbers, but actually talking to people about their aspirations, about their talents and what career would they like to pursue."
The priority groups on the National Access Plan include those students from certain backgrounds, for example, with low-income households, mature students returning to education, lone parents or carers or care-experienced students.
"We're trying to give an additional pathway for those who are underrepresented in higher education at the moment."
