Leaving Cert

Leaving Cert Subjects

Subjects & Career Choice

Another perspective worth considering when making subject choices is their relationship to career areas and college courses.  As a guideline, here are some pointers that you may find useful for a range of popular career areas:

Please note: These are guidlines based on popular choices, and do not indicate essential subject requirements!


Primary School Teaching
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Biology
  • History/Geography
  • Religion
  • Your favourite subject

Architecture
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Physics
  • Art
  • Design & Communication Graphics

Business
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Business/Accountancy
  • Economics
  • Your favourite subject

Nursing
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Biology
  • Chemistry/Agricultural Science
  • Home Economics - Scientific and Social
  • Your favourite subject

Physiotherapy
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Biology
  • Physics/Chemistry
  • Your favourite subject

Science
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Biology/Chemistry
  • Physics/Agricultural Science
  • Geography
  • Your favourite subject

Medicine
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Chemistry
  • Biology/Physics/Agricultural Science
  • Your favourite subject

Psychology
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Biology
  • Business/Economics
  • Your favourite subject

Engineering
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Physics
  • Chemistry/Engineering
  • Design & Communication Graphics
  • Applied Maths

Law
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Business
  • History/Classical Studies
  • Your favourite subject

Agricultural Science
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Agricultural Science
  • Business/Agricultural Economics
  • Biology
  • Your favourite subject

Veterinary
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Chemistry
  • Biology/Agricultural Science
  • Your favourite subject

Computer Science
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Physics
  • Design & Communication Graphics
  • Your favourite subject

Dentistry
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Chemistry
  • Biology/Physics
  • Your favourite subject

Social Science
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Geography
  • Religion
  • Your favourite subject

Hotel Management
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Business
  • Home Economics - Scientific and Social
  • Your favourite subject

Pharmacy
  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Your favourite subject
Liz Christy, Textile Design/Handweaver

What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?

The subjects I took at shool all influenced me in different ways. English is very necessary in how I represent myself, Maths is oh so important in so many ways from yarn calculations to understanding numeric’s in business.

Art was very influential in my career path. I was introduced to Impressionism and Monet who is a major inspiration in my current work and marketing mix. 

I wish I was better at Irish and I would use it in my business marketing. History influenced how I relate to current affairs, Home Economics is vital in developing my needlecraft skills which is an important aspect of my business. 

Biology, well I do enjoy gardening as a hobby and my husband is a student psychiatric nurse so a knowledge of biology has come in useful over the years.

Ask me another question!
Maree O’Brien, Guest Experience Manager, Sustainability & Innovation Lead

What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?

Well, if anything, my story is a cautionary tale about always listening to your heart and doing what you truly want to do. If I had followed mine, I would have gone into Hotel and Catering Management straight away. But I believe that no matter what path you take, you’ll always find your way back to the thing you love. For me, that’s working as a Guest Experience Manager. Despite the detour, the life and work experience I’ve gained along the way has been invaluable, helping me develop my role and enhance our guest experience. It’s taken a winding road, but for now I’m exactly where I’m meant to be, doing what I’m passionate about.

Ask me another question!
Jonathan O’Reilly, Principal Social Worker

What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?

I know that these days there is a wider range of school subjects that might promote a social work career, in my day these didn’t exist. My strongest subjects were English (which has assisted in report writing and Court work) and Geography (which hasn’t really assisted at all), but it was the extra-curricular school activities that influenced my career path. Whereas I had entertained the idea of careers in journalism and drama, it was working with young tourists during the summer, and ‘Care Week’ in transition year that influenced me the most.

Ask me another question!
Close
Close

Searching for...