When you're looking at university courses on UCAS, you'll see two main types of entry requirements: subject requirements and Tariff requirements. Subject requirements mean you need specific grades in particular Leaving Cert subjects (like a H4 in Maths). Tariff requirements are a total points score you need to achieve across all your Leaving Cert subjects.

Do most courses accept one over the other?
Most courses will primarily focus on specific subject requirements as they need you to have a certain level of knowledge in key areas for the course. However, some courses might also list a Tariff point requirement as an alternative way to be considered, especially if you have a strong overall Leaving Cert result but don't meet the exact subject grades.

Do some accept both?
Yes, some courses might state both specific subject grades and a minimum Tariff point total. This means you need to satisfy both conditions to be eligible.

Leaving Cert Grades and the Tariff
The UCAS Tariff assigns points to different Leaving Cert grades at both Higher and Ordinary Levels. Universities using the Tariff will specify a total number of these points you need to achieve for entry. For example, a course might require 300 UCAS Tariff points, which you could get through a combination of your Leaving Cert results.

IMPORTANT! You can count ALL your Leaving Cert subjects towards your Tariff points - not just your top 6! However there are no bonus points for Higher level Math and LCVP doesn't count as a subject.  

Key takeaway
Always check the specific entry requirements for each course you're interested in on the UCAS website to see if they focus on particular subject grades, a total Tariff score, or both. The Tariff offers some flexibility, but specific subject knowledge is often crucial.