How many pupils attend St Joseph's College?

St Joseph's College has 868 pupils on roll.

What ages does St Joseph's College take?

St Joseph's College admits pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is St Joseph's College located?

St Joseph's College is located in BELFAST, BT6 0BY, Belfast.

How do I apply to St Joseph's College?

Applications to St Joseph's College are made online through the Education Authority, which runs school admissions across Northern Ireland and sets the application dates each year. The Education Authority also publishes each school's admissions criteria, which decide who is offered a place when there are more applicants than places.

Does St Joseph's College have a religious character?

Yes — St Joseph's College has a religious character of Roman Catholic. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.

How are Year 8 places decided at St Joseph's College?

When St Joseph's College has more applications than places for 2026-27, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Applicants enrolled in the following Primary Schools in the Parishes of; Drumbo & Carryduff (St Joseph’s PS, St Ita’s PS), Holy Rosary (Holy Rosary PS, St Michael’s PS), St Bernadette’s (St Bernard’s PS), St Brigid’s (St Bride’s PS,) St Colmcille’s (St Joseph’s PS), St Malachy’s (St Malachy’s PS) and St Matthew’s (St Matthew’s PS); 2. Applicants who have a sister or a brother already enrolled in the school; 3. Applicants who are the eldest child in their family. To verify this fact, a letter from a member of the Clergy, Solicitor, or Public Servant such as a Health or Education professional directly involved with the family must be provided, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 150 places at this entry point.

What is the largest community background at St Joseph's College?

According to the DENI school census 2025-26, 69.6% of pupils at St Joseph's College are recorded as Catholic. The full community breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

St Joseph's College: ETI, Results & Catchment 2026

How places are decided at St Joseph's College

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (Year 8), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Applicants enrolled in the following Primary Schools in the Parishes of; Drumbo & Carryduff (St Joseph’s PS, St Ita’s PS), Holy Rosary (Holy Rosary PS, St Michael’s PS), St Bernadette’s (St Bernard’s PS), St Brigid’s (St Bride’s PS,) St Colmcille’s (St Joseph’s PS), St Malachy’s (St Malachy’s PS) and St Matthew’s (St Matthew’s PS).
2Applicants who have a sister or a brother already enrolled in the school.
3Applicants who are the eldest child in their family. To verify this fact, a letter from a member of the Clergy, Solicitor, or Public Servant such as a Health or Education professional directly involved with the family must be provided.
4Pupils who are deemed by the Board of Governors, on the basis of the supporting evidence from parents and/or medical personnel and/or statutory agencies and/or other sources, to have special circumstances e.g. medical, social, pastoral or other. All supporting evidence must be submitted with the Transfer Application Parents/Guardians should note that not every special circumstance applicant will be automatically deemed by the Board of Governors to have special circumstances.
5Applicants whose Transfer Application expresses a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. preference for St Joseph’s College, with admission being granted in that order, after the above criteria have been applied.
6Final placement will be determined on distance by foot from home to College as measured using maps.google.co.uk. In the event that there is a tie & that more than one applicant resides the same distance by foot from home to college, applicants will be selected on the basis of random selection by computer.

Northern Ireland open-enrolment admissions criteria, as published by the Education Authority for entry in September 2026.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

St Joseph's College: key facts

How many pupils attend St Joseph's College?: St Joseph's College has 868 pupils on roll.
What ages does St Joseph's College take?: St Joseph's College admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is St Joseph's College located?: St Joseph's College is located in BELFAST, BT6 0BY, Belfast.
How do I apply to St Joseph's College?: Applications to St Joseph's College are made online through the Education Authority, which runs school admissions across Northern Ireland and sets the application dates each year. The Education Authority also publishes each school's admissions criteria, which decide who is offered a place when there are more applicants than places.
Does St Joseph's College have a religious character?: Yes — St Joseph's College has a religious character of Roman Catholic. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.
How are Year 8 places decided at St Joseph's College?: When St Joseph's College has more applications than places for 2026-27, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Applicants enrolled in the following Primary Schools in the Parishes of; Drumbo & Carryduff (St Joseph’s PS, St Ita’s PS), Holy Rosary (Holy Rosary PS, St Michael’s PS), St Bernadette’s (St Bernard’s PS), St Brigid’s (St Bride’s PS,) St Colmcille’s (St Joseph’s PS), St Malachy’s (St Malachy’s PS) and St Matthew’s (St Matthew’s PS); 2. Applicants who have a sister or a brother already enrolled in the school; 3. Applicants who are the eldest child in their family. To verify this fact, a letter from a member of the Clergy, Solicitor, or Public Servant such as a Health or Education professional directly involved with the family must be provided, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 150 places at this entry point.
What is the largest community background at St Joseph's College?: According to the DENI school census 2025-26, 69.6% of pupils at St Joseph's College are recorded as Catholic. The full community breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How places are decided at St Joseph's College

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (Year 8), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Applicants enrolled in the following Primary Schools in the Parishes of; Drumbo & Carryduff (St Joseph’s PS, St Ita’s PS), Holy Rosary (Holy Rosary PS, St Michael’s PS), St Bernadette’s (St Bernard’s PS), St Brigid’s (St Bride’s PS,) St Colmcille’s (St Joseph’s PS), St Malachy’s (St Malachy’s PS) and St Matthew’s (St Matthew’s PS).
2Applicants who have a sister or a brother already enrolled in the school.
3Applicants who are the eldest child in their family. To verify this fact, a letter from a member of the Clergy, Solicitor, or Public Servant such as a Health or Education professional directly involved with the family must be provided.
4Pupils who are deemed by the Board of Governors, on the basis of the supporting evidence from parents and/or medical personnel and/or statutory agencies and/or other sources, to have special circumstances e.g. medical, social, pastoral or other. All supporting evidence must be submitted with the Transfer Application Parents/Guardians should note that not every special circumstance applicant will be automatically deemed by the Board of Governors to have special circumstances.
5Applicants whose Transfer Application expresses a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. preference for St Joseph’s College, with admission being granted in that order, after the above criteria have been applied.
6Final placement will be determined on distance by foot from home to College as measured using maps.google.co.uk. In the event that there is a tie & that more than one applicant resides the same distance by foot from home to college, applicants will be selected on the basis of random selection by computer.

Northern Ireland open-enrolment admissions criteria, as published by the Education Authority for entry in September 2026.

St Joseph's College: key facts

How many pupils attend St Joseph's College?: St Joseph's College has 868 pupils on roll.
What ages does St Joseph's College take?: St Joseph's College admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is St Joseph's College located?: St Joseph's College is located in BELFAST, BT6 0BY, Belfast.
How do I apply to St Joseph's College?: Applications to St Joseph's College are made online through the Education Authority, which runs school admissions across Northern Ireland and sets the application dates each year. The Education Authority also publishes each school's admissions criteria, which decide who is offered a place when there are more applicants than places.
Does St Joseph's College have a religious character?: Yes — St Joseph's College has a religious character of Roman Catholic. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.
How are Year 8 places decided at St Joseph's College?: When St Joseph's College has more applications than places for 2026-27, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Applicants enrolled in the following Primary Schools in the Parishes of; Drumbo & Carryduff (St Joseph’s PS, St Ita’s PS), Holy Rosary (Holy Rosary PS, St Michael’s PS), St Bernadette’s (St Bernard’s PS), St Brigid’s (St Bride’s PS,) St Colmcille’s (St Joseph’s PS), St Malachy’s (St Malachy’s PS) and St Matthew’s (St Matthew’s PS); 2. Applicants who have a sister or a brother already enrolled in the school; 3. Applicants who are the eldest child in their family. To verify this fact, a letter from a member of the Clergy, Solicitor, or Public Servant such as a Health or Education professional directly involved with the family must be provided, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 150 places at this entry point.
What is the largest community background at St Joseph's College?: According to the DENI school census 2025-26, 69.6% of pupils at St Joseph's College are recorded as Catholic. The full community breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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St Joseph's College

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