CAO Round 1 offer are out at 2pm on Wednesday August 30Th 2023

There are many important dates that you need to be aware of over the next few weeks – here is the link to the CAO Key Dates – be familiar with them and keep an eye that nothing changes.

THE CAO Offer Process

Applicants will receive offer letters via text message or email starting at 1:00 PM. Level 8 offers will be sent first, followed by Level 7 and 6 offers.

Due to the large volume of notifications being sent, it is possible that some applicants may receive their offer later than others. Additionally, some applicants may experience phone connectivity problems that delay the delivery of their offer.

If you have not received an offer letter by 2:00 PM, please log in to your account to check your status. Applicants who do not receive an offer will receive a "Statement of Application" email.

Accepting an Offer

This year, all offer notices will be sent electronically.

There may be heavy traffic and delays on the CAO website after 2:00 PM on August 30, 2023, when offers are released. Please be patient and try again later if you experience problems.

Applicants have until September 5, 2023, at 3:00 PM to accept their Round 1 offer.

If you receive an offer and choose to accept it, you must do so online.

You must accept your offer by the reply date indicated on the Offer Notice.

If you receive an offer from both lists, you must choose one. You can only accept one offer from either the Level 8 or the Level 7/6 list in any one round.

When you accept an offer, you will receive a confirmation email. You can also check that your acceptance has been recorded online at www.cao.ie via the My Application facility.

For more information, please see the CAO Offers FAQs. 

The Available College Places

If any higher education institutions (HEIs) have new courses that open for application after the Change of Mind deadline, or if any places remain unfilled in particular courses after all offers have been made and the waiting lists of applicants meeting minimum entry requirements have been exhausted, these vacancies will be advertised.

For more information, please see the CAO Available Places page.

The CAO has produced a short video about the Available Places facility. You can watch it here:

Deferring that college place

To defer an offer of a place, you must not accept it. Instead, you must immediately email or write to the Admissions Office of the relevant higher education institution (HEI).

In your email or letter, you must include your name as it appears on your CAO application, your CAO application number, the course code of the offer you wish to defer, and the reasons for your request.

You must also mark "DEFERRED ENTRY" clearly on the envelope or in the subject line of the email.

You can also check the website of the relevant HEI to see if they have a deferral policy available online that you can refer to.

The email or letter must arrive in the Admissions Office of the institution at least two days before the reply date shown on the Offer Notice. The HEI will communicate their decision to you directly.

If the deferral is not granted, you may then accept the offer for the current year, providing you accept the offer by the reply date.

All communications about deferrals must be sent to the appropriate Admissions Office and not to the CAO.

Remember there are other options to the CAO

Don’t despair if you did not get the place that you wanted or did not receive an offer as there are other routes to your preferred career. Here is just a sample of what is available to you.

1 FE to HE Degree Route

A new scheme has been launched that allows students to start their degree course in a local further education (FE) college and then progress with guaranteed access to continue their degree studies in a Higher Education Institution.

This scheme is called the Tertiary Programme and it is open to students who have completed their Leaving Certificate or equivalent.

Students who are accepted onto the Tertiary Programme will not have to go through the traditional progression route system, which can be competitive and unpredictable.

Instead, they will be guaranteed a place in the second year of the degree course at the HEI, subject to passing exams.

To apply for the Tertiary Programme, students must apply through a new online portal hosted by the National Tertiary Office. See here:

The portal has information on the courses and entry requirements for each. It will also connect students to a regional coordinator who can provide more information and support.

The application period for the Tertiary Programme opened on July 7th and closes on September 30th.

2 Colleges of Further Education 

Post-leaving certificate courses offered by Colleges of Further Education are a great option for students who are looking for a step towards skilled employment. These courses are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workplace, and they also offer work experience opportunities.

CFE courses are full-time and last for one to two years. They lead to a QQI level 5 or 6 qualification, which is recognized by employers across Ireland.

You can find information about CFE courses on the CAO website. However, please note that the CAO is not currently accepting applications for further education courses or apprenticeships.

For more information about CFE courses and apprenticeships, you can visit the FET Course Hub website. This website has information on all aspects of further education and training, including courses, funding, and career options.

There is a short video here on further education & training and details on how to apply for courses.

You may also be eligible for the SUSI College Grant, which can help you pay for your CFE course. To find out more about the SUSI College Grant, you can visit the SUSI website.

3 Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a training program that combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training. It is a great way to learn a new skill or trade and earn a wage at the same time.

Common apprenticeships include construction, electrical, engineering, hospitality, cooking, mechanics, and IT.

The main craft trades and professions are coordinated and managed by SOLAS, the Department of Education and Science, employers, and unions.

4 Online Courses

Online programs can make it easier for students to get a qualification. Many universities and institutes of technology (ITs) offer online programs, so you can check their websites for more information.

 eCollege is a SOLAS-funded online training facility that offers a range of high-quality interactive online learning courses. These courses are available 24/7 and can be accessed through a broadband internet connection. eCollege courses are currently free of charge to anyone over the age of 18.

If you are not sure what to expect from an eCollege course, you can do a short starter course. This will give you a taste of what online learning is like and help you decide if it is the right choice for you.

5 Garda Síochana and the Defence Forces

To apply for the position of Garda Trainee, you must complete an online application through the Public Appointments Service (PAS). You can find the application form on the PAS website: www.publicjobs.ie.

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35. You can find more information about the education requirements and other eligibility criteria on the Garda Síochána website.

The Defence Forces recruit in competitions advertised periodically – see www.military.ie for further information

College and Third Level Costs

Going to college can be expensive. There are fees, laptops, equipment, travel, and accommodation to consider. However, there are a range of schemes to help you with the cost.

The main one is the Student Grant Scheme (SUSI). SUSI provides grants to students who are studying at third level institutions in Ireland. The grants can be used to cover the cost of fees, accommodation, travel, and other expenses.

To be eligible for a SUSI grant, you must meet certain criteria. You can find more information about the SUSI grant scheme on the SUSI website: www.susi.ie.

Synergy Credit Union also has a range of student loans to help you and your parents through the the third level years - from college costs to cars.  See HERE.

Do not forget our Free Draw for all students who take out a Student Loan or open a Student Current Account before September 30th 2023 - See HERE