CAO (Central Applications Office) CAO Online Application 2023-2024
We(zainfo.co.za team) are pleased to inform you About CAO (Central Applications Office) 2023-2024 Application, Handbook and Guide
The CAO (Central Applications Office) manages most undergraduate applicants for the Higher Education Institutes in Ireland.
Who should apply via CAO?
All EU applicants for first year of undergraduate degree courses (excluding distance and online learning) should apply via CAO.
How do I apply?
Generally, if you are an EU/EFTA applicant* for the first year of an undergraduate degree, you must apply via the Central Applications Office (CAO). It is best to apply online at www.cao.ie. The CAO handbook, which gives details of application procedures and closing dates, is available on the CAO website.
| Central Applications Office Tower House Eglinton Street Galway |
Website: www.cao.ie
Phone: 091 509800 |
* EU/EFTA status is based on fee assessment criteria.
Applicants not eligible for EU fees and transfer applicants (post-year 1) must apply directly to the University.
What’s the closing date?
The normal closing date is 1 February, although there is a reduced application fee for applying before 20 January. Late applications are accepted up to 1 May except for categories of applicant (DARE, HEAR and Mature for most courses). For students currently registered in a HEI in Ireland there is a special closing date of 22 July.
How many courses can I apply for?
You can select up to 10 different level 8 courses on the CAO form. When entering your course choices it is extremely important that you list your courses based on your genuine order of preference and not on assumptions about examination performance or what you think the points will be for a course.
At the offer stage, you will receive an offer of the course highest up on your course choices list(s) that you are deemed eligible for, if any. For example, if you receive your first preference Level 8 course in Round One you will not receive an offer for a lower Level 8 preference in subsequent rounds. If you receive an offer of your third preference course you may still receive an offer of your second or first preference course in a subsequent round of offers, but you will not receive an offer of your fourth preference course or lower.
Please note: you cannot place a CAO code on your CAO form twice even if there are different options within the course.
How are applications assessed?
Admission to all courses is competitive (i.e. there are more applicants than places) and, other than access routes (e.g. mature years or QQI-FET), is based on the Leaving Certificate points system or equivalent.
For CAO applicants, we do not require personal statements (with the exception of Veterinary Medicine which requires evidence of work experience) or interviews. All eligible applicants are scored using a points system based on the Irish Leaving Certificate. There are equivalent scoring systems for A-level and EU Applicants. In the case of Medicine, the HPAT-Ireland results are taken in combination with the school-leaving results.