• All Hallows College, Dublin 9
• American College Dublin
• Athlone Institute of Technology
• Carlow College
• Church of Ireland College, Dublin 6
• Colaiste Mhuire, Marino
• Cork Institute of Technology
• Dublin Business School & DBS School of Arts
• Dublin City University
• Dublin Institute of Technology
• Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
• Dundalk Institute of Technology
• Galway-Mayo Insititute of Technology
• Grafton College of Management Sciences, Dublin City
• Griffith College Cork
• Griffith College Dublin
• Griffith College, Limerick
• IBAT College, swords
• Independent colleges dublin
• Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown
• Institute of Technology, Carlow
• Institute of Technology, Sligo
• Institute of Technology, Tallaght
• Institute of Technology, Tralee
• Letterkenny Institute of Technology
• Limerick Institute of Technology
• Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick
• Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin 3
• National College of Art and Design, Dublin 8
• National College of Ireland, Dublin City
• National Counselling and Psychotherapy Institute of Ireland, Limerick
• National University of Ireland Galway
• National University of Ireland, Maynooth
• Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin City
• Shannon College of Hotel Management, Limerick
• St. Angela’s College, Sligo
• St. Patricks College, Dublin 9
• St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth
• St. Patrick’s College,Thurles
• Tipperary Institute
• Trinity College
• University College Cork
• University College Dublin
• University of Limerick
• Waterford Institute of Technology

The first thing to think of when choosing a CAO course is what you actually want to do.  If you’re interested in computers there’s not much point putting arts courses on your list just because you think you‘ll have a better chance of getting the points.  However, you do need to be realistic.  If you’re getting mostly Cs you’re not going to get the points for medicine so why waste an option applying for it?  You’re only allowed to choose 10 courses on each list so you need to put quite a bit of thought into what you’d like to spend 3-4 years studying.  Obviously, what you want to do after college and, unfortunately, how many points you’re likely to get in your Leaving Cert will also need to be taken into consideration, so a bit of research is required.

Make a list of the courses you’d really like to do, then check into how many points are required for each and eliminate the courses you have no chance of getting enough points for.  Don’t be too pessimistic though.  If you leave off a course you’d really like to do because you think you probably won’t get the points for it, you could end up kicking yourself in August if your exams go well.  Try asking your teachers how they think you’ll do – they should be more objective than you and their comments might surprise you.  It certainly won’t hurt to ask!  Once you’ve decided what’s out of reach, arrange the remaining courses in order of preference.  This is vital.  You will be offered the highest-placed course on your list that you have enough points for, so think carefully about which one you want most.  Even if you don’t get it in the first round of offers, there’ll still be a chance you could get it in the second round.  When you read your CAO handbook you‘ll see that it tells you:

“It is MOST IMPORTANT that you state your course choices in view of genuine preference and/or career plans.  IT IS A MISTAKE to base your choices only on your present expectation of examination performance or the points levels of previous years.  There is no need to fear that a statement of your genuine order of preference will militate against you.  If you are not successful in your first choice, this will have no effect on your chances of obtaining a place in one of your lower preferences.”

Despite this, every year students end up being offered a course other than the one they really wanted because they didn’t think they’d get the points.  Try not to be one of them.

Another thing to bear in mind, especially if you’re worried that your results might not be as good as you’re hoping for, is that there are often “back doors” into a career.  For example, if you’re interested in medicine you can do a degree in biology and then go on to do medicine.  Also, you don’t necessarily have to become a doctor.  You could choose nursing, physiotherapy, radiology or pharmacology.  For those interested in business there are business courses but also management, economics and accounting.  There are ways round the points requirements if you really want to do something, but you must bear in mind that the way around will often take longer and cost more.

The actual application is pretty simple but the CAO recommends that you use the online process as it’s practically foolproof and it’s very unlikely you’ll make an error using it.  There is also the option on the website of going through an interactive “demo” application procedure before filling in your actual application. The form has two lists; Level 8 (for honours degree courses) and Level 7/6 (for ordinary degree or higher certificate courses).  You can apply to both lists, they operate independently of each other.  Some courses, e.g. Art and Design or music degree courses, are “restricted application”.  These courses will be noted in the handbook and must be applied for by Feb 1 (though you can use the correction or amendment facility between February 5 and March 1).  An application to these courses will not be considered in a later application unless you’ve applied for them first time round, as some of them have extra assessment procedures, e.g. music tests, that take place usually in March or April.  So, if you are interested make sure you put them on your list.  You can always remove them later if you change your mind.  Although the deadline for initial applications is 1st February, you may change your mind up until 1st July.  To apply online, visit www.cao.ie.  As well as making your application, you can get lots of helpful information from the website, which has links to each college.  This means you can get lots of information on the colleges and on each course.  It’s a good idea to check out the website in advance of making your decision.

Finally, in spite of what a lot of people will tell you at this time, remember that this is NOT the most important decision you’ll ever make.  Apart from the fact that it is, after all, reversible – you can always change courses or do more than one – there is more to life than study and if your decisions turn out to be incorrect you will have other chances at furthering your study and career.

The programme sets out to recognise the talents of all students and to provide opportunities for developing personal responsibility, self-esteem and self-knowledge. The programme focuses on the talents of each student and helps students apply what they learn to the real world.

The two-year programme consists of four half-year blocks called sessions. Achievements are credited in each session.

Courses are offered in three main areas:

* Vocational preparation, involving work experience, enterprise and communication
* General education, offering lifeskills, the arts, social education, leisure and language
* Vocational education.

Course structure

Each course consists of a number of modules. Each module takes place over half a year. There is also a wide range of practical courses, called vocational specialisms, from which the student can choose.

Assessment and examinations

Assessment is continuous throughout the course and there is a final examination.

Assessment takes place on the completion of modules and practical activities that allow the student to integrate the learning from different courses.

The final examination must be taken in the following areas:

* English and communication
* Two vocational specialisms
* Mathematical applications
* Language
* Social education.

There are written and oral examinations in all languages. There are practical examinations in the vocational specialisms. The written examinations take place in June, at the same time as the examinations for the established Leaving Certificate.

The certificate awarded

Students who successfully complete the programme are awarded a Leaving Certificate from the Department of Education and Skills. The certificate is awarded at three levels:
Level Marks and Credits Required

• Pass 60-69% (120-139 credits)
• Merit 70-84% (140-169 credits)
• Distinction 85-100% (170-200 credits)

Candidates who get less than 60% (120 credits) or who do not complete the course, are awarded a record of experience.

A pass in the Leaving Certificate Applied is the equivalent of 6 Grade Ds at Ordinary Level in the established Leaving Certificate.
Eligibility for further education and third-level courses

A student who has been awarded the Leaving Certificate Applied can go on to a very wide range of Post-Leaving Certificate courses (PLCs). These are available in local post-primary schools and colleges.

The PLC courses can lead on to a National Certificate Level 2 (FETAC Level 2). These are generally one-year full-time courses. There are also some part-time courses that can be taken over a longer period.

There are more than 50 awards available in five broad areas – Art/Design, Business, Science, Services/Leisure and Communications/Media studies.

Students with the Leaving Certificate Applied cannot gain direct entry through the Central Applications Office (CAO) system to the universities or Colleges of Technology.

However, those who get a Further Education and Training Awards (FETAC) Level 2 award can be eligible for some third-level courses in the Institutes of Technology and through these to some degree programmes.

Students cannot go directly to nursing but may be eligible to apply as a mature student with certain FETAC qualifications or relevant experience.

Students with the Leaving Certificate Applied can also go on to FÁS Apprenticeship programmes. Many students go directly to employment.

Rates

The fee for entry for school-based students of the Leaving Certificate Applied for 2010 is €109. Further information on State examination fees is here.

Candidates who hold a current medical card or who are dependent on a parent or guardian who holds a current medical card are exempt from paying examination fees. Applicants who are claiming exemption from fees on this basis must provide medical card details to the Commission. Applications from external candidates received after 29 January 2010 are subject to late fees even if the initial fee has been waived.

How to apply

If you are a post-primary school student, your details will be sent to the State Examinations Commission by your school. If you are an external (non-school) candidate for the Leaving Certificate Applied you can apply online or on the application form available from the State Examinations Commission (SEC). You can find the written examination timetable (pdf) and the timetable for practical work (pdf) on the SEC website. You can view previous Leaving Certificate Applied examination papers here.

Where to apply
State Examinations Commission
Cornamaddy
Athlone
Westmeath

Tel: +353 (0)90 644 2700
Fax: +353 (0)90 644 2744
Homepage: http://www.examinations.ie/

The third-level education sector in Ireland consists of universities, institutes of technology, and colleges of education – collectively known as higher education institutions or HEIs. Third-level qualifications are Levels 6-10 in the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The Framework is a system of 10 levels which allows national and international educational qualifications to be compared.

Universities

Universities in Ireland are state-funded, but they are generally autonomous. University students qualify with Ordinary Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 7) or Honors Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 8). You can choose from 4 universities in Ireland. These include:

• The National University of Ireland (NUI), which is the umbrella university covering University College Dublin, University College Galway, University College Cork, and St. Patrick’s College in Maynooth. The NUI also has recognised colleges including the National College of Art and Design and the Royal College of Surgeons
• The University of Dublin, which is generally known as Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
• The University of Limerick (UL)
• Dublin City University (DCU)

Institutes of technology

There are 14 institutes of technology located around the country. In the Dublin area they are Dublin, Tallaght, Blanchardstown and Dun Laoghaire. Around the country they are in Cork, Waterford, Tralee, Dundalk, Athlone, Galway and Mayo, Sligo, Letterkenny, Limerick, and Carlow. These colleges run courses in Engineering, Computing, Science, Business, Catering and a wide range of other areas. Students generally qualify with Higher Certificates (NFQ Level 6) or Ordinary Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 7). Honours Bachelors degrees are also available.

Colleges of education

There are several colleges of education in Ireland, providing specialised training for primary school teachers.

Private colleges

In addition to the state-funded colleges, there are a number of fee-paying third-level educational institutions offering courses, mainly in professional vocational training and business. Some of these colleges are linked to universities or professional associations and their qualifications may be accredited accordingly. Others offer Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) accreditation. It is important to check out the accreditation on offer before you choose your course.

Picking a course

The Central Applications Office (CAO), which is based in Galway, operates a centralised applications procedure for all third-level colleges. The CAO website has a listing of all of the third-level courses on offer through their system. You can also check the Findacourse.ie website for lists of higher education courses. If you have identified some courses that are of particular interest, you can obtain more detailed information about them from the relevant colleges.

Rules

The points system

Entrance to third-level education in Ireland is generally decided by competition. At the end of their secondary school education, students sit the Leaving Certificate exam and their grades are converted into numerical points based on scores in their 6 best subjects. These points are calculated and third-level places are awarded on that basis. You can find more information in our document on applications procedures and entry requirements.

Recognition of qualifications from other countries

If you have taken your secondary school exams under another system in another country, you will need to check whether your qualifications will be sufficient to secure a place in the Irish third-level course of your choice. You can do this through the Qualifications Recognition service of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland. You should then contact the college directly to confirm this before making your application unless it is a college in the Institutes of Technology Central Evaluation Forum.

English language requirements

English is the language of instruction at all third-level colleges in Ireland (some colleges also instruct in the Irish language) so you will need to show that you are proficient in the language before you will be accepted on a course. Colleges’ requirements differ but generally they look for an acceptable English language proficiency test, for example the TOEFL or equivalent. You may be able to take English courses at the college of your choice, but if these are not available there are a number of private English language colleges around the country.

Mature students

A small number of places are retained for mature students, those over the age of 23. These places are designed to improve access to third-level for adults who may not have sufficient points from their Leaving Certificate to compete with school-leavers. If you are interested in applying for one of these places, you should first contact the college of your choice. Some colleges require you to apply through the Central Applications Office and you must apply before 1 February of the year you start your course.

There are a number of part-time and modular courses and distance education options available if the full-time education option does not suit your circumstances.

Student visas and permission to remain

Non-EEA students

If you are travelling from a country that requires a visa to enter Ireland, you need to apply for a student visa. If you are not required to have a visa to enter Ireland, you do not need a student visa to study in Ireland but you should have your letter of offer of a place at the school, or educational institution and your other documentation ready for inspection at immigration.

Proposed changes to student immigration: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has proposed changes to the immigration system for full-time non-EEA students including: from January 2010 a cap on the length of time they can stay in Ireland as students; and from January 2011 a visa requirement for all non-EEA students.

All non-EEA students must register with their local immigration officer to get permission to remain in Ireland. The website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) has details of what evidence is required. From September 2008 non-EEA students coming to Ireland for the first time may not get permission to remain in Ireland if they have their children with them, or intend their children to join them later on. There is more information about the children of non-EEA students on the INIS website.

EEA students

Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not need a student visa nor do they require permission to remain in Ireland.

Third level graduate scheme

From 10 April 2007 non-EEA students who have graduated on or after 1 January 2007 with a primary, master’s or doctorate degree may be permitted to remain in Ireland for 6 months. The Third Level Graduate Scheme allows them to find employment and apply for a work permit or Green Card permit. They must be legally resident in Ireland and should apply for this 6-month extension of their student permission (stamp 2) to their local immigration registration office.

Rates

Each higher education institution sets its own fee rates. You should contact the ones you are interested in to find out more about their fees. You can find a list of higher education institutions on the website of the Department of Education and SKills.

Free fees: If you are a European Union national or have official refugee status and you have been normally resident in a EU member state for at least 3 of the 5 years before beginning third-level education, you will not be charged fees for approved full-time undergraduate courses in state-run universities and institutes of technology. You may however have to pay a small amount for registration, examinations etc. You may be eligible for a maintenance grant. Funding is not awarded where students already hold an undergraduate degree.

EU fees: If you are an EU citizen or have official refugee status and you have received all your post-primary in the EU but have not been resident in an EU state for 3 of the 5 years before beginning third-level education you may qualify for EU fees. Alternatively, if you are not an EU citizen but you have been residing in an EU country for 3 of the last 5 years before entering third-level education you may be eligible for EU fees.

Non-EU fees: If you are applying for a place at third level as an overseas student, you will be charged full tuition fees and you will not be eligible for a maintenance grant.

If you choose to enrol in a private college, you will have to pay annual fees. These vary from college to college.

Tax relief: You may be able to claim tax relief on third-level tuition fees.

How to apply

Apply to the Central Applications Office (CAO) using a CAO application form. Make sure that you enclose the appropriate fee with your application.

For participating higher education institutions, application can be made on-line through the CAO.

Application deadlines for EU/EEA nationals

Your application should be submitted by 1 February of the year you wish to start the course.

If you miss the February deadline, you can submit your application up to 1 May. You will have to pay an additional “late fee”.

Application deadlines for non-EEA nationals

If you are now, or have been in the past, resident outside the EEA, you may be required to apply directly to the higher education institution (HEI). You need to contact the admissions office of the following HEIs to enquire whether you should apply through the CAO or directly to the HEI.

You should make your enquiries well before the closing date of 1 February and preferably not later than the previous 15 December. If you are applying to any other HEI you should apply through the CAO.

Applying through British UCAS system

The number of Irish students applying to UCAS (the British Universities and Colleges Admissions System) has increased a little in recent years, with about 6,000 people applying in 2009.

Although the normal closing date for applications to UCAS for 2010 is January 15 next, the application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses and for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge is October 15.

Q: I am applying now through the UCAS system for a college place in the UK next autumn. The application requires me to make a personal statement. What should I put in it? How long should it de?

A: UCAS’s own website, at www.ucas.co.uk, gives excellent advice on how to write a personal statement. Just follow the links for “Students”, then “Applying”, then “How to apply”, and you will find a description of all the steps involved, including “personal statement”.

As far as length is concerned, the website advises that you can use 4,000 characters of text including spaces, or 47 lines of text including blank lines, and this usually works out at about 600 words.

Explain why you want to study the course you are applying for.

Practice writing about yourself. Begin by making a list of your hobbies and achievements, and then decide which ones demonstrate your strongest skills and personality.

You could include details of jobs, placements, work experience or voluntary work, particularly if it’s relevant to your chosen course or courses. You should show that you understand what the course involves.

Q: How important is the personal statement in the UCAS application?

A: Some colleges find the personal statements very important, while others do not put much emphasis on them. Since applicants do not know which category of admissions officer or course tutor might be reading their personal statement, they should make it as good as possible.

Q: Does the Irish CAO (Central Applications Office) system require applicants to make a personal statement?

A: There is no provision for standard school-leaving applicants to make any statement, although non-standard and mature applicants should do so.

But the process of writing a personal statement, in which you are required to reflect on your own aptitudes and interests, and on the nature of the course you are applying to, is a valuable one.

School-leaving applicants in the CAO system might learn a lot about themselves and the courses they are applying for, if they prepared a mock personal statement.

Source: www.independent.ie

The Institute of Technology Sector in Ireland comprises of thirteen Institutes established under the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. These Institutes are also designated as recognised institutions under section 24 of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999. Located throughout the country, they provide a wide range of courses from craft/apprentice programmes tohigher technical/technological education through two-year Higher Certificate, three-year Ordinary Bachelor Degree and three to five-year Honours Bachelor Degrees. The Institutes also provide a range of postgraduate programmes at Postgraduate Diploma, Masters and Doctoral level. In addition, the Institutes play an important role in providing for recurrent educational needs by way of part-time and evening courses as well as catering for continuing professional education and development of the workforce through innovative partnerships with industry.

Over the last ten years, Irish IT’s have built a strong reputation in engaging in Applied and Basic Research and Technology Transfer programmes with industry.The Institutes, which have only been a feature of Irish Higher education since the 1970’s, have demonstrated an ability and agility in responding to economic changes in a regional, national and international context. The Technological Sector now accounts for almost 50% of those pursuing third level educational qualifications in Ireland.

In 2003, nursing became part of the CAO Degree List, CAO Courses in nursing are run in the following institutes..

CAO Nursing Courses

To view more details on nursing courses in Ireland view the following link; Findacourse.ie – Nursing Courses

The CAO awards points to students based on their achievements in the Leaving Certificate examination. A student’s points are calculated according to these tables, counting their best six subjects only (resulting in a max of 600 points). If a student has sat the Leaving Cert more than once, their points are calculated according to their best year’s performance. If you dont get the points required for admission, you wont be offered a place on your chosen course.