Completing your CAO Application

You should be very clearly aware that, in completing the form (online or paper), you accept all the directions and conditions set out in it and in the Handbook.

Information before Applying

1. You should not attempt to complete the form without first doing three things:

• Examine carefully the appropriate HEI literature about the courses available, entry requirements, course content, restrictions, etc.
• If you go to the CAO website at www.cao.ie and click on a course code, you will be linked immediately to the page for that course on the website of the HEI.
• Contact the appropriate HEI admissions office if unclear about any points in the literature or the HEI website.]

2. Find out whether fees are payable for the course. The "Free Fees Scheme" may not apply to all courses, or applicants, or HEIs.

3. Examine carefully the contents of the CAO Handbook (and directions given in the online system, if applying by that route).

4. You are responsible for ensuring that you meet the specified entry requirements and conditions for all courses.  The processing of an application at any stage should not be taken as an indication of eligibility for any course(s).

Defective Information

WARNING: The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) participating in the CAO System reserve the right not to consider applications and to cancel any offers of places in cases where requested information has not been provided or where falsified or misleading information has been supplied.

Applications willl be assessed on the basis of the information which is supplied. Neither CAO nor the HEIs will accept any responsibility for any loss or hardship arising from failure to supply correct and complete information at the appropriate time.

Only one Application: In any one year, you may not present more than one application (either online or paper). To rectify the submissions of more than one application, an extra fee of €10 will be imposed. If you think you may have already submitted an online application, please check using the 'My Application' button before attempting to submit a second online application.

Need for care in completing Applications

It is essential that you take great care in completing the Application. If using the paper application:

• Your handwriting must be very clear
• Take particular care to ensure that the letters and numbers in Course Codes are clear and unambiguous
• If you use incorrect Course Codes, the consequences can be very serious
• You are urged most strongly to get another person to check your form before posting it
• There is a checklist on the reverse of the Application Pack envelope for your convenience

Completing Application Form Part A (Pages 1 and 2):

1. Part A (Pages 1 and 2 of this form) is self-explanatory and will normally be sufficient for Republic of Ireland school-leavers who form the vast majority of applicants and those who are only presenting one or more of the examinations named on Page 2 of the form.  (Results of those examinations are obtained by CAO direct from examining authorities).
2. You should note that you may face complications in the future if the name on your birth certificate is different from the name on your application (which is used subsequently for registration and graduation documents).
3. Part B (Pages 3 and 4 of the form) is designed to cater for Non-Standard Applicants who must make an entry on Page 3 of the form.

Order of Preference: 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.

Completing Application Form Part B (Pages 3 and 4):

1. Tick whichever of the SPECIAL CATEGORIES on Page 3 of the form applies in your case and give the necessary information as stipulated below.  If there is not sufficient space on Page 4 of the form to give all of the information required, you may attach additional sheets of paper (on which you should write your name and address).
2. In respect of examinations already completed, you MUST supply to CAO certificates for all qualifications which you mention on Page 3 of the form.
3. Certificates should show dates, subjects and results.
4. They should NOT be originals, they should be photocopies - certified typically by a school stamp.
5. A certified English translation is required in the case of qualifications not issued originally in English or Irish.
6. In the case of those who apply online, instructions about the submission of any additional documentation will appear on screen.  Such documents must arrive in the CAO within seven days of the submission of the online application.
7. All documents must be sent to CAO.  Do NOT send anything to the individual HEIs unless requested specifically to do so.

It is advisable to retain a record of the courses for which you have applied.  Print a copy of your online application receipt or, for paper applications, use the form supplied in the Handbook.

Incorrect or Incomplete Applications

CAO reserves the absolute right to suspend processing of any application which is considered to be either incomplete or incorrectly completed.  In such a case, you may be requested to make good any deficiency by a specific date.  Processing will resume only after you have done this by the specified date , and upon payment of an additional processing fee of €10.

Errors or omissions in course choices are dealt with seperately. Submitting your application online greatly reduces your chances of making an error.

• Your CAO Application Number will appear on your "Receipt of Online Application".

Application Form (Part B) Special Categories

1. GCE/GCSE
2. Other School Leaving Exams
3. NCVA Level 2/3 (pre 2002)
4. Further Education (Other than FETAC Level 5/6 & NCVA Level 2/3)
5. Higher Education
6. Mature Students - Over 23 years of age on 1st January.

You may use additional sheets of paper if necessary.

To help you in presenting your application:

1. You may begin by explaining the relevance of your life/educational experience to your application and state your educational goals and objectives.
2. Final secondary level qualification awarded.
3. Post-secondary level qualifications.
4. Current studies.
5. Non-certificate courses.
6. Employment.
7. Voluntary (Unpaid) Work, Hobbies or Interests.