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Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
CAO change of mind: Keep an open mind on key life choice
With 89,258 CAO applications in this year, it is unknown what effect that may have on points and competition for college places. This year's Leaving Cert students are also facing competition from students with higher grade inflation from previous years. However, as in the wider world we live in today with all of its challenges, we should just focus on the things we can control. That's the advice of guidance counsellor Donnchadh O'Mahony of who highlights that there are more opportunities than ever before to reach career goals, and students just need to find out the routes to get there. Donnchadh O'Mahony, guidance counsellor, of He also adds that the worst affected in relation to grade inflation is the 2019 cohort, and that it does not serve anyone to dwell on the issue. Energy is better spent looking forwards because where there is a will, there is a way. For anyone who has their heart set on a Level 8 qualification, the first step is no longer limited to a Level 8 college course. Learners today can start their journey with a PLC, apprenticeship, tertiary degree or traditional HEI college course, depending on their results, circumstances, area of study and preferred learning style. There have never been more opportunities available to suit learners. Third level degree For the CAO application, forget about points and keep the dream course at the top of each list while making sure you have the subject requirements for that course. Back this up with alternative ways to get the qualification you want using both the Level6/7 list and the Level 8 list. Ask your guidance counsellor if you need help with this. It is more important than ever this year to have the Level 6/7 researched and in the correct order to take full advantage of the opportunities it offers. Tertiary degree Tertiary degrees were established in 2023. Students apply directly through the National Tertiary Office website not through CAO. The first year or two of the courses are delivered at a college of further education, with a guarantee of a place in the degree program at the affiliated HEI as long as the student meets academic requirements. Tertiary degrees range from 3 to 5 years, and can be applied for up to the end of September. There are over 40 courses available at present, and this number is expanding every year. New additions to the 2025/26 academic year include occupational therapy, social care practice, digital arts and intellectual disability nursing. PLC There are many reasons to apply for a Post Leaving Cert Course. It can be used as a way to try out a subject area before committing to a specific college degree. Dropping out of a college course can come with serious consequences, like a financial penalty where free fees are lost, and also psychological effects from stress and what might be perceived as a failure to finish. Stats have shown that students who complete a PLC are more likely to complete their degree than students who go straight on to a degree course from school. It can be a constructive way of taking a year out from the rat race to try something completely different. For students who didn't get offered their dream course, a PLC might be a stepping stone towards their ultimate goal as they can apply to the HEI via the links facility. Some students do a course on portfolio preparation, for example, in order to apply to art college the following year. A PLC can prepare a young person for the world of work, and the fact that they are offered in such a wide variety of locations means that the accommodation crisis would have less of an impact on ability to attend. Apprenticeships Apprenticeships vary in length between 2 and 4 years and training takes place both in the classroom and workplace, a learning style that suits many. The added advantage of this approach is that apprentices earn as they learn, and have the opportunity to achieve qualifications up to levels 8 and 9. In the recent National Survey of Apprentices 2024/25 published last month, 80% of the 2,000 respondents said that they would recommend the route to family or friends. 94% said that their training offered them good employment opportunities. The figures highlight that it is still a male dominated area with just 8% females, but that figure is a 114% increase in just 2 years. Besides the trades that apprenticeships have traditionally been associated with, they now also offer training in finance, insurance, recruitment, ICT, biopharma and property services. Currently being developed are apprenticeships in robotics, beauty therapy, barbering and immersive technology among others which can be explored on Study abroad EU: After 1st round offers, some courses will be open for application. Many students travel to study courses in health through English. Collette Twomey of the IGC advises to always check that the qualification you get overseas is recognised in Ireland. She also highlights that studying abroad is a huge transition and it is important to link in with a support network while away. US: 'Few students apply to the US because it's so expensive,' says career guidance counsellor Donnchadh O'Mahony, highlighting that the current situation regarding campus protests and international students being detained by government officials could affect students going over now. Such is the level of concern that Harvard University check the SEVIS register every day and warn any of their students if they have been removed from it, thereby losing their student visas. Over 1,500 student visas have been cancelled in recent weeks in the US. UK: If you haven't already applied for a course in a UK college, it is still possible to apply during the clearing process where unfilled course places are offered in July. You don't need a previous application to do this. It costs £9,259 a year to study in the UK and many take advantage of the student finance system which means the money is borrowed, and repaid once earnings are above £21,000 a year after qualifying. If income drops, repayments are paused until it goes back up again. Defence Forces The Irish Army, Naval Service and Air Corps are currently recruiting. They are looking for candidates aged 18 to 38. No formal education qualification is necessary, but it does involve passing a fitness test, medical exam, interview and a psychometric test, which you can practice online at
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Wise choices in change of mind needed as CAO demand soars
WITH over 89,000 CAO applications made this year, it means that there is more competition for college places. Last year there were 83,369 first round offers made. 51,934 were Level 8 and 56% got offered their first preference. 83% got offered one of their top 3. For Level 6/7 applicants, 92% got offered their first choice at the top of their list, and 99% were offered one of their top 3. If the trend is repeated this year, a student who fills the Level 6/7 list with courses offering progression routes to the Level 8 degree qualification they want will take a slightly longer road, but will still get there, even without a Level 8 course offer in August. Collette Twomey, vice president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors sees the high number of CAO applications as a positive sign that more people are seeing higher education as an option that is of benefit to them. She also highlights that the high numbers and competition for places make it all the more important for students to be strategic and research all pathways to the qualification that they want. 'Check the National Tertiary Office and QQI courses that offer entry to degree programs. Also, feedback we're getting from the Technological Universities is to encourage students to complete the Level 6/7 list where relevant to the Level 8 list so that they can start at Level 7 and progress to Level 8.' The TU's are noticing that students lose out on getting the degree they want because they don't put a course in the Level 6/7 list where they could start and progress on to Level 8 later on. Finding the links can be done via the CAO website ( or ask your guidance counsellor for help. There is still time to research progression options and make changes to the CAO application using the Change of Mind Facility. Over 60% of CAO applicants will use the Change of Mind facility before the July 1st deadline. It is used to add, remove or change the order of course choices in the CAO application. There are simple guidelines around filling the course lists designed to avoid the problem of students being offered 'the wrong course.' This can occur when a student is offered their first preference but they put their dream course further down the list, or they did not meet the subject requirements for the course even though they got the points. Key advice List courses in order of preference only and fill both lists. Check that you have the subject requirements for the courses you apply for. Use the Level 6/7 list as a backup plan in case you are not offered the Level 8 course that you want. Ask your guidance counsellor for help with this. Check the Alert Lists on the CAO website listing new courses available and discontinued courses. Some alerts have been posted as recently as April 2025. At offers stage, you can only accept one course out of the two lists. If you accept a lower preference offer, you can still be offered a course higher on your list. If you are offered your top preference course, you will receive no other offers from that list. This is why the dream course should go at the top.
RTÉ News
07-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
750 places on degree level courses offered outside CAO system
More than 750 places on degree level courses in areas including Occupational Therapy and Nursing are being offered to applicants outside of the CAO points system for this coming September. The courses in OT and Nursing are among six new programmes that have been added to existing programmes designed and supported by the National Tertiary Office in what is a relatively new college entry route first introduced in 2023. Unlike traditional third level programmes, under the NTO courses students begin their studies in further education colleges run by the country's Education and Training Boards before transferring after one or two years to complete their studies at a nearby university. Announcing details of the 6 new courses on offer, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless, said the initiatives "are giving more students than ever the chance to pursue their ambitions without being tied down by the CAO points race". As well as having no points requirement students are not charged tuition fees for their first one or two years of study. The 6 courses include Occupational Therapy beginning in Cork College of Further Education and Training or Kerry College of Further Education and progressing at UCC; Nursing at Waterford Wexford ETB and South East Technological University; A BA in Politics, Society and Media at Ballyfermot and Rathmines FET colleges and Technological University Dublin; a BSc in Digital Arts in Tipperary ETB and Technological University of the Shannon; and a BA in Social Care Practice offered by Cavan and Monaghan ETB and Atlantic Technological University. Applications have already opened and students can apply through the National Tertiary Office, at The first Tertiary Bachelors' Degrees opened in 2023 with 13 programmes on offer. Since then the number has trebled to 38. Twenty programmes are being offered for the first time this year. Minister Lawless said: "I understand that many young people feel anxious about their educational future, worrying each year if their Leaving Certificate results will be enough to get into the course they want. These programmes ensure that your exam results won't limit your options. If you're willing to study and work hard, there's a path for you in tertiary education." The National Tertiary Office said the courses are designed in partnership with industry to tackle skills shortages and equip students for careers in sectors that need them. Tanya Jones, Deputy Director of the NTO said: "Learners should be able to pursue a degree regardless of their background, family circumstances, or financial situation. No points are required, and there's no fees in the early years. There are no compromises; students earn the same Bachelor's Degree, it's just a different route." Ms Jones said demand was increasing year on year, demonstrating the need for and importance of more accessible routes.
