CAO

Following criticisms from secondary school principals we would like to hear your views on the Central Applications Office system

There are alternative college admission models, such as university entrance exams and interviews, but none is perfect

A narrow approach to measuring students’ aptitudes may contribute to high dropout rates

University of Galway president says top students may end up going overseas

North Dublin student asks Minister to expand places for students affected by random selection

There are still options to secure the course of your dreams – even if you didn’t get a CAO offer

Our experts answer questions about results, appeals, deferrals, CAO points and more.

Yugo accuses Government of ‘unseemly haste’ over fast-tracked July legislation

We would like to hear from third-level students about their experience of sourcing somewhere to live for this academic year

Father says his daughter is inconsolable after not being accepted for UCD course

Further Education and Training courses are on offer across the country, providing alternative pathways to the traditional CAO route

‘We have been given no options at all, we’ll just have to take what we can get or pay through the nose for it’

Many universities have expanded the number of places available on first year courses

Whatever your concern about entering third level, there is help, advice and support available

Minister for Education Norma Foley announced in April that there will be no change from last year, with grades to stay at the same level

Fly in ointment for many potential third-level students is finding a place to live

Just over half of this year’s college applicants secure their first choice in CAO offers

Trinity vice-provost says random selection a cruel arbiter as 23 courses nationwide allocated places that way

Taisiia Korenska, from Castlecomer Community College, says she has a good work ethic and ‘likes studying’

What are your options if the course you chose is no longer an option

Dentistry, health, veterinary medicine, business and management courses among those most in demand

Over 80,000 applicants have registered their aspiration for a place on one of more than a thousand courses on offer at Ireland’s third-level institutions.

All is not lost if you don’t get the course you hoped for, as these three students have learned

As students receive their CAO results and plan to head to higher education, the problem is the sector remains underfunded

This option can offer numerous benefits which can significantly affect your career development

Effective financial planning is essential for students to develop a realistic budget

This option can provide an opportunity to earn a wage while gaining valuable skills and qualifications

Taking advantage of ‘work-integrated learning opportunities’ allow you to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings

Full-time programmes for those who have finished second level and adults returning to education

Pádraig Corrigan (21) from Newry enrolled in the Leiden University College in the Hague.

For a programme of study to be successful, it must be a good fit for the student’s strengths and aptitudes

An increasing number of opportunities are available for people to further their education outside of the CAO points race

Post-Leaving Cert courses provide job-specific training that allows students to progress into the workforce, or provide a stepping stone to higher education

Entry requirements in many European universities are generally lower compared to Irish universities

Nursing offers a career where you can directly impact people’s lives and make a tangible difference

Unsure about what path to take after the Leaving Cert Sean McGreal sat down with Westport College of Further Education

Studying overseas: Gregory Hendricken Phelan (23) from the Carlow-Wicklow border is in his final year at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences

Brian Mooney on students’ queries to The Irish Times Leaving Cert results helpdesk

More than two thirds of grades have been artificially inflated to match record high levels of recent years

Getting ready to go to college can be daunting as well as as exciting – but there are well-developed supports in place