CAO Applications Open for 2025: What You Need to Know
Applications to CAO (Central Applications Office) for 2025 open on November the 5th at 12 noon for all applicants including school leavers, students completing further education courses, mature and international students. There are over 1,750 CAO courses available in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) all over Ireland so there is plenty of choice. The opening of the CAO application system can send students into a panic, feeling a pressure to know what they want to do at this stage in 6th year, but there is no immediate hurry.
The normal closing date for application is February the 1st at 5pm but late applications are accepted up to May 1st. The Change of Mind facility opens on May the 6th which allows applicants to change course choices. The final deadline is July the 1st 2025 at 5pm and no further changes can be made after that deadline. While there is still lots of time to make final decisions, the sooner students undertake detailed research courses of interest the better as Leaving Cert students get very busy as the year goes on.
Know how the CAO system works
The CAO website has lots of helpful resources for applicants and parents, so it is a good idea to take some time to become familiar with them. They include video guides on all aspects of the application, a guide to the points system, a course search facility, information about restricted courses, a list of Open Days in the HEIs, and a comprehensive FAQ section. For anyone who may be eligible for Access Routes linked to the CAO, there is detailed information on the HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) and the DARE (Disability Access Route to Education). There are also links to information on options outside of CAO such as Further Education & Training and Apprenticeships. You can download a pdf version of the CAO Handbook which contains all the detailed information you need and there is also the facility to personalise a digital version, which is very useful when keeping track of the courses of interest.
20 Choices means 20 chances to get an offer.
Students have the option to include up to 20 course choices on the CAO application. They are entered on two different lists - 10 at level 8 (Honours Degree) and 10 at levels 7/6 (Ordinary Degree/ Higher Diploma). The majority of level 7/6 courses have progression routes onto level 8. The HEI websites provide detailed information about all courses including entry requirements, module details, placement and study abroad opportunities as well as career options. Researching all this detail, particularly the course content, will help you to make an informed decision about the right courses. You will then need to ensure that you have your course choices listed in order of preference by the final deadline on July the 1st at 5pm. No changes can be made after this deadline but you lots of time in the meantime to do the research on all courses.
Important Dates and Deadlines
The CAO process operates within strict deadlines. Here are the key dates for the 2025 application cycle:
November 5, 2024 (12pm): CAO applications open.
January 20, 2025 (5pm): Early-bird application deadline to avail of €30 fee.
February 1, 2025 (5pm): Regular application deadline.
May 1, 2025 (12pm): Closing date for late applications.
May 6, 2025 (12pm): Online facility opens for applicants to change their course choices. Some restrictions apply.
July 1, 2025 (5 pm): Final date for course changes.
August 2025: Round 1 offers are issued following the issue of the Leaving Cert results.
What to do next
When the CAO opens on November the 5th, register and get your CAO number. This will start the process off. If you haven’t already done so, make an appointment with your guidance counsellor in school to chat about all the different options available. Going directly in higher education from school is not for everyone so think carefully about what pathway is best for you right now. Research the course detail thoroughly and keep a record of the courses you like and why you like them. Attend the college open days. Ask lots of questions. Explore the career opportunities and options for postgraduate study after you complete the courses.
It is very overwhelming if you go into this decision trying to think about what would want to do for the rest of your life. What you are really doing is choosing the next step so, do your best to make sure that it is the right one for you.