Welcome to The Irish Times CAO Helpdesk for 2026. Using the form below, you can submit any questions you have about this year’s process, from CAO points and Leaving Cert results, to appeals, offers, deferrals and more.
Our education experts, Deirdre Garrett and Brian Howard, are online now to answer your questions before the CAO issues the first round of offers to candidates at 2pm. Please submit your queries throughout the day in the form below.
The Irish Times CAO Helpdesk has closed for today. Our education experts, Deirdre Garrett and Brian Howard, will be back online at 12pm tomorrow to answer any queries you may have about offers, deferrals and everything in between. Thank you to all who submitted queries today.
A question was asked earlier if random selection is different for Medicine. The student has 730 and course was 730*. My understanding is that random selection is different for Medicine, and where candidates are on the same overall score (say 730), the Leaving Cert raw score takes precedent over the HPAT (i.e. 625 over 590). I just read this a couple of nights ago on one of the Irish med app sites. - Alison
My colleagues and I have never come across this so I have reached out to the CAO for an answer. I will post what I find out when we return tomorrow. - Brian
My daughter had Au906 (business and Irish, Sligo and St Angelas) as her first choice. She was offered her second choice and it turned out that ATU decided to cancel her forst choice without notifying candidates. Can they do this? She, ill-advisedly, despite all experts saying not to, put down a less high point course. Can she look for an alternative course for which she has points to male up for this? - Joan
The only courses that she can now add to her CAO account are courses that appear under available/vacant places. That facility opens at 12 noon tomorrow here: https://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=aboutVPL - Deirdre
My daughter got 532 points, but her preference course - law in UCC - went up to 534. What is the chance of a second round offer? - Helen
Last year Law in UCC started at 532 in round one and finished final round at 522, so based on this I would say it could be possible for a subsequent round offer. - Brian
My son got 465 points and was offered his third choice in DCU: law, politics and economics. He has DARE, so do you think there is any possibility of getting the civil law degree in DCU in the second round of offers? - Anna
DCU don’t tend to make a lot of offers in Round 2. DARE make most of their offers in Round one with a minority being made in round 2. But no one will know for definite until round 2 offers are released. The best of luck. I hope that it works out. - Deirdre
If my appeal is successful, I should be offered a place on my first choice course. This course would require me to secure accommodation, etc. Can I use lack of accommodation at short notice as a reason for deferral ? - Mary
It is the choice of the college, so I cannot say. But I am sure that they have been faced with this before. A very valuable reason. The best of luck. - Deirdre
I have all the qualifications for RCSI and the points, 739. I got awarded my second choice in Trinity, which I didn’t have the points for and was based on DARE. Assuming I am correct in what I say what do I need to do to have this corrected? - John
You should contact CAO. Email them via your CAO account. - Deirdre
Have you any advise for a QQI student who was offered a place in Round 0 in TU Dublin for Nutraceuticals, but missed the deadline - and was expecting an offer today. - Ella
Unfortunately, the student has missed the deadline and this place may have been offered to somebody else. I would contact the admissions office in TUD who are very helpful and ask if they can do anything. If not, all QQI have been filled they may be able to do something. - Brian
My daughter got 398 points, which was above her 3rd, 4th and 7th level 8 choices. However, she was offered none of those and instead a level 6 that she is really not interested in. She has friends with lower points who were offered some of the courses she wanted, so she’s very upset and confused. Is this due to random selection? Is there any hope for round 2 offers for her? - John
Initially, I would check if she met the entry requirements for these courses, sometimes a maths grade may not be enough or something like this. If these are all okay, then I would log into her CAO and see that all her details are correct - including her exam number. If everything is okay there, then I would put all the details into an email to CAO and seek their guidance. Use the contact facility in your daughters CAO account to contact CAO. - Brian
CAO points for ag science course went up in 2026 to 371 from 289. Could it drop down in 2027? - Patricia
It would all depend on supply an demand. Supply of places can increase, demand can change. Many factors cause points to fluctuate each year. - Deirdre
My son got 360 points in his leaving cert. He wants to do construction management in MTU in cork. The points have gone up 120 and are now 380. He didn’t get any offer today, what are his chances in the second round of offers? - Annette
Not all colleges make second round offers. Maybe give the admission office a call. Points fall and appear in round 2 when spaces are still available on this course. I don’t know the answer to this. Probably best to get information from the college. Do they offer a level 6/7 entry route into this level 8? Could that be another option? - Deirdre
My daughter got 532 points and she was offered in medical and health sciences in UCC. She would like to do biological chemical sciences but gave preference to medical and health sciences. - Bilal
She cannot change the order of her preference at this stage. If Biological Sciences lies below today’s offer then she will not be offered this in future rounds. CAO will only offer higher preference courses in future rounds. Some colleges may offer internal transfers. It might be worth ringing admissions at UCC. The best of luck. - Deirdre
I do not wish to study the course offered to me today and would instead accept an offer from a UK college. I am appealing some results, such as 89% in Maths. If successful in my appeal on that one subject, I would qualify for my first choice of Medicine. In order to be entitled to be offered and accept my preferred course on successful appeal, am I obliged to accept the current CAO offer? - Ronan
Declining today’s offer will have no impact on future CAO offers. CAO will continue to offer you highest preference courses if you meet entry requirements and cut off points. Going to the UK will have no impact on future CAO offers either. Round 5 will be offered off the back of appeals results. This will happen on Tuesday 29th September. - Deirdre
I achieved 357 points in the Leaving Cert. I applied for Athletic Therapy and Exercise Rehabilitation, which required 388 points, but I am eligible for DARE. Is there any chance of me getting offered this course in later rounds? -
There may be a chance, however most DARE places are generally offered in round one. An email to the admissions office in TUS to enquire if any more DARE places on this course may be made in round two might be not harm. - Brian
I am a DARE applicant. I got 739 points and have all the qualifications for my first choice course in medicine in RCSI but they gave me my second choice, in Trinity, instead even though points for RCSI was 734. What should i do to have this corrected? It looks like they ignored my points and put me into the DARE stream. - John
Can you go back and view your CAO order of preference. CAO will make you an offer for the highest preference course that you meet requirements and cut off points for. Are you exempt from a language? Did you apply for an NUI exemption. Just looking to see can we identify why you didn’t get offered it. Here are the requirements for RCSI. Can you check that you satisfy them all. Get back on if you cannot identify the problem. - Deirdre
I received 733 in combined HPAT and Leaving Cert points. I was wondering how likely it is that the RCSI points will drop 734* to 733? I know this year’s results are unprecedented but any advice would be welcome. - Maeve
It is very difficult to make a call on this. We don’t know how many are in the 734 random pool to be cleared before someone on 733 will be considered and again we don’t know how many are in the course merit list with 733 where again random selection may have to be used. So, there are just too many variables to make a call on this. Good luck. - Brian
My son got an offer from UCD for a joint honours degree. If he wants to defer this offer to next year and do a PLC course - how can that be done? - Caroline
You can read about seeking a deferral and taking up a deferral oh these links: https://handbook.cao.ie/page/taking-up-a-deferra and https://handbook.cao.ie/page/deferring-a-place - Deirdre
I have missed out on a random selection 730* Medicine course with 730 points. Is there a difference in how random selection is dealt with in medicine, as it does not say on the CAO website? - Niall
No, random selection is used the same way with Medicine as with all other CAO courses. A random number if given to every applicant to the CAO and in a random pool. - Brian
My daughter applied for Computer Science, Linguistics and a Language in TCD which was 531 points this year. The points have dropped dramatically to 393. Although she’s happy with her result, I wonder if you had a perspective on why points dropped much? Does it relate to the perceived usefullness of the course in the context of AI or are there just more places on offer? - Ronan
That is unusual. According to this article published by Trinity, it’s due to a fall in demand. https://www.tcd.ie/news_events/top-stories/featured/cao-2026-offers/ - Deirdre
My son has DARE and got 285 points. He wanted Applied Social Care in TUD Tallaght, which is 307 points. I thought DARE would give him an additional 12.5% which would have his total equivalent to 320 points. Why did he not get it? - Rose
DARE is competitive and not everybody who becomes eligible for DARE gets a reduced points place. If there are only, let’s say, five DARE places on this course and there are 10 DARE eligible applicants for these places, applicants are ranked and places offered to the top five applicants. - Brian
If I don’t accept my CAO offer today, could I still be issued an offer in round 2 for a higher preference course? - Maitiú
Yes. But I recommend that you accept today’s offer. This will protect you incase you do not get a higher preference offer in future rounds. But accepting or declining today’s offer will have no bearings as to offers in future rounds. The best of luck. - Deirdre
I got my second choice today but I would prefer to do my third choice. Would this be possible? - Roche
This is not possible via the CAO. Some colleges may offer an internal transfer but you would have to contact the college directly. - Deirdre
I didn’t receive an offer from the PLC round or today’s round. Does this mean I won’t get an offer at all? - Lillie
You will still be considered for offer in round 2. But CAO will only make an offer if you meet entry requirements and cut off points for that course in 2026. - Deirdre
How can I calculate CAO points as a student from Romania with a Baccalaureate Diploma? My grades were 9,35,10 and 9,85 in written exams. - Marina
If you go to this page: https://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=scoring&bb=studentresources and click on Entry requirements criteria for EU/EFTA/UK applicants, go to page 72 and it will you the conversion information for Romania. - Brian
I got 414 points and I have DARE, but I did not get offered my course DN750. Why is this ? - Luke
You would have been competing with other applicants for the reserved DARE places. Not all DARE applicants get a DARE offer. DARE gives priority to candidates with physical or sensory disabilities. It seems like you didn’t get any of the reserved DARE offers. - Deirdre
If I accept my round 1 offer, can I still get an offer in round 2? - Nicol
Yes. You can still get offers for courses that are of higher preference on your CAO that lie above today’s offer. Best of luck. - Deirdre
My daughter got her 3rd option. Her 2nd option went up by about 80 points! We are appealing a couple of her results as there were a couple at 88% and 89%. So, what I am asking is: if she takes her 3rd option but eventually gets offered her 2nd but there isn’t room and will have to wait until next September, can she do 1st in 3rd option and switch to 2nd option next year and not pay the full fees ? - J
The answer to this is no. If she does one year on her third option she will have used up her free fees for year one of a level 8. Hence she will be charged tuition fees if she switches to course 2 in September 2027 and starts first year on this new course. Government will only pay for you to do first year once. I hope that I have answered your question. - Deirdre
Is it worth appealing a 69% grade in English to get 11 points needed for my 1st choice course? - Clodagh
Yes, if you feel there is any chance of extra marks, then you should go ahead. - Brian
I missed one point on my business result to get O4 - Roche
You can apply to view your script. Application to review scripts closes at 8 pm this evening. You can apply via your CSSP . - Deirdre
If my daughter applies for a course under the Available Place facility, does that cancel out the offer made today, which was her second preference. And can you apply for more than one Available Place course? - Pauline
No, it won’t affect today’s offer. However you must place the available place course above today’s offer on your CAO. Available places opens on CAO at 12 pm tomorrow. - Deirdre
My son got 89.8% in Classics and 90% would have got him the course he wanted. What is the probability of success in a recheck and a place in International Commerce in UCD this year if he gets the upgrade? - Stephen
Many candidates received a successful appeal last year but not all. He will be awarded a higher grade if they deem that it was not marked correctly. CAO will make round 5 offers after the appeal results have been issued. UCD will direct CAO to make an offer if there is still available places on this course. If this course is full then CAO will offer you a deferred place on this course for 2027. - Deirdre
My son got 464 points in his leaving cert and only got one offer out of all his choices. How can this be? - Jennifer
He may have been entitled to a number of his course choices on the basis of his points but the CAO will only offer the highest course on each preferential list that he is entitled to. - Brian
A question following on from a previous query from Roisín: The fee part feels unfair if your deferred place results from a successful appeal of a result. In this scenario, if you leave the course you have started a.s.a.p., will fees for your deferred course then be covered? - Sharon
Yes. Fees for deferred course will be covered providing that you have not completed a year on any other level 8 programme. - Deirdre
My daughter did not get the points she needed for general nursing this year. We will be appealing four subjects, which are all pretty close to the next grade up. If two of these appeals are successful she will then get the points for general nursing. However, she would like to take this year out for travelling and volunteering.
Are we better to just reapply from the beginning through the CAO next year or are we better to accept a general nursing course if it’s offered and hope that the course is already full and that place will be deferred until next year? If she was offered a place after the 25th of September this year for the next academic year, would we be penalised for turning down the course and reapplying next year? - Kate
I recommend that you seek a deferral. This would mean that she won’t enter the points race for 2027. So, if her appeals are successful and CAO make her an offer on September 25, try seek a deferral. You can read more here: https://handbook.cao.ie/page/deferring-a-place https://handbook.cao.ie/page/taking-up-a-deferral - Deirdre
I am disappointed with the French oral component of my exam. Will the French oral recording be reviewed if I appeal it? - John
Yes, it will. All components will be re-examined. - Brian
A candidate who has DARE is lodging an appeal on one subject. As the appeals result is not out until September 25, will all DARE places be gone by then? If their appeal is successful and they achieved same points as another DARE candidate who got into course in 2026 will they: (1) be offered place in October and/or (2) be offered a confirmed deferred place in 2027? - Susan
I recommend that you contact the Access Office of the relevant college. Here are the contact details. https://accesscollege.ie/dare/participating-colleges/ - Deirdre
What should I do if I can’t log on to the CAO website to accept my offer? - Isabelle
You should contact the CAO. You have until Tuesday September 1st to accept this offer. I would advise you to contact CAO tomorrow and get your online account sorted. Here are their contact details: https://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=contact - Deirdre
What happens if after a recheck you get a deferred offer for 2027 in your preferred course but you have already started and commenced another course ? Do you have to stop that course and wait until the next academic year ? - Roisín
You can continue on with that course. But if you change over to your preferred course in September 2027 then you will be charged tuition fees for that first year. The government will only pay for you to do first year once. I hope that answers your question. - Deirdre
My son got 728 CAO points, but missed his first choice offer of medicine. He got his second choice course - but is there any possibility to get medicine on round two? - Akhter
I’m not sure where you have applied but the closest course would be 730 points. Two points in Medicine is a large drop that is probably unlikely. I would never say never but I feel from looking at previous drops they tend to be one point or further places offered in a random pool. - Brian
I am one point short of an offer for actuarial and financial studies in UCD. What are the possibilities of a second round offer? - Joyce
This course didn’t drop in points last year. What will happen this year is unknown. We will have to wait and see. Wishing you the best of luck. - Deirdre
Is RCSI Medicine part of subsidised fees scheme? - Rose
Yes, RCSI Medicine is in the “free fees scheme” so the state will pay the tuition fees like all other Medicine courses. - Brian
I missed applied economics in UCC by 1 point in the first round of CAO offers. I’m wondering how likely is it that I will get it in another round? - John
It is very hard to tell with this course. Last year, it stayed at 498 points and no other offers were made. It will depend on what the current holders of offers decide and whether UCC will issue any other offers if places are not accepted. - Brian
My first choice course is one point higher than my CAO result. I got my second choice course. What are the chances of a second round offer given the small point difference? - K
I can’t say. It will depend on the numbers that accept today’s offer on that course. Courses that haven’t reached maximum capacity can appear in round 2. Not all colleges make round 2 offers. - Deirdre
My daughter is having trouble logging into the CAO website to accept her offer. Is this a common problem? What should she do if it persists? - Anne
We haven’t been alerted to any issue with the CAO website. Here are the contact details for CAO if you wish to bring this to their attention: https://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=contact - Deirdre
Engineering in Bolton Street increased by 20 points this year to 510. My son has 509 points. Do you think the points will come down in subsequent rounds? - Sinead
Demand for built environment related courses increased this year and caused points to go up in many related courses. Having gone up by 20 in round one, there may be scope for a drop in subsequent rounds, but it all depends on the current people holding offers and how they respond to them. - Brian
I’m two points off the Mental Health Nursing course in DCU. What are the chances there are spots left in round 2 and that I get offered that course ? - Sarah
I can’t say. It will depend on the numbers that accept today’s offer on that course. Courses that haven’t reached maximum capacity can appear in round 2. DCU rarely make offers in round 2. - Deirdre
What happens if my course is already full after a successful appeal? - Jane
Then CAO will make you a deferred offer for September 2027. You will have to make a CAO application in 2027 to pick up this deferral. Read more here: https://handbook.cao.ie/page/taking-up-a-deferral - Deirdre
If a candidate’s points go up after a recheck, but their preferred course is full and they are offered a deferred place for next year, do that mean they have to drop out of their second choice course that they’ve already started, or can they continue first year of that course and start the deferred place next September? - Deirdre
The candidate will have a choice to stay in the existing course or move. A move will be offered if the course still has available places. If the course is full, CAO will offer a deferred entry for September 2027. Remember that the government will only subsidise tuition fees for first year once. - Deirdre
What are the chances of being offered Dentistry in round 2 if I missed it in round 1? - Máire
This will only happen if a course has vacant places, however there were no point drops for any Dentistry course in CAO 2025. - Deirdre
A follow up question: Apologies, you read my last question out a minute ago but I didn’t make it clear. My son didn’t get any offer because he missed the criteria by only four points, it seems. So, no offer in round 1 for sports science in MTU. We will appeal two subjects as their results were only one and two per cent away from next grade. So, what should we do now? Can we do anything else, or do we just wait and see? - Susan
Has your son received an offer for a level six or seven course? If not, then you will have to wait and see. You could also look into a PLC programme as an entry route into a level eight course. - Deirdre
How likely is it to get general nursing in Dublin in round two? - Natalia
It is possible, but unfortunately there is no way of knowing until the current applicants holding offers decide if they are going to accept their offers or not. For example, General Nursing in TCD started last year on 423 and ended on 422*, so more offers were made after round one. - Brian
My son got 455 points. His 1st choice is DC117, which dropped to 466. He is approved for DARE but was he not offered a place. Why? - Joan
From the DCU website: If you are eligible for DARE you should note that due to the high demand and limited places in DCU you are not guaranteed entry. Available places are offered to those students ranked highest by the points scale and points reduction is impacted by a demand for a programme and also how many DARE places we have on a course. - Brian
Will the CAO points go down in further rounds?
Only courses that haven’t reached maximum capacity. These places are offered to interested candidates in round two usually for lower points than round 1. Not all courses will be in round 2. - Deirdre
Is it possible to move from a level 7 to a level 8 in the same college. My son got offered a level 7 in TUD but really wanted a level 8 course in the same college. Is it worth taking the place and trying to transfer into the level 8 after 1st year? - Sarah
TUD offer excellent progression routes and pathways. I recommend that you contact their admissions office. - Deirdre
If I accept my level 7 offer, can I still get an offer from my level 8 list in round 2? My level 8 offer in round one was my 3rd choice - Sinead
Yes. You can still get offered courses that lie above today’s offer from both lists. So acecpt today’s offer. You can still get offered your 1st and 2nd choice of level 8 in round 2. - Deirdre
I have been offered my 2nd choice. I didnt get enough points for 1st choice which is 532 points, I got 480 including a H1 in English and two H2s in Irish and History. Is there a chance in later rounds that i could be offered my 1st choice? - Tadhg
I would never say never but 52 points seems a lot of points for a course to drop. I don’t know what your courses are but I would strongly consider accepting your 2nd choice in case your 1st choice doesn’t drop sufficiently. - Brian
My son missed his first round offer by 4 points, but he’s getting 2 results rechecked as he is 1 percent & 2 percent off the higher up grade in these.... is anything else we need to do or what happens now? - Susan
Maybe accept today’s offer. CAO will make him another offer after appeals. This will happen if his appeal is successful and he now meets entry requirements and the necessary cut off points for the course. If this happens your son can then chose to stay on his original course or move to new course. If the new course is full, CAO will make a deferred offer for entry in September 2027. - Deirdre
My daughter got her 5th choice. She is DARE approved. Her top four courses were only added to her CAO at change of mind. She meets all the minimum requirements. Would that explain why she didn’t get offered any of her top four? - Andy
No. CAO will make an offer once a candidate meets the minimum entry requirements and the course cut off points. Sounds like she didn’t meet these? Nothing to do with adding them late. Can you check the minimum entry requirements and get back on if you need more guidance. - Deirdre
I want to inquire about the SNA course level 5 or 6 - Patience
There are many QQI courses available through Colleges of Further Education. SNA courses can also be done through evening courses. Contact your local College of Further Education. I am sure that you can do courses on site and online. - Deirdre
I have been offered a place in round 1 which I will accept. It’s my 4th choice and I may be offered my 3rd choice in round two but I no longer want it. I might get choice one or two after appeals. If I reject the offer in round two, can I still be offered choice one or two after appeals? - Rowan
Yes you may still get offers. CAO will continue to offer you higher preference courses in future rounds. Accepting or rejecting today’s offer and offers made in round two has no influence on future offers such as round 5 after the appeals results. - Deirdre
My niece got 613 CAO points in 2025. She got 601 points in her 6 best Leaving Cert subjects but got a H1 in Trinity’s Biblical Studies Matriculation exam in 2025 which increased her points to 613 in 2025. She reapplied to the CAO this year using last year’s points but wasn’t offered her first choice of TR580 which is 602 points this year. Trinity Biblical Studies Matriculation exam was not offered this year but surely the H1 gained in that subject last year is still included in the calculation of her points so she still has 613 points again this year? Has CAO made an error by not including this H1? What should she do now?
She needs to contact TCD admissions with all those details and they can tell her how they have scored her and why. - Brian
I have been offered a level 8 business course in IADT. Can I transfer to UCD after 1st year if I do well enough? - David
Not that I am aware of. It would be highly unlikely, but you should contact the admissions office at IADT. - Deirdre
If your appeal is successful when is it applied and that brings you to enough points for your first choice course when you have been offered your second choice - what happens then? - Pádraig
If you get an upgrade and your new points total make you eligible for your second choice course in September, then the college offering that course must try to give you a place in September. If they cannot they must offer a deferred place next year. - Brian
I got 444 points and was not offered any of my top choices, but I was offered a lower one. I have DARE and I’m looking to do social sciences in UCD. What are my chances of getting it in a further round? - Mary
DARE make the majority of their offers in Round 1. Social Science at UCD came in at 498 today. I recommend that you accept today’s offer. You can still get courses that lie above today’s offer in future rounds. It is a waiting game. You would need points to drop substantially. The best of luck. - Deirdre
My daughter’s first choice was Law and Political Science in Trinity - TR582, however the min entry points are not yet published anywhere for this course. Last year the points were 613, and she has 601 points. She has been offered her second choice but we don’t know what the points are for her preferred course, which will influence her choices. - Dave
According to TCD, the points for TR582 are 613 this year. - Brian
My daughter missed her 1st choice by 1 point, we are thinking of requesting a recheck on one of her subjects which could give her an extra 10 points. If successful how do we go about trying to access her 1st choice course? - Marie
CAO will do a final round after appeal results are out. CAO will make an offer to all candidates who satisfy entry requirements and cut off points. Candidates can start and switch over straight away if course has room. Some candidates may be offered entry in Sept 2027 if the course of interest is full by end of Sept 2026. - Deirdre
I applied via QQI and was offered my second choice during round zero. I was 40 points above the 2025 requirement for my first choice, so was disappointed not to get it. Have I no chance now of getting it, given that I’m competing with other QQIs and our offers came in round zero? - Deb
Whether you get an offer for your first choice course depends on what decisions the people who have been made an offer already on that course make. If some people don’t take up their offered places then the next people most entitled will be offered those places, so if you are one of these people, you could be offered a place. I don’t know what your 1st preference is but this is the situation for all courses whether quota places or not. - Brian
I wasn’t offered medicine in round one, could I get it in round two? I got 613 points and fulfilled the entry requirements. - Daisy
Medicine points are a combination of LC points and HPAT points. I am not sure how you did in your HPAT so hard to advise. Round two offers are possible in Medicine so if you are quite close it could happen, but you will have to wait until 7th September to find out.- Brian
My son is 11 points off the required points of 485 for his number 1 choice. He is in the border for one subject - 1% off the higher grade. If an appeal was to win, that would only give him 10 more points so he would still be one short off the round one required points. Is there any merit in appealing? - Anne
Yes, I would still appeal, if he feels he is entitled to a higher mark. If he wanted to apply next year again he would have the extra points if he got upgraded. He will not have an opportunity again. - Brian
My daughter wants to study medicine and received four H1s, two H2’s (one of which was one mark off a H1, the other 2 marks off). Her HPAT score was 172, giving a total score of 732. Her order of preference was UCD, RCSI, Trinity and Galway. If she accepts Galway now and is upgraded on appeal later and is offered RCSI but not UCD, does she have to accept? - M
No. She can chose to stay with her first offer or her new offer. The choice will be hers. Round 5 offers come out 29th September. - Deirdre
I had the points for a course in DKIT , but I’ve received no offer for it. - Thomas
I would make sure you have met the entry requirements and if you have met them, you need to check your CAO account to make sure all your details are correct. After this send CAO an email through your application account with the details and see what they advise. - Brian
If you get offered your third choice today and accept it, can you still accept your first or second choice if you get them in later rounds? - Magella
Yes, absolutely. - Brian
I got an offer for B&L in UCD but I wanted Business and Law in Trinity. Are the points likely to drop below 600 in round 2/3? - Sara
Round one points in 2026 are 602 for Business and Law in Trinity. Points will drop if course isn’t at full capacity after round 1. - Deirdre
A DARE student didn’t get their preferred course. Do DARE offers come up in second and third round or are they all utilised in round one offers. I’m trying to establish if any hope of offer in further rounds - Carol
Most DARE offers are made in Round 1, although some are made in round 2. However, no DARE offers in other rounds. - Deirdre
I missed my number one course by 2 points, will I have an opportunity to get in through available places? -Elle
If the course appears under vacant places then you enter into a new competition for those places. Available places opens up on Thurs 27th August. - Deirdre
My son was offered his first choice and wants to defer for a year to work and travel. How likely is it that his request for deferral will be approved? - Patrick
It depends on the number of candidates seeking a deferral and their reasons. I would send an email seeking a deferral https://handbook.cao.ie/page/deferring-a-place and https://handbook.cao.ie/page/taking-up-a-deferral - Deirdre
I’m from the North and should have had the correct amount of points to get into my courses, but only got into a level 6 course, I don’t know if I made a mistake with my application or what went wrong but I don’t know who to contact to ask. Can you provide any help or advice? - Aoibheann
If there is a course on which you feel you should have been entitled to an offer, but didn’t get one, then I would give the appropriate admissions office a call and discuss your application with them. - Brian
International Commerce is 543* points. I got 543 but did not get an offer, I got Sustainability instead. What are chances of getting into Commerce in a subsequent round? - Tom
Sorry to hear that. CAO will make more offers in round 2 if there are places still available on this course. - Deirdre
I have enough points for a course but didn’t get an offer - James
Check the minimum entry requirements for the course. CAO will only make an offer once you meet the entry requirements and the cut off points. - Deirdre
I applied for the CAO using my Leaving Cert results from last year since I did a PLC. I had TR455, the Arts/Modern Language course in Trinity, as my first choice which I didn’t receive an offer for. According to careersportal, the minimum points is 380. I got 421 points in my leaving cert last year and I meet all the entry requirements. On careersportal the graph for the course is incomplete and I can’t find much information about it on the Trinity website, does course actually exist this year? - Robin
Check this link for the minimum entry requirements and get back on if you need further assistance. Good luck. - Deirdre chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.tcd.ie/study/assets/pdfs/2026-cao-minimum-entry-points-round-one.pdf
My daughter received her 4th option in round one. She over achieved on the points requirement for it and she qualifies under DARE. Could she get a DARE offer in round two for choices 1-3? She will need DARE to make up the points. - Helena
It is possible, however, most DARE places tend to be offered in round one. You could call the admissions offices of colleges where choices 1 to 3 are run and ask about eligibility for DARE and possibility of an offer in the next rounds. - Brian
As an international student from Romania, I received an offer for my sixth option, although I considered my Leaving Cert grades quite high (9,83/10). Could there have been an error in calculating my CAO points? - Mara
I would deem it to be unlikely. Email CAO via your CAO account and query this. Best of luck. - Deirdre
I put RCSI as my first choice. I have 739 points and the records are showing 734 points only were required, yet I got an offer for my second choice which is showing 741 points. How do I rectify this as 734 points was sufficient? - John
Are you a HEAR or DARE candidate? Can you check to ensure that you have satisfied the minimum entry requirement for your first choice? Come back to us if you need more assistance. CAO will make you an offer once you satisfy both the minimum entry requirements and cut off points. - Deirdre
I have not received a round 1 CAO offer for agriculture in MTU. When I checked my statements of application, I can find no results. Can you advise me on what I need to do? - Denis
You need to send CAO an email giving them all the details from the send email facility in your CAO account and await their response. There may be a problem with your exam number, but get in touch immediately. - Brian
My son got 542 points, 12 points short of his first choice of Commerce in UCD which was 554*. He got 89.75 per cent in his French exam and will appeal it. If he goes to a H1, he will have the points for commerce. My question is: as Commerce in UCD is random selection, will he be offered it if upgraded? I guess this will change their obligation to offer it. His luck doesn’t seem to be in for this course. - Mary
A successful appeal would lead to a CAO offer in round 5 on Tuesday 29th Sept. CAO will make him an offer if the course still has space. Otherwise they will make him an offer for Sept 2027. - Deirdre
I missed Medicine in UCD due to random selection. What are the chances of a second round offer? - John
I’m afraid we have no way of knowing how many people are in the random pool and what your position is in that pool. I’m afraid its just a case of waiting for round two and hope more places are offered in the pool and you are at the top of the list. You could give admissions a call in UCD and they may or may not talk to you about the random place pool and your position in it. Best of luck. - Brian
My niece got 613 points. What are her chances of getting Law and Business in Trinity (TR580) in the second and subsequent CAO rounds? - Susie
From what I am reading, the points for Law and Business TR580 are 602 for this year. - Brian
My son has been offered his first choice but isn’t sure now if he wants to accept it. What options does he have? - Penny
He should research all the modules on this course. He could opt to enter this year or look to defer the course for a year? Please read these documents regrading deferrals https://handbook.cao.ie/page/deferring-a-place https://handbook.cao.ie/page/taking-up-a-deferral - Deirdre
My daughter got 1 point less than one of her (preferred) choices, is it likely that she will be offered a 2nd round place? - Peter
Sorry to hear that. I cannot say. I will depend on the number of people who defer or reject their offer on that course. Points will go down in round 2 if there are still places available on this course. - Deirdre
I got 543 points and have received my second choice choice at 422 points. If I decline this offer, does that prevent me from being offered my first choice in subsequent rounds if the points for this first choice course go down later? - Anne
Accepting or rejecting today’s offer will have no affect on offers in future rounds. CAO will make offers once the candidate meets the minimum entry requirements and cut off points. Only courses that lie above todays offer can be offered in future rounds. - Deirdre
Where can I see my final CAO points as an international student, from the Netherlands? - Fé
Here is a link to show you the CAO cut off points for 2026 https://coursefinder.careersportal.ie/pointsfinder/index.html https://www2.cao.ie/downloads/documents/2026/Guidelines-EU-EFTA-UK-2026.pdf - Deirdre
If you receive your first offer and don’t defer it, can you start again another CAO for next year? If so, what are the ‘cons’ of this?- Margaret
Yes, if you don’t defer, then your new application is entirely a new application and you will get your offers based on your current points and the points requirements of courses determined next year. If points go up next year, you may not be entitled to courses next year that you were this year. - Brian
My daughter got her first choice in UCG but wants to defer starting college for a year to go travelling. Is this possible and, if so, what is the process? - Aoife
It is possible, but it is the decision of the college. You must contact the admission’s office by email. Please read this regarding seeking a deferral and taking up a deferral. https://handbook.cao.ie/page/deferring-a-place https://handbook.cao.ie/page/taking-up-a-deferral - Deirdre
My son was offered his 10th choice on the CAO - he also has DARE but, looking at the points, he achieved the offer without DARE. Is there a chance he may be offered a choice higher up on his CAO list with DARE in round 2 or are all DARE places taken in round 1? - Mat
The majority of DARE offers are made in round one. They can appear in round two but most offers are made in round one. - Deirdre
I got my second choice on CAO, but I am only 6 points away from my first choice and from precious years, I would get in second round. What should I do? - Tilly
Accept your second choice and at least you have a course for next year. If you become entitled to you first choice in the next rounds, you will be offered it even though you accepted your second choice. - Brian
My PPS number was wrong on my CAO application and I have just realized, however I’m applying through a QII course. Is there any way I can try to get a place before round 2?
No. This is not possible. CAO do not make offers in between rounds. I wouldn’t think that your PPS would impede /influence an offer. I would advise you to send an email to CAO via your CAO account. - Deirdre
I got 509 point in the Leaving Cert and was awarded Dare. How can I check the Dare points for a course? - Fiona
You cannot check DARE points for a course. - Brian
I’ve gotten a text offering a certain course but I don’t have the points for it. Has the CAO made mistakes ? - Brendan
Are you a HEAR or DARE candidate? Maybe you got in on a reduced points basis? - Deirdre
My daughter was offered Early Childhood Education in Setu. If places become available in Mary Immaculate College for the same course, should she apply to transfer? She put Mary Immaculate down as her sixth option and Setu as her fourth. - Niamh
No, this is not possible. You will have to wait until CAO 2027 and place MIC ahead of SETU. CAO will only make offers of courses that lie above today’s offer on your CAO account. All courses that lie below today’s offer become obsolete. Look at this for more info: https://www2.cao.ie/downloads/documents/course_choices_list.pdf - Deirdre
If I have just been offered my first choice but now would prefer my 2nd choice, what should I do? Should I defer it? Will I get and offer then again this year for my 2nd choice. - Katherine
If you defer your first choice, then you can only apply for that course next year to pick up that deferred place. If you put your 2nd choice down on your new CAO application next year you will loose your deferred place. So you need to think carefully. If there is any chance you might like your first choice then consider accepting it to give yourself some time to see what it is like. If not, then you can do a whole new application next year applying for your second choice and hoping you are entitled to a place again next year. - Brian
I got 430 points. I will be entitled to DARE assistance next year as I missed the deadline to apply this year due to late diagnosis. My first choice was MInT in DCU (DC240) which was around 480 points and I was offered my second choice DC161 Comms, which was around 360 points. Should I reject this and hope I get a second round offer on MInT ? - Esme
That would all depend on what you are most interested in. DARE entry into MINT is not a guarantee. Only a certain number of DARE places on each programme. - Deirdre
My child applied for product design in TUD. He had 40 points over last year’s cut off but did not receive the course in first round. This seems like a mistake. When do the points get published? Is it possible there is a mistake? - Molly
There is always the possibility of mistakes. They are rare, but possible. Points will be published online shortly after 2pm and are now available on the Irish Times website. Regardless of how many CAO points he received, he would still have to meet the Maths entry requirement of O6/H7. - Brian
I missed International Commerce and it looks like by only one point. Is there any chance that I get it on second or third round? - Tom
There is every chance. It depends if any applicants who were offered places on it today decide not to proceed with the offer and if you are next in line you might become eligible for one of these places in the next rounds. - Brian
Public health science in UCC was 414 CAO point in 2025 and my daughter got 431. Why would that be ? - Jean
I am assuming you mean she did not get an offer yet? The first thing to check is did she meet the course entry requirements? If you feel she did, then check that all your daughters details are correct in her CAO account. - Brian
I am using my Lithuanian results for CAO points calculation. It is not clear how the points will be calculated exactly from available information - will the CAO inform me of my exact points calculation within any offer made to me for my application so I can see if I am near the round 2 offers if needed? - Una
No. The calculation of points would be your responsibility. CAO will only make offers when you meet minimum requirements and cut off points. You could contact CAO if you are struggling with converting. Page 94 of this document should help you: https://www2.cao.ie/downloads/documents/2026/Guidelines-EU-EFTA-UK-2026.pdf - Deirdre
My daughter commenced Ag Science in UCD last year, but left it before Christmas and decided to apply for a new CAO course this year. She’s now got her first choice arts in UCG. Will her annual college fees be the same? - B
You will be charged tuition fees this as well as student contribution. Fees vary so I recommend that you contact the fees office. Here is a link that will give you more information: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/student-fees/how-much/undergraduate-fees/ - Deirdre
I got 531 points in my Leaving Cert, which I know isn’t enough for TCD Engineering which was my first choice. I am a DARE applicant – how do I know if they applied DARE boost to my points as I have been offered DCU Engineering? - Alfie
Your eligibility for each of your courses is worked out by the CAO in conjunction with admissions officers of the colleges offering your chosen courses, in line with their DARE policies. When this is done, you will then be offered your highest preference choice you are entitled to. - Brian
If I accept my CAO offer, is it possible to change to a different course at the University of Limerick at some stage if I have the points? - Anna Marie
In some colleges, if you have the points for another course in that college and they have space they may allow you to transfer. This is completely up to the college in question, so I would recommend contacting the admissions office in UL and discuss if transfers are possible with them and when. - Brian
If my son is offered his second choice today, could he be offered his number 1 over the coming weeks if there is availability on the course? We think he is just shy of the required points. - Mary
Yes, if he becomes entitled to it, he will be offered it, regardless of what else he have been offered. - Brian
I didn’t receive a level 8 offer, what should I do? - David
Did you get offered a level 6/7? Many level 6/7 courses can lead you to a level 8 qualification through the add on system, so look carefully at any level 6/7s you might have received. Remember you may still get a level 8 in the next rounds, so don’t give up hope yet. - Brian
If you decide to appeal a few of your subjects and your overall points, go down post the appeal. Does that impact your current course offer? Or does the offer still stand for the current year? - Alan
If your points go down, which is very rare, and you are no longer entitled to a place, technically the colleges I presume would reserve the right to give that place to someone more entitled to it than you. Whether they would do this is up to them. - Brian
Can I get my first choice in round 2? - Oisin
Yes, if you become entitled to it, you will be offered it, regardless of what else you have been offered. - Brian
I have gotten an offer for my 3rd choice. I am considering letting it lapse but then in round 2, am I just considered for my 1st and 2nd choices or will I be considered for 1st, 2nd and then 4th to 7th? - Niamh
Yes, once you are offered your 3rd choice all lower choices will essentially disappear from your application and you will never be offered them. You can only hope to move up your preference list but never go down. - Brian
I got my 8th choice on the first round of offers. I’mm planning to appeal two subjects, how likely am I to get a higher offer in round 2? - Monica
Whether you get another offer in round 2 will have nothing to do with your appeal as results will not be out until the end of September 25th. If applicants who have been offered places on the courses above your 8th preference decide not to take up some of those places, then those places are offered to the next people down the course merit lists. If you are next in line for some of those places you will be offered them in round 2. - Brian
I have DARE and I’ve applied to Physiotherapy with my 550 points. What are my chances of getting an offer with DARE and what benefits does DARE give me? - Andrew
It depends where you have applied to for Physiotherapy, the points and DARE places vary from college to college. - Brian
Some people are saying offers can come out at 12pm instead of 2pm and that if you don’t receive a text at 12 you’re not offered a course… - Ella
Bulk emails will begin at noon. They will arrive with applicants at different stages. If you haven’t received a test or email by 2pm login to your account and you will see any offers you may have received there. - Brian
If I get offered and accept my second place option. Can I still get offered my first place if spaces open up, or an appeal improves my overall points? - Bob
Yes, absolutely. When offered and you accept your second choice you will still remain in the running for a higher choice, which in this case is your first choice. - Brian
I got an offer for my third choice but I’m thinking of letting it lapse. If I don’t accept this offer does that mean that anything below my third choice is cancelled or will it still be available in the subsequent round offers? - Niamh.
Yes, once you are offered your 3rd choice all lower choices will essentially disappear from your application and you will never be offered them. You can only hope to move up your preference list but never go down. - Brian
