Cross and Passion College
CAO Information Evening
Monday 2nd December 2013
Elaine McDonnell
6th Year Guidance Counsellor
Agenda
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General information
Applicants responsibility
Important dates
Entry requirements
Restricted entry courses
Application procedure
Allocation of places
Offers
DARE/HEAR
Maintenance grant
Questions
General Information
 CAO – Central Applications Office www.cao.ie
 Administrative function – processes applications for
undergraduate courses
 Separate to Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s)
 47 HEI’s to which students can apply to through the
CAO. 9 of these colleges are fee paying
 Can apply online or on paper
 Only one application is permitted per year
Applicants Responsibility
 Research thoroughly all the courses for which an
application is made being
- Entry requirements (subjects, level, grade)
- Course content
- Subjects (choice)
- Fees
- Duration
- Progression Route (Level 6► Level 7 ► Level 8)
- Erasmus option
- Work placement
- Continuous assessment/final exam
Applicants Responsibility
 Ensure that the application is submitted accurately
and on time
 Avoid submitting an application close to the closing
date
 Be aware if applying for courses in Private Colleges
Where to research
 CAO Guide (points)
 College prospectus 2014 entry
 Student yearbook and career directory
 CAO Handbook
 Internet
- www.qualifax.ie
- www.cao.ie
- www.careersportal.ie
- college website
Where to research
 Relatives/ friends/ past students/ academic staff in
colleges (faculty)
 Open days
CAO Application Procedure
Important Dates
CAO opened for applications
5th Nov 2013
Online application (early bird)
20th January 2014 - €25
Applications online/paper
up to 1st February 2014 - €40
Late applications
up to 1st May 2014
- online €50
- paper €80
Levels of courses
Level 6
Higher Certificate HC
2 Yrs
Level 7
Ordinary Degree DG
3 Yrs
• Students can choose up to 10 courses in the level 7/6 box
Level 8
Honours Degree HD
3/4 Yrs
• Students can choose up to 10 courses in the level 8 box
Points allocation
 Points are calculated from ONE sitting of the Leaving
Cert only
 Points total is calculated from SIX best subjects ( 25
bonus points Higher Level Maths)
 Entry requirement can be satisfied over more than one
sitting of the Leaving Cert.
Entry Requirements
 Different colleges have different entry requirements
 NUI’s require English, Irish, Maths, another language
(certain exceptions for some courses and also some
students will be entitled to a language exemption)
www.nui.ie
 Institutes of Technology usually require maths and
English/Irish
 Certain courses will require specific subjects, levels and
grades before an applicant is deemed eligible to be offered
place on the course
Entry Requirements
 Minimum Entry
Requirements
DN200 – 2HC3 & 4OD3
 Specific
Subject/Level/Grade
Requirement
GY207 2HC3 & 4OD3
+ HC1 Accounting
CW208 2HC3 & 4OD3
+ OB3 Maths
Restricted Entry Courses
 Some courses have early assessment procedures
portfolio/auditions/interviews/aptitude tests
 “Restricted” will be listed beside the courses in the
CAO Handbook
 Must apply for the course by 1st Feb 2014
 Closing date for HPAT – Medicine 20th January 2014
Alert Lists
 New courses added since publication of CAO
Handbook
 Some courses no longer running
 Information available on www.cao.ie
CAO Application Procedure
 Students should list courses in order of GENUINE
PREFERENCE not on the basis of their predictions of
next years cut off points or on their prediction of their
own leaving cert points
 Students are also encouraged to choose 10 courses for
their Level 8 box and 10 courses for their level 7/6 box
CAO Application Procedure
 Applications can be made online or by paper form
 Online is the preferred option as fewer chances of error
 Fees can be paid by Debit/Credit Card or Fee Payment
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Form
Demo run
Click on “Apply” and follow the instructions
Password
Part A requires information which will identify the
applicant e.g. Name, address, date of birth, etc
Applicant should also ensure that they tick the box re
sitting the Leaving Certificate in 2014
CAO Application Procedure
 Name on Birth Certificate - Name on CAO Application
 Part B requires information from applicants other than
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those sitting their Leaving Certificate in 2014
DARE/HEAR/SUSI box
Texts/emails from CAO or HEI’s
Once a student has registered they can check their
application at any time by going into “My Application”
Keep proof of sending an application
Online – keep acknowledgement sent by CAO
Paper – certificate of postage (back of CAO handbook)
CAO Application Procedure
Pref.
1
2
Dream Courses
3
4
5
6
Realistic Courses
7
8
9
10
Safety Net
Application may be made for up to 10 Courses in EACH of the TWO categories
below.
In BOTH cases, courses should be entered in order of preference.
Take special care not to mix courses in the different categories
Level 8
Pref.
Course Code
Level 7 & Level 6
Pref.
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
9
9
10
10
Course Code
Change of mind
 This facility allows a student to go back online “My
Application” and change the order of courses, remove
courses and add courses to their original list
 The facility closes by 1st February 2014 but reopens
1st May 2014
 Change of mind facility available until 1st July 2014
 Free but use carefully and sparingly
CAO Application Procedure
 Choices on one list do not affect choices on the other
list
 Applications will be assessed by CAO and offers will be
made independently but at the same time in respect of
each category
What happens after application is
made?
 If you apply online your CAO Application Number will be
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issued in your Receipt of Online Application
CAO will email an acknowledgement – opportunity to
correct any errors
“My Application” facility can then be used
The CAO number is private and very important as it will be
use in all correspondence between the applicant and CAO
for the rest of the year
If a student submits a paper application he/she will receive
a Statement of Course Choices by 15th February 2014 (if it’s
a late application 15th May 2014)
What happens after an application
is made?
 A Statement of Application Record is sent to students
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around the end of May
Final acknowledgement from CAO
Ensure information is accurate
Contact CAO if Statement of Application Record is not
received
If a student changes their mind they will receive
another Statement of Course Choices
If no acknowledgement has been received from CAO
re course changes then contact CAO by July 7th 2014
Order of merit list
How places are allocated
 When Leaving Cert results are released in August they
are entered into the CAO computer system
 For each course the applicant has applied for, the
computer will firstly determine if the applicant has the
minimum entry requirements for the course
 If the applicant meets the minimum entry
requirements for the course, then the applicants
points are calculated for the coursed.
 All eligible applicants are then placed in a list IN
ORDER OF ACADEMIC MERIT, for each course that
they applied for
How places are allocated
 The position of a course on a student’s preference
order does not affect their chance of getting a place
 Depending on their leaving cert points they may be
higher up some lists than others
 The same procedure takes place for both level 7/6 lists
and level 8 lists
 Offers are based on points and can change from year to
year
 Students may get two offers in August – one from each
list – but may only accept one
How places are allocated
 An applicant will be offered THEIR HIGHEST
PREFERENCE COURSE for which they are ENTITLED
to
 All lower preference courses will now be wiped from
the applicants list of choices
How places are allocated
 Admission officers of HEI’s will inform the CAO how
many places to offer on each course
 CAO will then make offers to the required number of
applicants on each course starting with the applicant
with the highest points and working down the list
until enough places have been offered
Arts NUIM – 100 Places to be
offered
1
560
2
535
3
525
4
510
5
490
50
450
60
440
80
400
90
350
100
330
101
325
102
315
103
310
104
305
Course cut off points = 330
Arts UCD – 100 Places to be
offered
1
560
2
535
3
525
4
510
5
490
50
450
60
440
80
400
90
350
100
330
101
330
102
330
103
315
104
305
Course cut-off point = 330 points
Random selection
 Shown by * beside the cut-off points
 Two or more candidates have the same leaving cert
points and there are not enough places available on the
course to offer the candidates with the points
 At the time of application each candidate is given a
random number
 Highest random number gets offered the place
 E.g. 410* not every applicant with 410 points was
offered a place on the course, but applicants with over
410 points would have been offered a place
How places are allocated
 Having been offered a place an applicant must decide
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whether to accept it or not
If the place is not accepted CAO will offer the place to
another candidate in round two of offers (Order of Merit
List)
Regardless of whether an applicant accepts an offer or not,
they will still be considered for an offer of higher
preference courses if one becomes available in later rounds
of offers
Official round two
No official round three – however CAO will continue to
make offers until course places have been filled
Offers of a place
 August 18th 2014 is the expected date of Round One of
offers
 Post and online
 A REPLY DATE will be printed on offer notices (25th
August 2014)
 5:15pm on that date
 Offers can be accepted online
 A student may lose the place if the offer is not dealt
with properly and on time
Offers of a place
 27th August 2014 is the expected date for the issue of
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Round Two offers
Acceptance of a course will supersede the acceptance
of a previous course
Offers will continue to be issued until October to fill
any vacancies which may arise
A student will be offered a place in the highest of their
course preferences to which they are entitled (if any)
Later offers for higher preferences
Do not have to accept a subsequent offer
Acceptance
 Online or by post
 Receipt of acceptance 3 days after the reply date
 CAO will email receipt if the student has accepted the
offer online
Points to note
 Carefully read all of the documents and instructions
from CAO
 Do not ignore any correspondence from CAO
 “Contact us” section on the CAO website (unclear on
any matter)
 Always quote the CAO Application Number in any
correspondence with CAO
 Print/Save a copy of all correspondence with CAO
Points to note
 Deferral – This is arranged after an offer is made
 Students are recommended to check with the HEI in
advance about their deferral arrangements and
conditions
 If deferral is an option the student must contact the
HEI (Letter)
 Apply through CAO the following year listing only the
course which they have deferred
Points to note
 LCVP – May be counted as a sixth subject and points
awarded but may not be accepted with regard to
passing a subject (Entry requirements of HEI/Course)
 Vacant Places – will be advertised on the CAO website
 Free if the student has already applied
 Meet entry requirements
 Acceptance of a vacant place supersedes any other
offer/acceptance
Points to note
 Transfers may be possible
 Special Maths exam
 Courses recognised by Teaching Council
 Scholarships – Sporting/Academic
- www.studentfinance.ie
- College prospectus/college website
Non CAO Options
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Post Leaving Certificate Course (PLC’s)
FETAC Level 5/Level 6 (Link to HEI’s)
Apprenticeships
Defence Forces
Gardai
Direct to employment
Teagasc
UCAS (UK and Northern Ireland)
- 15th January 2014
- Different application procedure
- Personal Statement/Reference/Predicted Grades
Fee Paying Colleges
 Students should note that some of the HEI’s listed in
the CAO Handbook are Private Colleges
 Tuition fees are not covered and they range from
€4,500 - €5,500 per year
 Tax relief is available at 20%
 Griffith College, Dublin Business School, American
College Dublin, Independent Colleges, ICD Business
School, Grafton College of Management Sciences
Supplementary Admission Routes
 DARE – Disability Access Route to Education
 HEAR – Higher Education Access Route
 Both schemes allow students to enter certain courses on a
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reduced points basis
Student’s must indicate their intention to apply for either/both
schemes when applying to the CAO ( Section on the application
form)
Supplementary Information Form SIF
Will not affect application
Special entry requirements must still be met
1st March – 1st April 2014 (supporting documentation)
List of participating HEI’s
www.accesscollege.ie
Grants
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SUSI – Student Universal Support Ireland
Family Gross income is the key factor to be assessed
www.studentfinance.ie
Apply for a grant before being offered a place in college
Online system – guided through each section
SUSI Support Desk 076 1087874
Student may be provisionally awarded a student grant and
after registration of the course has been confirmed SUSI
will arrange to pay the grant into your bank account on a
monthly basis
 Change of circumstances
Rates of Maintenance Grants
Non-Adjacent Rate
Adjacent Rate
 Live more than 45km from
 Live 45km or less from the
the college
college
 100% grant €3025
 100% grant €1215
 Partial Levels of grants
 Partial Levels of grants
available
available
Best of luck to all
Students
th
6
YR