Even though we are only in November, it is not too early to start your college research, especially for 5th and 6th year students. The academic year goes by very quickly and being organised now, especially for this year's Leaving Cert students, will save you a lot of unnecessary stress come January or February 2025.
Students can get caught up and overwhelmed with points requirements when thinking about their college options. There are many other college requirements, of which points are just one part of the criteria.
When we look at the 'points race' for some courses, it is all about supply and demand. Points are only a factor when a student applies for a course where there are more students than college places, and basic entry requirements are equally important.
Check out the entry requirements of the courses you are interested in thoroughly, learning what is needed for each course application and any possible deadlines. For example, for 'restricted course' it is required that you apply before the deadline on February 1, 2025.
To ensure that you actually want to go to a specific college, and that you are informed about what is involved in the course / courses you hope to study, make sure to explore all of the courses in the sector you are considering going in to.
'If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail'
In order for you to meet the entry requirements for your chosen courses, you must ensure that you have the correct subjects and the minimum entry requirement. For example, do you have the subjects at the correct level at higher or ordinary level? Unfortunately, if you do not meet the minimum entry requirements you will not be offered a place.
Many colleges have two types of entry requirements: general entry requirements and specific subject entry requirements.
Whether you are a current Leaving Cert student, or a mature student (over 23 years of age ), and currently planning to embark on the journey to third level education in Ireland in Autumn 2025, your journey will, in many cases, involve a CAO application. This means that you will register online and make applications through the CAO's website, which is now open.
As well as attending college open days, make sure to visit each college's website and to research the prospectus for colleges and higher education institutes. If you are a Leaving Cert student, your school's guidance counsellor can also help and support you through this process.
This is not the only route to further education however, there are also alternative access routes. These routes may require a direct entry application, which is the case for PLC courses (Post Leaving Cert ), where you will have to apply to the PLC college directly. Those courses are usually duration of one year, and are considered to be the start of your 3rd level education.
For those of you who will be applying for PLC courses it is important to look into your eligibility for the third level grant, SUSI (susi.ie ). Those who are planning to transition directly to a PLC course post Leaving Cert, you will be eligible provided that the PLC is your first course after finishing the Leaving Cert.
Responsibility lies in the applicant's hands
As a student, it is very important for you to know that the responsibility of ensuring that your application is complete and correct, is yours.
When opening a CAO account, you are required to setup a password. Do not disclose your password to anyone, or leave your screen unattended in a public place, e.g. your school computer room, as your application contains all your personal information.
Amongst the wide variety of courses on offer, there are 'restricted courses', which require more than just your Leaving Cert results to ensure your eligibility. For example, you may be required to produce a portfolio of work, attend an audition or an interview. For those of you hoping to study medicine in autumn 2025, you are required to sit a Health Professionals Admissions Test (HPAT ) which will be held in February.
Do you need to apply for an exemption from Irish or a modern language?
If you wish to seek an exemption from Irish, or a modern language, you may need to contact the admissions office of the college that you hope to attend for further details. Some colleges require you to apply directly, but for NUI institutions you apply to them centrally.
Please be aware that in order to attend any NUI course, you must have six matriculation subjects. If you have been granted an exemption from Irish, or another modern language, it means that you can attend a course which requires a third language, or Irish, because of this exemption, however you must still have six other subjects to meet the requirement for matriculation.
The Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP ) is not accepted as one of these six matriculation subjects, however for point purposes, it can count as one of your best six subjects.
Generally, students who have been diagnosed with a specific learning difficulty, for example; dyslexia, or students with ADD or ADHD, can apply for exemptions for a European language and for Irish. Please check in with your career guidance counsellor at your school to get the most up-to-date information about the aspects and requirements for college.
