Whether you’ve taken your school-leaving exams this year or applied for further education through the Central Applications Office in 2024, it’s now time to reflect and make some important decisions. The final selection for your CAO courses is expected by 5pm on July 1st.
Pursuing higher education requires a significant dedication of both time and effort, and it’s essential to consider both the requirements and content of your chosen courses before confirming your final decision. Anticipate attending a mix of lectures and tutorials, completing various assignments, sitting examinations, and potentially undertaking internships or work-based placements for certain courses.
The completion of a degree after three or four years will be a significant feat, achievable only with unwavering determination and focus. Many students apply to specific institutions to be with friends or make course choices without thorough research. Unfortunately, the harsh realities of these courses often lead to a significant proportion of dropouts before the end of the first semester.
Avoid these avoidable pitfalls and invest some time conducting preliminary research before submitting your applications. The majority of degree programmes span three or four years, a commitment not too dissimilar from training for a marathon. Both require careful planning and commitment.
The silver lining is there is still time to change course. Take the time to consider what you genuinely want to study, examine appropriate course offerings, and prepare for the submission deadline. You should be cognizant of your performance in the upcoming June exams and how it could shape your course options.
If guidance is needed, Qualifax provides comprehensive course details, and you can use its advanced search tool to streamline your search to subjects that truly catch your interest.
The real measure of your determination will be whether you can summon the inner drive to rise from your warm bed on a harsh winter morning when there’s no one to monitor you. Going to lectures, delving into subjects at the library, creating assignments from the acquired knowledge and successfully navigating your first year assessments next May are all different aspects of this.
Choose an appropriate academic program
If you are apprehensive about not securing sufficient CAO points for your preferred course, do not overlook other potential alternatives. Explore further afield in Europe or other regions where smaller student populations and more advanced tertiary education often translate into lower points prerequisite.
Also worth considering are local post-Leaving Certificate further education (FE) options, which might have reserved sets on your desired course, enabling you to secure a spot on the programme in the academic year of 2025.
Even if your initial course selection satisfies you, revisiting them is a prudent move. Some courses are phased out regularly, while new ones are introduced into the CAO system. A multitude of courses available in May 2024 were nowhere in sight when the CAO first published its guidebook the previous summer. Now is the time to explore them.
From now until the 1st of July, access your account on cao.ie and review your listed courses and their sequence. For each listed course, delve into the full scope of each year’s lectures and how they could channel you towards job or postgraduate prospects on qualifax.ie.
The world of work is quickly being revolutionised by technological advancements, and a degree earned in 2029 or 2030 could pave the way to previously unforeseeable career paths. So, stay calm currently; your mission for the upcoming weeks is simply to nail the right course selections.
What if you opt for the incorrect course?
Accepting a course that doesn’t suit your passion or interest might result in an improper decision taken in late August when the colleges allocate their spots. You may renounce the course midway through the year or fail the examinations because you dislike the syllabus, didn’t delve into the content adequately, or realise after selection that the course doesn’t resonate with your interests.
Should this happen, and you elect to recommence the following year with a new course, anticipate to foot the additional course registration fee in 2025.
Also note, there’s a requirement to cover a minimum course fee of €8,000 which the Higher Education Authority (HEA) will be funding to your academic institution this year. It’s crucial to remember, that the HEA will only cater for course fees once each year for an endorsed course, with representation on behalf of the State. For each academic year you might retake, you’ll bear the cost. This additional €8,000 will sum up your total course fee to at least €11,000 for the first year, which might be a significant burden for many households, more so when you consider the expenses related to maintaining a college life.
In case you opt for a private school this academic year and perhaps switch to a state-sponsored institution in the coming year, you’re still obligated to cover the full fee. Fees incurred to private institutions are tax deductible, calculating 20 per cent off any payables above the €3,000, handled similarly to state-sponsored students, irrespective of whether you claim the tax reduction or not.
Key considerations
Verify that you satisfy all entry requirements and have fulfilled the necessary subjects at the appropriate levels. For instance, the prerequisite for advanced maths in level-eight degrees for engineering. With these details, you can then prioritise your desired courses.
In the coming month, there will be intensive engagement opportunities between the school and potential scholars. Institutions will arrange one-on-one consultations via virtual means, or organise remote and on-site open days.
These platforms are useful for discussing a programme you might be genuinely interested in. Seek out the programme head or office; their contact details can be found in the prospectus or on the school’s online platform.
Having done all this, record your final selections in your CAO application in the order of your preference, accounting for any potential scenario from your evaluated grades.
You can list up to 10 options for both level-eight higher degrees and levels six and seven ordinary degrees and advanced-certificate programmes.
Never underestimate the importance of level six and seven programmes: the majority of these courses offer a path to the level-eight higher degree, with an extra year of study.
Avoid confirming your final choices without involving critical adults in your life like parents, guardians, and career advisors.
Career advisors and other educational professionals will continue offering their expertise in the weeks leading up to the finalisation of your course selections. Be sure to leverage their knowledge before making your final course submission.
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