1. CAO Parents Presentation
Guidance Department Presentation Seconary School

2. Outline of presentation
Some of the key issues this year including:
Decisions, Dates and Deadlines
CAO Applications/points system/offers
Cost of studying and living at home and away from home
Student Supports:
Grants, Access Schemes, Scholarships, Disability
Other routes: FETAC/QQI Progression Schemes
Other non CAO options

3. Choice 1: Going to college in Ireland: Making a CAO Application
Since 2007 there are 3 types of courses students can apply for under the National Qualifications Framework.
These are applied for on 2 separate lists on a single form:
Level 6 & 7 Courses Level 8 Courses
Ordinary Degrees (7) Higher Certificates (6) Honours Degrees (8)
Up to 10 Course Choices Up to 10 Course Choices
The courses and levels are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook
N.B. – Care must be taken with courses marked ‘Restricted’.
These ‘restricted’ courses cannot be applied for after February 1st due to extra assessments required.
Check out the CAO website at cao.ie
Guidance Department Presentation Secondary School

4. So how does the CAO and points system in Ireland work?

5. CAO Points System Selection system used in Irish 3rd Level Colleges is
Generally in the CAO system
No. of qualified applicants > No. of course places
--> selection system is needed.
Selection system used in Irish 3rd Level Colleges is
CAO POINTS SYSTEM
Points are calculated from ONE sitting of the Leaving Certificate only.
Points total is calculated from SIX best subjects
Entry Requirements (e.g. Pass in Maths and English) can be satisfied over more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate- with some exceptions –e.g. Medicine

6. Points System – the best 6
Grade Honours Ordinary A A B B
B BEST C C
C SUBJECTS D D D
Since 2012, bonus points in higher maths –
25 extra points

7. How the points are calculated
All the subjects a student presents are given a CAO points score and the best 6 numbers are added up to get the overall total points.
Irish H C2 65
English O A1 65
Maths H D =75
French H B2 80
Biology H C1 70
Geography O A1 60 exclude
History H B3 75
POINTS 425
BEFORE THE POINTS WILL BE LOOKED AT A STUDENT MUST SATISFY THE :
1: COLLEGE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (MATRICULATION)
2: COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (CAN BE SUBJECT OR GRADE SPECIFIC)

8. CAO Timetable –crucial dates
5th Nov – online CAO application facility opens
1st February, 2015 [Early Bird Special Offer –Jan 20th 2015]
Closing date for receipt of normal applications
Before/By 15th February, 2015
Receive Statement of Course Choices
1st March 2015
Closing date for final completion of online HEAR and DARE applications
1st April 2015
Closing date for all final HEAR/DARE documentation
1st May, 2015
Closing date for receipt of late CAO applications
Before/By 31st May, 2015
Receive Statement of Application Record
From 5 May, 2015
Change of mind opens -FREE
1st July, 2015
Latest date for receipt of change of mind form in CAO.
Late August, 2015
First round of offers will commence on Aug : round 1, Aug : round 2
Cost of CAO Application:
Early Bird –25 Euro [on or before Jan 20th]
Normal – 40 Euro [by Feb 1st]
Students are encouraged to apply soon and avail of the FREE change of mind facility until the end of January [to avoid the last minute panic and computer problems]

9. CAO Offers – how it works
In August 2015 (17 AUG) the CAO will make offers to students from both lists(level 6/7 and 8)
Students can only accept one offer at a time
Students are still eligible for ALL higher preference offers in later rounds
Students can accept online
If deferring, students must contact the HEI directly in writing
From May to July 1st students can adjust their course choice lists using the FREE change of mind facility.

10. Choice 2: Going to College Abroad UK
UK APPLICANTS
For UK applicants (Oct 15th or Jan 15th)
Students set up their accounts online and work through the sections
Up to 5 choices maximum [sometimes only 4]
Guidelines have been given regarding writing the personal statement
Ensure you are aware of the courses that must be applied for by Oct 15th
Check out the admissions tests list on the UCAS website for UKCAT, HPAT etc

11. Going to college in Europe
Many colleges offer EU students the opportunity to study at very reasonable prices through the medium of English across many excellent universities
Look at

12. Making A College Application Important Key Dates for Ireland/UK
UCAS October 15th 2014(for some courses)
UCAS January 15th 2015(for most courses)
CAO Feb 1st 2015
[Early bird special deal –Jan 20th]
PLC applications March 2015
[some accept later applications]
REACH applications March 2015
HEAR and DARE applications Feb/March 1st 2015
Pre exams March 2015
Practical/Oral LC exams March/April 2015
HEAR and DARE final documentation April 1st 2015
LC written exams June 3rd 2015
Grant applications SUSI June/July 2015
Students have a list of all open days

13. How will you finance it?

14. Cost of Living at Home – 2014 Registration Fees approx: €2,750
Cost of living for Students living at home
Monthly (€)
Annual (€)
Contribution to Utilities 33
297
Food 65
585
Travel
119
1071
Books & Class Materials 55
495
Clothes/Medical 45
405
Mobile 32
288
Social Life
132
1188
Student Contribution charge
306
2750
Total’s
787
7083

15. The Cost of Living Away From Home
Registration Fees approx: €2,750
Students in receipt of a grant will get their registration fees paid and may also receive additional support
Cost of Living for Student’s Living away from Home
Monthly (€)
Annual (€)
Rent (National – for Dublin see below)
307**
2763
Utilities 33
297
Food
172
1548
Travel
119
1071
Books  & Class materials
74****
666
Clothes/Medical 45
405
Mobile 32
288
Social life/Misc
132
1188
Student Contribution Charge
306
2750
Total’s
1220
10980

16. Is there any financial support. Yes, there is
Is there any financial support? Yes, there is! Let’s see what support there is out there for you

17. What Supports are Available?
1. GRANTS/SUSI Financial
2. H.E.A.R. Scheme Access/financial
3. REACH Programme Access/financial
4. Millennium Partnership Fund for Disadvantage Financial
5. Other Scholarships DEIS/academic/ Financial
6. D.A.R.E. Scheme Access/disability

18. 1. Grants So how much do students get? Max
Applications are completed online at SUSI –Student Universal Support Ireland susi.ie
Check out studentfinance.ie website for more information
So how much do students get?
Max
Min
5,915
305
Most students
3, or
1,215
Living away (45km+)
Living at home

20. 2. HEAR Higher Education Access Route
This is an access scheme which the following 16 Institutions are involved in:
DCU, DIT, NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway, TCD, UL, UCC, UCD, Marino, Mary I, Mater Dei, St. Angela’s, St. Pats, COI College of Education, NCI, PUM
Targets students who are motivated and have the ability to attend 3rd level but may lack some of the social or economic supports.
Who is eligible to apply?
Long term unemployed
Low family income – must be within the Irish grants income limits
Little family tradition of progression to 3rd level
Under represented socio-economic groups
Applications are due in by Feb 1st 2015 – through the CAO scheme and must be fully complete by March 1st 2015
ALL FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS must be in by APRIL 1st 2015
Student Supports:
Financial (1,200 approx) Personal Guidance Orientation Programme
Academic Social Supports Extra Tuition
Students must get about 90% of the points needed to do the course of choice. A lot of students who are on the HEAR scheme achieved their place with no concession on points.

21. 4. Millennium Partnership Fund for Disadvantage
This is a locally administered fund to assist students from disadvantaged areas attend further education.
Application forms are available from Waterford Area Partnership.
A local committee selects the students who receive support.

22. 5. Other Scholarships SIPTU – for children of SIPTU members
Reid Scholarship for Kerry Students in Trinity
Foley Scholarship – Architecture – €8000
Sports Scholarships – check with college
Entrance scholarships – awarded to best students
Irish Taxation Institute Scholarship – taxation
Science Foundation Ireland/DELL Scholarship –young women in engineering – engineering degrees – €2000
NUI Equal Opportunities Scheme - €1625
All Ireland Scholarship Scheme – 120 top LC students, open to medical card holders
Details of all schemes on studentfinance.ie

23. 6. D.A.R.E – Disability Access Route to Education
This is part of the supplementary CAO application process.
Forms are completed online with additional information forwarded to the CAO.
The scheme is intended to support students with diagnosed disabilities such as:
Asberger’s Syndrome, Autism, ADD, ADHD, blind, vision impaired, Dyspraxia, mental health condition, neurological conditions, significant ongoing illness, physical disability, specific learning difficulty and others….
The following 12 colleges are part of this scheme:
Athlone IT, DCU, DIT, MATER DEI, NCI, NUIG, NUIM, TCD, UCC, UCD, UL, PUM
Applications due in: FEB 1 st to be fully completed by March 1st 2015
Additional information due in by: APRIL 1st
For further information check out:

24. Financial Documentation needed
Parents are encouraged to collect in a file all the financial documentation that will be needed.
The following are often requested:
P60 for year ended 2013/4
P21 for year ended 2013/4
Self-employed: copy of accounts ending 2012 and 2013
Social Welfare recipient: statement from local office showing total amounts received for the year ending 2013/4
An original birth cert may also be requested
Grant applications require information from 2014 while HEAR applications require 2013.
If you are doing a HEAR and grant application you will need both sets of documents.

25. Supports In Summary
Students are encouraged to look at all these schemes and put the time and effort into applying if they feel they are eligible.
HEAR /DARE forms are completed as part of the online CAO process (students NOT the school send them off)
Scholarship applications are usually returned to the college/Institute
Grant forms are completed in the summer online and supporting documents are returned to the SUSI office [note: they are not returned to school]

26. In 2014 there are 38 HEI’s offering places to FETAC applicants
If direct entry to college is not for you or you need a back up plan: FETAC Progression Routes – Further Education (PLC) FETAC level 5 or 6
In 2014 there are 38 HEI’s offering places to FETAC applicants
Currently 20% of all CAO applicants have a level 5/6 FETAC AWARD (not applying on the basis of LC)
Since every FETAC Award will be part of the CAS (Common Awards System)
Based on a CREDITS system (max120=400points)
Some courses are ‘linked’ to specific related courses
For more information look up fetac.ie website

28. The FETAC(QQI) Progression Route
Leaving Cert
FETAC(PLC)
Level 5 course
Level 6 course
Level 7
Level 7 course
Level 8
Level 8 course

29. Websites Websites: Qualifax.ie studentfinance.ie cao.ie ucas.com
accesscollege.ie
careersportal.ie
eunicas.ie
fas.ie
Collegeboard.com
Thank you for your attention
If you have any questions please ask
Feel free to ring me at school on