Application Procedures 2015

Introduction

• Important that research of the course content, basic entry requirements plus any additional faculty requirements that may be required by the College is done prior to application

• Be familiar with the career opportunities available from the course.

• Ask how suitable are the subjects for you and your career plans.

Requirements summary.• Age 17 on/before 15th Jan year

following entry.• NUI colleges require Irish, English,

Maths, and a third Language except Nursing, Engineering, Science

• www. ireland.com/education or qualifax.ie

• Points calculated on 1 sitting only and the 6 highest scoring subjects.

Six ways to help choose the course

• Assess yourself and your interests i.e. Career Decision Making System, DATS (abilities), learning style,(educational)

• Research, prospectus, career directions, Library, www.qualifax.ie

• What careers appeal to you? i.e. people, technical, practical,

office, science, enterprise.

Six ways to help choose the course

• Realistically evaluate options, i.e. to be a doctor you need to like science, apprenticeships –practical, action.

• Select on basis of research and self-evaluation.

• What do you hope to gain from going to college, are you going for the right reasons and making informed choices?

Points System % Grade Higher Ordinary Foundation Maths

90 – 100 A1 100 60 2085 – 89 A2 90 50 1580 – 84 B1 85 45 1075 – 79 B2 80 40 570 – 74 B3 75 3565 – 69 C1 70 3060 – 64 C2 65 2555 – 59 C3 60 2050 – 54 D1 55 1545 – 49 D2 50 1040 – 44 D3 45 5

25 Bonus points for Grades A1-D3 in Higher Level maths.

L.C.V.P. Points

Result I.T. Points University/ D.I.T Points

Distinction 70 70

Merit 50 50

Pass 30 30

All HEI’s award points for LCVP in place of asixth subject but not all HEI’s count LCVP asmeeting eligibility requirements in regard topassing subjects.

Filling the form page 1

• Use block letters and black ink.• Surname and Christian names should

be identical with those on your birth certificate. No need for birth cert.

• Title ….option. State male or female.• Date of birth is essential. i.e. 09/07/1993.

Page 1 - continued

• Home Address….Tel No.• Address for correspondence

….same.• Country of birth .. Ireland.• Nationality -- Irish ….Irish

exemption if outside Ireland.• Mobile phone and email.

Page 1 - continued• School or schools attended. Latest

first if more than 1.• Signed and date I.E. 20th Jan 2014.• If first time Leaving Certificate tick

box of ’10’.

Dare Application• For individuals with disabilities including

Specific learning difficulties, most HEIs have reserved a small number of places at lower points entry provided minimum course requirements are met.

• Apply online, 1st Feb. • Indicate disability online• Access college with lesser points with some

assistance in mentoring and study skills, etc.• A Supplementary Information Form must be

completed.

Dare Application• Section A – completed online which

indicates nature of your disability, supports received at 2nd level, supports likely to be needed at 3rd level and a personal statement indicating how you perceive your disability impacts on your education.

• Section B - Academic Reference (download it and give it to Special Needs Teacher, Guidance Counsellor or Principal)

Dare ApplicationSection C – (a) Evidence of physical

disability, give Consultant’s report, (b) Evidence of learning difficulty, Give

Psycho-educational assessment from a qualified Psychologist within the past 3 years. If outdated must pay for current one.

Note: ensure your name and CAO number is on all documents, keep photocopies and proof of postage.

Dare Application• Disability/Specific Learning Difficulty (Medical, Physical or SLD requiring reader, audio etc) Tick box• Must then complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF)

Section A – complete online yourselfSection B – completed by Principal &

Guidance Counsellor Section C – a completed psycho-educational assessment from a qualified Psychologist in place of section C• Section A completed online by the 1st February and Sections B & C submitted to CAO by 1st April

Hear Applications• Higher Education Access Route,• To support applicants from socio-economically

disadvantaged backgrounds, certain HEIs have reserved a small number of places at lower points entry provided minimum course requirements met.

• Financial/academic/personal support given. • Apply online 1st Feb• Indicate if you want to be considered for the HEAR

scheme on page 1 of CAO form and complete the section providing information re family income, employment, number of children and schools attended.

Hear Applications• Assessment is based on meeting the following

criteria:• Total family income below HEAR thresholdand any two of the following:• Possession of a medical card• Receiving means tested social assistance• From socio-economic group under-represented in

higher education• Attending a 2nd level DEIS school.• Living in area of rural/urban disadvantage

Hear Applications• In order to be considered for the HEAR scheme applicants

must:• Complete relevant section online by Feb 1st

• Submit relevant evidence of family financial circumstances by April 1st

• All documentation submitted must have your CAO and PPS number

• No late documents accepted• Assessment results in late June• Accept CAO & HEAR offers in August• Attend mandatory Orientation Programme in August • Further details on www.accesscollege.ie. • Advice Clinic at DIT 11th Jan 2014 10-2pm

New Award SystemThe National Qualifications

Framework

Irish Awarding Bodies • The Further Education and Training Awards Council (

FETAC)

• FETAC makes awards for learning in programmes in training centres, in further education colleges, in the community and in the workplace.

• The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC)

• HETAC is the qualifications awarding body for higher education and training in Ireland outside the university sector, making awards for learning in a wide range of institutions, including the Institutes of Technology.

Irish Awarding Bodies

• The State Examinations Commission (SEC)SEC makes awards for Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate.

• The Irish universities and the Dublin Institute of Technology make awards for programmes provided under their own aegis, and for some programmes provided in other institutions. The universities are:

UL, DCU, TCD, UCD, UCC, NUIG & NUIM

Professional Awarding Bodies -

Ireland • An Bord Altranais

Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland Law Society of IrelandCouncil of the Honourable Society of King’s Inns Institute of Chartered Accountants in IrelandNational Social Work Qualifications Board Royal Institute of Architects in IrelandMinister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Director of Telecommunications Regulation Irish Aviation Authority Royal College of Surgeons Ireland

Award SystemLevels relevant to CAO

• Level 6 = Higher Certificate• Level 7 = Ordinary Degree• Level 8 = Honours Degree.

Level Choices

• Choose Max 10 Level 8 courses plus 10 level 7/6 courses.

• State your course choices in order of genuine preference and career plans and not on points.

• Courses are awarded in order of preference provided you have the points necessary.

Ladder System

Pr Course Code

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Pr Course Code

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Level 8 Level 7 & Level 6

Codes and levels• Make sure you have correct course

code and course reference. (Research Handbook).

• Do not mix level of courses • Fill in the course you most want as

No. 1, your genuine preference, and 2nd preference as No. 2 and so on to choice No. 10

• Do not base you choices on points.

Ladder

• Do not include any course you have not researched thoroughly. It is a common mistake and may cause upset in August when offers are issued.

• If you are given your 5th choice then all preferences below that are no longer considered.

Moving up the ladder

• In the 2nd or 3rd round offers it is possible you may be offered a course of a higher preference.

• If no special category applies write ‘No’ in box.

Closing Dates• The closing date is 5.15pm Feb 1st.

• Online discount up to January 20th €25

• Essential that all restricted courses (R) (eg Art, Music, Medicine) are included at this time as they cannot be introduced later with the “change of mind forms” i.e. Portfolios in Art Music Design.

• The closing date for “change of mind forms” is 1st July.

Late Applications

• Late applications accepted up to 1st May 2015 subject to restrictions i.e restricted courses, research page 4 of handbook

FeesOnline application Fee Euro Closing DateNormal online 40 (25, Jan 20) 1st Feb 2015 5.15pm

Late online 50 1st May 2015 5.15pm

Paper Application

Normal application 40 1st Feb 2015 5.15pm

Late application 80 1st May 2015 5.15pm

Change of mind Nil 1st July 2015 5.15pm

Paper or online only

No Application by Fax.• No Change of mind application by

Fax.• C.A.O. only accept a single

application.• You cannot apply on line and on

paper.

Payment

• Pay the application fee by using the application fee payment form part one stamped by Bank or by credit card/debit card(Laser) online

• Attach part one of the fee payment form to your application.

• Enclose the acknowledgement card (stamped) and address card in block letters.

Register and photocopy• Register posted applications

for proof of postage. Certificate of postage at back of handbook.

• Photocopy page 2 as record of courses applied for or enter choices on back page of handbook.

• Sign and Date applications.

Acknowledgement• By Feb 15th you will be notified of your

CAO application number and a statement of courses. Keep record of this number.

• If not received by Feb 15th write to C.A.O before Feb 19th at latest.

• By the end of May you will be sent a statement of the Application Record as final acknowledgement.

• If you have not received the Statement by June 1st contact the CAO immediately by letter

Change of mind

• Courses maybe changed from May 5th up to the 1st July of exam year.

• If changes are being made on one or both lists then the full list must be completed.

• With change of mind form you cancel previous choices.

Confirmation of application record

• NB. Check this record against your retained photocopy. Online use ‘My Application’ facility

• With record statement you will receive a “change of mind form” to register a change of course choice.

Acceptance• After Leaving Certificate Results on

August 13th the First Round Offers will be made on August 18th

• If you are given an offer on both lists you can accept 1 offer only online or by post – closing date August 25th.

• Each applicant will be offered a place in the highest of his/her course preferences, in respect to each of the two lists of courses.

Acceptance

• This offer will expire unless accepted by offer closing date- Usually 7 Days

• If you do not receive notification within 3 days of the ‘Reply Date’ then contact the CAO immediately. You can also check if your acceptance received online.

2nd Round offers A second round of offers will be issued

on August 27th with closing date of Sept 3rd

• The process of offers continues until all available places offered

• Whether you applied/accepted or not you can still apply for Available or Vacant places that HEIs offer through the CAO later in the process

Cancellations• With cancellations you may be offered

one of your higher preference choices.• On offer of your higher preference

choice, your lower preferences are no longer considered.

• However if you already accepted an offer and don’t want a higher preference then you can keep your original offer

Deferred Entry

• If an applicant is offered a place it maybe possible to defer entry to the course for one year.

• Do not accept the offer in the manner shown on the offer notice.

• Write to the admissions office, within the allowed timeframe, of the College with your request and conditions.

• Write DEFERRED ENTRY on the envelope.• Attach part C of the offer notice to the letter.

Letter to admissions office

• The letter must arrive in the admissions office at least 2 days before the reply date shown on the offer notice.

• Write to the admissions office of college not to the C.A.O.

• Short time given so be diligent.• Enquiries at offer time by email to

help@cao.ie

Taking up a deferral

• You must re-apply in the succeeding year through CAO

• Pay appropriate fee• State deferred course as the only

preference on application • If the deferral is not granted then

you may accept the offer for the current year

Colleges offering Deferred Entry

• The following allow deferred entry.• U.C.C. U.C.D. T.C.D. D.C.U. N.U.I.G.

U.L. D.I.T. NUI Maynooth,• Institutes of Technology. It is strongly

recommended that at the time of offer you write seeking deferral rather than telephone.

• The Institute will communicate the result.

Vacant Places

• If after all offers have been made, and Vacant places exist, they will be advertised on the CAO website, persons who have not applied already may make a vacant place application on payment of a fee - €40 online.

• Address C.A.O. Tower House,Eglington Street,Galway. Tel 091 509800.

Fax 091 562344. www.cao.ie Vacant places advertised

Medicine

• NUIG, 2HC’s 1 science, 3rd language in 6 yrs and 2 sciences in 5 yrs.

• Max LC pts adjusted is 560 pts, Max HPAT score is 300, Total 860pts,

• Min HPAT = 170 pts, Test 2.30 hrs,• Apply online for HPAT, cost €115• www.hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au

Medicine• HPAT tests on 1st March 2014 only• HPAT results can be used for 1 yr• Test centres Dublin, Cork, Galway, Sligo and

Waterford • HPAT registration Mid Nov to January, apply

directly to ACER at www.hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au to sit the HPAT as well as applying to CAO

• HPAT results in June.• HPAT + LC in Aug.

Nursing

• Requirements Irish or English • Maths• Lab Science• 3 other subjects.• Grade C3 in 2 higher level • Grade D3 in in 4 ordinary level.

Private Colleges• Require Fees, approx €4,500 - €6000• American College, • Galway Business School• Griffith College, • National Counselling College• Portobello College,• St Pats Thurles• Dublin Business School• IBAT Swords Institute• Grafton college of Mgt• Independent colleges Dublin

Private Colleges• Points will be lower in the Colleges due to fee

payment.• Courses accredited by HETAC & FETAC are in the CAO

handbook but these colleges also offer many other options validated by Universities in the UK for which you apply directly to the college.

• Most are located in Dublin City centre• They offer flexibility by providing progression routes

for students who initially sign up for a level 6 or 7 and they can then progress to a level 8 honours degree in Ireland or the UK.

The UK Option• Log on to the UCAS (Universities and Colleges

Admissions Service) website www.ucas.co.uk and use the ‘Apply’ application service

• Closing date is January 15th (except for Medicine, Veterinary Science/Medicine and Dentistry, which have the earlier closing date of October 15th)

• Apply through your school and include a Reference from a teacher and a Personal Statement

• Widest Choice/Best Value -Fees Payable but bursaries/scholarships/grants /loans

The UK Option• You can apply for up to 5 different courses/institutions

(only 4 for Med., Vet., Dent., etc)• UCAS forwards each application to the various institutions

to make a decision on it• Decisions forwarded to UCAS who then forward them to

applicants• Can be: (a) Unconditional Offer (already has results to

satisfy course demands), (b) a Conditional Offer (pending results), or (c) a Rejection, usually at end of March.

• If more than 2 conditional offers are received you can make 1 firm acceptance and 1 insurance acceptance

The UK Option• Offers based on number of UCAS Points

HIGHER ORDINARY UCAS Points

A1 90

A2 77

B1 71

B2 64

B3 58

C1 52

C2 45

C3 A1 39

D1 33

D2 A2 26

D3 B1 20

B2 14

B3 7

The UK Option• Irish students get same treatment as UK students• England & Wales – Fees up to €9,000 p.a. N.I.

£3,575 p.a. Tuition Fee Loan available which is payable when earning > €15k

• Scotland – No fees for Irish students• Same grants available from Irish government if

studying in UK• Most UK institutions offer Bursaries based on

income or Scholarships which can be based on any criteria.

Personal Statement

• Explain experience and life in relation to application

• Final secondary level results• Post secondary qualifications• Current Studies• Non- certificate courses, Voluntary

work,• Employment, hobbies/interests

Sports Scholarships• A wide variety of sports are recognised across

the various institutions for the awarding of scholarships.

• Students benefit from funding, access to top-class facilities, nutrition advice, coaching and other supports.

• Apply to CAO in normal way and make a separate, direct application to the college(s) of choice for a scholarship.

• Deadlines for application vary, check college websites frequently!

The PLC Option• PLC courses are a flexible option

– Prepare students for the world of work – Stepping stone to transfer to 3rd level

• Interview based and not CAO points• More than 1000 courses through local VECs – 30,000 places

and very broad selection from acting to zoology etc• Usually 1 year in duration, sometimes 2 years, offered at

FETAC level 5 & 6.

The PLC Option• Progression from Further to Higher operates

in 2 main ways;– (1) HELS- Higher Education Links Scheme links

specific courses to reserved higher education places, e.g. Nursing, childcare, engineering

– (2) ITs and some HEIs award LC points up to a max of 400 on an open competition basis. ‘Distinctions to Points’

• Research preferred course, check colleges for links/reserved places and then decide on which PLC suits you.

You can apply again next year if not successful this

time

• You can apply as a mature student at age 23

• You can apply to The Open University and still work

• Take evening qualifications• Take a PLC course

Mature Application

• Over 23 on 1st Jan 2015• Must apply before 1st Feb 2015• Some accept late applications but

not nursing and midwifery• Direct application to some HEI’S

listed on page 6 of handbook

Mature Application

• Contact HEI admissions office,• Tick special category,• Tick mature student,• Include PPS no D.O.B.• Wait for interview call

Useful Websites• www.cao.ie & www.ucas.co.uk

- Appplication Services

• www.qualifax.ie– Comprehensive info. on all CAO courses– Points Calculator/Grants Calculator etc

• www.cereersportal.ie• Self-assessment, explore careers, video interviews in the

workplace, labour market trends, career matching/planning• www.accesscollege.ie

• HEAR and DARE programmes• www.susi.ie

– Grants

Other Non CAO Opportunities

• Apply directly to the Following:• Gardai, Defense Forces, Montessori

Training, Music Drama & Performing Arts, Hairdressing & Beauty, Failte Ireland, Childcare Colleges, Royal Irish Academy, Law Society of Ireland, Irish Management Institute, Art Craft & Design, Accounting Business Law & Journalism, Alternative Medicine, Independent Colleges and FAS.

In conclusion………

• Do your research:– On yourself

– On courses

– On colleges

– On careers

• Consult with parents, teachers etc• Be 90% sure of your courses before 1st Feb 2012.

Make minor changes, if any by 1st July 2012• GENUINE ORDER OF PREFERENCE !!!!!!

The World is your Oyster