===== PAGE 1 =====
## A SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR STAGES OF THE CAO APPLICATION PROCESS

## 1 

Register with CAO before 5pm on 1 February.

FEBRUARY

1st DEADLINE

2

Edit your application

using the

'My Application'

facility.

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## 3 

Provide supplementary information,

and any documents required, by the

deadlines stated in this handbook and/or

the online application form.

## 4 

Introduce your Level 8 and

Level 7/6 courses using the 'My Application' facility before 1 February at 5pm

to avoid restrictions.

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## 5 

Remember to place your course choices in genuine order of preference.

OPTION 01



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## 6 

Use the free Change of Mind facility from 5 May to 1 July at 5pm to make changes to your application - restrictions apply.

## 7 

## Carefully check the

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Check and Confirm email when it is sent to you in May and inform CAO of any errors or omissions immediately.

## 8 

Round One Offers are issued the week following the release of the Leaving Certificate results. If you are accepting an offer you must do so by the reply date on the offer notice. Other categories of applicant may receive offer notifications before this time.

## 9 

After Round One offers issue, any applicant who does not receive an offer in Round A, Round Zero or Round One will receive a Check and Confirm email with instructions to check their CAO account and inform CAO immediately if there are any errors or omissions.

## 10 

Offers are issued to eligible applicants until the offer season closes, or until all of the places have been filled, whichever comes first.

## OFFER

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===== PAGE 2 =====
# INTRODUCTION

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The purpose of the Central Applications Office (CAO) is to process centrally applications for undergraduate courses in Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and to deal with them in an efficient and fair manner. The HEIs retain the function of making decisions on admissions.

This handbook has been prepared to provide information about the CAO application process. By reading this handbook carefully you will find out the information that you need to assist you with your application.

There are many avenues to be explored when you decide to make the journey into higher education; for the majority, that journey will involve a CAO application. It is important to note, however, that there are alternative access routes to higher education, other institutions offering further and higher education, and situations where you may have to apply to an institution directly.

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DO NOT LEAVE EVERYTHING TO THE LAST MINUTE!

You should allow ample time to research your course choices carefully using the websites and prospectuses of the HEIs, and check for matriculation and minimum entry requirements - you will not receive an offer of a place on your chosen course if you do not meet the minimum entry requirements. You can find out more information from the prospectuses and websites of the institutions, at Open Days, and from your guidance counsellor.

Fees or a student contribution may be payable. You should refer to the HEI website for fees information and go to www.studentfinance.ie or www.susi.ie for information about finance and grants.

If you have questions for CAO that are not answered in CAO literature or on the CAO website, or if there is any instruction that you do not understand, please contact us using the Contact form on the website www.cao.ie.

===== PAGE 3 =====
## RESTRICTIONS

As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the following sections carefully:

## General Restrictions

1. Making a late application – individual HEIs may have restrictions on late applications, for example, some HEIs may not consider late applications from certain categories of applicant. In particular,

mature applicants, and those presenting qualifications other than recently taken EU school-leaving examinations, should check the relevant HEI website before making a late application.

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2. Making changes to your course choices –

there are a number of intervals when you can

make changes to your CAO application. However,

if you are applying for a restricted course, or if you

are a mature applicant, you may not be able to

introduce courses using the free Change of Mind

facility which opens in May and

closes on the 1 July at 5pm.

For more information about

making changes to your

application go to page 27.

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## Restricted Courses

3. Applying for a restricted course – you must have applied to CAO by 1 February 2027 at 5pm if you wish to apply for a restricted course. The restricted course must be included on your course choices list by that date, or added to your application using the facility to amend course choices (for a fee of €10) before 1 March at 5pm.

Restricted courses normally require additional assessment procedures, for example, the submission of a portfolio, an oral assessment or interview, or a written assessment. Restricted courses are identified in the handbook by the

words "(Restricted - see page 3)" on the same line as the restricted course's title. Please make sure to acquaint yourself with the additional requirements, if any, of the restricted course(s) that you have applied for and go to page 24 for more information about interviews and assessments.

Exception: If a restricted course shares the exact same assessment procedures with a course you had applied for by 1 February 2027, you may be permitted to introduce it on a Change of Mind. You should consult with the relevant HEI before introducing such a course.

## Mature Applicants

4. Mature applicants – most HEIs will require mature applicants, who wish to be assessed on mature grounds, to have applied to CAO by 1 February 2027 at 5pm, and include course choices by that date or add them using the facility to amend course choices (for a fee of €10) before 1 March at 5pm. (This restriction does not apply if the applicant wishes to be considered on the basis of school leaving qualifications only.) For more information about applying to CAO on the basis of mature years go to www.cao.ie/mature

## Supplementary Admissions Routes

5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR – to be considered for DARE and/or HEAR, applicants must have registered on the CAO system by 1 February 2027 at 5pm. To apply to DARE, you must answer YES to Question 1 ('Do you wish to be considered for DARE?') on Section A of the fully completed Supplementary Information Form (SIF) by 5pm on 1 March 2027.

To apply to HEAR, you must indicate on your CAO application that you wish to apply for HEAR and fully and correctly complete all elements of the online HEAR form by 5pm on 1 March 2027.

Supporting documents for DARE and/or HEAR applicants must be posted to CAO offices before 10 March 2027 at 5pm.

===== PAGE 4 =====
## APPLICANT'S RESPONSIBILITY

Before applying to CAO it is important that you note the following information:

• You, the applicant, are responsible for ensuring that an application is complete, correct and on time.

• You are entering a competition for entry to higher education.

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_938_477_1182_723.jpg" alt="Image" width="9%" /></div>


• In any one year, you may not present more than one application. An application cannot be transferred to another individual or year.

• You must examine the contents of this handbook carefully.

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• You are responsible for the security of

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the personal data that you may have access to (for example, receive in the post, write down, store, print, view in a browser, download etc.). You should always ensure that your CAO account password and email passwords are kept safe, as well as logging out once you are finished using your accounts. For more information on data protection go to the Data Privacy section of www.cao.ie.

You must supply a valid email address and ensure you are receiving CAO emails at this address, for example, when you apply, the Check and Confirm email in May, and other emails we send you (see also page 5).



- The Correspondence section of your account contains a log of all emails sent to you by CAO, and any online queries that you have submitted to CAO whilst logged in to your application. Please make sure to check the Correspondence section regularly for new emails from CAO containing important information and instructions.

• Certain minimum computing facilities are required for online applications (e.g. the latest version of Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome) and applicants are advised to use a personal computer when applying to CAO in order to reduce the potential for applicant error.

- CAO cannot accept any responsibility for loss or hardship arising from your failure to avail of correction opportunities.

- You must check fees and/or student contribution for all of the courses that you are applying to.

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===== PAGE 5 =====
# APPLYING TO CAO

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Step 1

## Register on the CAO system in advance of the closing date to obtain your CAO application number

1. Go to www.cao.ie and click on Apply.

2. Enter your personal details carefully.

3. Supply a valid email address - a valid email address is required for security and communications purposes. The email supplied must be a unique email address (i.e. the same email address must not be used for more than one application) that is accessible to you and only you throughout the application and registration process. Failure to provide a valid email address may have serious consequences, for example, you may not receive an offer. Please note that CAO, and the HEIs to which you apply, may wish to communicate with you about your application and they may contact you by email, post or SMS text message (see page 25).

4. Select the qualifications and assessments section(s) that are relevant to you (there may be more than one relevant section – see page 6 for more information).

5. Pay the application fee.

6. Create a password. If you forget your password you can use the forgotten password facility. You will need your CAO application number, your date of birth, and the registered email address for your account to be able to automatically reset your password. If you experience difficulty resetting your password, email CAO using the Contact facility.

7. If you are paying by credit or debit card you will be redirected to a third party payment facility. No payment card details will be stored on the CAO system. Once your payment has been processed you will be brought back to the CAO website to complete the remaining steps, including indicating that you have read the terms and conditions.



<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1396_217_2289_1075.jpg" alt="Image" width="35%" /></div>


8. You must then click on ‘Proceed with application’ to obtain your 2027 CAO application number. Your application details will appear on screen and you will also receive an email containing your CAO application number and your email verification code. You have not successfully registered until you receive an email from CAO containing your 2027 CAO application number.

Please Note: You should enter your name as it appears on your Birth Certificate or Passport. If you wish to apply under a different name, HEIs will require proof of identification at registration.

Being registered as a CAO applicant means you have a CAO application number starting with '27'.

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TIP: before you register you can practise your application using the online Demo Application form

CLICK HERE

===== PAGE 6 =====
#### TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY DUBLIN www.tudublin.ie

<div style="text-align: center;">Level 8</div>



<table border=1 style='margin: auto; word-wrap: break-word;'><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Level</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Code</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Title</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Location</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU801</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Sustainable Energy Engineering #</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Tallaght</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU802</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Electrical Services and Energy Management</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Grangegorman</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU804</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Engineering (General Entry)
Degree options in:
Computer Engineering | Mechatronic Engineering</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Blanchardstown</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU805</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Engineering (General Entry)
Degree options in:
Building Engineering | Civil Engineering | Computer and Communications Engineering | Electrical and Electronic Engineering | Manufacturing and Design Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Structural Engineering</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Bolton St &amp; Grangegorman</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU807</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Computer Engineering in Mobile Systems #</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Blanchardstown</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU810</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Mechatronic Engineering #</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Blanchardstown</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU811</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Product Design</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Aungier Street &amp; Bolton St &amp; Grangegorman</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU828</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Mechanical Engineering</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Tallaght</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU829</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Electronic Engineering and Engineering Software (General Entry) #</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Tallaght</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU831</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Architectural Technology</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Bolton Street</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU832</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Architecture (Portfolio) (Interview) (Restricted, see page 3)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Bolton Street</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU833</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Construction Management</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Bolton Street</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU835</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Spatial Planning and Environmental Management</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Bolton Street</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU836</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Property Economics (Valuation Surveying)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Bolton Street</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU837</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Quantity Surveying and Construction Economics</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Bolton Street</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU841</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Biomedical Design #</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Tallaght</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU842</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Information Systems with Digital Transformation</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Tallaght</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU848</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Health Informatics</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Blanchardstown</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU850</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Data Science and Artificial Intelligence</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Grangegorman</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU851</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Analytical Chemistry (Environmental Forensic and Pharmaceutical)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Grangegorman</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU852</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Chemical Sciences with Medicinal Chemistry</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Grangegorman</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">8</td><td rowspan="2">TU854</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Science (General Entry)
Degree options in:
Analytical Chemistry (Environmental Forensic and Pharmaceutical) | Biomedical and Molecular Diagnostics | Biotechnology | Chemical Sciences with Medicinal Chemistry | DNA and Forensic Analysis (Tallaght) | Environmental Health | Food Science | Nutraceuticals in Health and Nutrition | Pharmaceutical Healthcare | Pharmaceutical Science (Tallaght) | Physics with Energy and Environment | Physics with Medical Physics and Bioengineering | Physics Technology | Science with Nanotechnology</td><td rowspan="2">Grangegorman</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>NOTE: Progression options are based on the Grangegorman campus unless otherwise stated.</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU855</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Science with Nanotechnology</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Grangegorman</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU856</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Computer Science</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Grangegorman</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU857</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Computer Science (Infrastructure)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Grangegorman</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU858</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Computer Science (International)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Grangegorman</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU859</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Computing (General Entry)
Degree options in:
Cloud Computing | Computing with Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence | Computing with Software Development</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Tallaght</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU860</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Computing (Information Technology) #</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Blanchardstown</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU862</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Computing with Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Tallaght</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>8</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>TU863</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Digital Forensics and Cyber Security #</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Blanchardstown</td></tr><tr><td colspan="4">-- Continued --</td></tr></table>