The CAO Change of Mind facility closes on July 1st, 2025, at 5pm so now is the perfect opportunity to make any changes or refine your course choices. You can use this opportunity to add, adjust, or remove programmes at no cost to ensure that you are setting yourself to achieve your goals.
This can be quite a stressful time so here are some questions you may want to consider before the July 1st deadline!
Q1. What should I be looking out for before the Change of Mind Closing date?
Even if you aren’t planning on changing any of your course choices, you can take this opportunity to go back and look though the options that you have already chosen. Make sure to do thorough research on the courses that you’ve included in your CAO application. The Qualifax website is a great resource to use to verify that you have a complete understanding of the different entry requirements for the courses that you have already put down.
This is also a great opportunity to go back and check for errors in your CAO application to make sure that all your personal information and everything is correct before the last and final submission date. If you spot an error, update your application immediately and contact the CAO if you have any issues.
Q2. Are there any courses that I cannot change?
Yes, you may not enter a change of mind for any course that is labeled as restricted. Restricted courses typically require additional assessments and materials for the application, so you are unable to add them after the first CAO closing date.
Visit the Restricted Courses page on the CAO website to see the status of the courses that you are interested in.
Q3. How should I order my preferences?
Make sure to list your options in genuine order to preference. Be strategic about how you order your various course preferences, it is a good idea to put your dream course at the top and then list some more realistic options that you would still be happy to accept.
Q4. Consider the Fees/Costs: Am I applying to courses at private or public institutions?
Financial considerations are an essential part of planning for your future, so it is important to know if the courses that you are considered are covered under the Free Fees Initiative or if they are self-funded. Consider looking through your desired programmes, double-checking the financial requirements to make sure that you are fully aware of what you may be responsible for in the future. For example, NCI is a public college so all of our courses are covered under the Free Fees Initiatives with the exception of our BA (Honours) in Psychology and our BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care.
For more information on the Free Fees Initiative as well as the courses at NCI that are covered under this initiative look through “CAO Students’ Guide to Free Fees Courses at NCI.”
Q5. Besides academic requirements, what else should I be researching during this time?
It is important to be aware of the various financial supports that you may be eligible for as you begin the college selection process. The Student Universal Support Ireland Grant (SUSI Grant) application has opened at the beginning of April so make sure that you are filling out all the necessary information to be eligible for the grant. Remember you do not need to have your Leaving Certificate results prior to filling out the application form so try and finish the form early as there are expected to be many applications submitted in the coming months.
It can also be beneficial to research the specific colleges that you have in your CAO application and see if they have any additional scholarships or other grant schemes that you may be eligible for. For example, NCI’s sports scholarship offers an opportunity for prospective students to get increased academic and athletic support. Additionally, Sports Scholarship students receive an annual bursary and get a reduction of up to 30 points across full-time CAO courses.
Q6. What do I want my college experience to look like?
Although academic and future career options are probably at the top of your list when considering options after secondary school, it is important to consider what you want your social life to look like in the next couple of years. Make sure to take the time to research the various club/societies that are offered by the schools you have down on your CAO.
It is also important to research the location of your top choices. Chances are you are going to be spending a decent amount of time on campus so make sure to research your routes to campus and consider the neighborhood you will be spending a lot of your time.
Consider going through the social media pages of different colleges and universities to really get a feeling for what student life is like on a day-to-day basis. This is a great way to really picture what your life could be like! Look at other NCI blog posts to see how students are spending their time on campus! Check out CAO student, Ian Ray's journey at NCI!
To get more information on life at NCI, follow us on Instagram and TikTok!
Q7. Should I consider adding Level 6/7s to my preference list?
Yes, in addition to choosing Level 8 courses make sure to fill out the list for Level 6/7 courses! Try and fill as many of the 20 choices that you can, you are able to fill in 10 on each side which gives you up to 20 possible options for your future. Since you can receive offers from both lists, this will allow you to have a variety of choices when it comes to accepting your final offer. This is your last chance to add these Level 6/7 options if you haven’t done so already.
Q8. Is there still time to visit colleges that I’ve put down on my CAO application?
Yes! In addition to researching online, one of the best ways to really get a feel for your future is to attend college open days. At these events, you can see the campus for yourself and speak with students about their experiences! Many third-level colleges continue to host open days as we draw closer to the Change of Mind deadline.
Getting a first-hand account of what it is like to attend different colleges/universities is an invaluable experience as you can ask specific questions to students who have been exactly in your same position!
You can attend our Summer Open Day on Saturday, June 28th from 11am to 1pm to get a feel for what it’s like to study at the National College of Ireland. We hope to see you there!
