CAO Round 1 offers were released on Tuesday, 27th August at 2pm, and for many students, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions. If you didn’t get the offer you were hoping for, take a deep breath—there are still plenty of options available to you.
1. Explore Available Places at NCI
The Available Places facility opens on Wednesday, 28th August at 12pm. This is your chance to apply for courses that still have places available, even if you didn’t originally list them on your CAO application.
National College of Ireland is offering six courses through Available Places this year:
- BA (Hons) in Marketing Practice
- BSc (Hons) in Data Science
- BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care
- Higher Certificate in Data Science
- Higher Certificate in Business
- Higher Certificate in Computing
These programmes span high-demand areas like Business, Computing, and Education, and are designed to help you build a strong foundation for your future career. Keep in mind that the Higher Certificates are level 6 courses which offer students a direct route to year two of the level 8 degree if they missed out on a place on those programmes when the CAO offers were released earlier this week.
💡 What is Available Places?
It’s a CAO facility that highlights courses still open to qualified applicants. If you meet the minimum entry requirements, you can apply - even if you didn’t include the course in your original CAO choices.
2. Hear From Students Who Chose These Courses
The six courses offered through Available Places at NCI have helped many students find their path and thrive. While not all entered through alternative routes, their stories show the impact of choosing a course that aligns with your interests and goals:
- Marketing Practice students showcased the online businesses they created as part of their final year capstone project, showing the innovative work they do as part of their degree.
- Sophie, who studied business, used her work placement to gain valuable work experience. Remember: Students who complete the Level 6 Higher Certificate in Business through Available Places can potentially gain entry into year two of the Level 8 BA (Honours) in Business.
- Niamh, brought her interest in Formula One into her Data Science studies at NCI.
- James, who turned his passion for gaming into a career path by studying computing at NCI.
- Jimmy, who shared how studying Early Childhood Education and Care helped him connect theory with real-world practice.
These stories highlight the value of choosing a course that suits your strengths and aspirations, whether it’s your first choice or a new opportunity through Available Places.
3. Consider Alternative Routes
If you didn’t meet the points for your preferred course, there are still valuable pathways to third-level education:
- Higher Certificates: These are typically two-year programmes with lower entry points. Many students use them to progress into the second year of a related degree.
- PLC Courses: Post Leaving Certificate courses offer practical training and can lead directly into employment or be used to reapply through the CAO next year.
- Later Round Offers: CAO offers continue through Rounds 2, 3, and 4 in September. Accepting a current offer doesn’t prevent you from accepting a later one if it becomes available.
- Defer Your Place: You have the option to defer your college offer for this September to give yourself time to figure out your next steps. You need to email the Admissions Office of the appropriate college or university if this is the path you choose.
4. Attend an Open Evening
Many colleges are holding open events around this time where you can drop in and talk to lecturers and college staff about your options. Our next open event will take place on Wednesday 3rd September, 5-7pm. You can join this event at our Mayor Square campus building to meet our team and discuss your options for September.
If you need help before then, get in touch with our Admissions Team right away by emailing admissions@ncirl.ie - we're here to help!
You’ve got options. You’ve got support. You’ve got this.
