NCI Blog

When it comes to filling in your CAO Application Form, it is completely normal to find the process overwhelming. You may find yourself asking “What course should I study”, “Which college should I choose?” or “I'm not sure what I want to do with my future!”.

Ian Ray grabbed the opportunity to do work placement as part of his business degree at NCI with two hands and discovered the path he wants to follow after college. He looks back on his one-year work placement as a HR Intern with Keelings, sharing two key achievements and what he has learned from this professional experience along with key insights into his studies at NCI. Making life choices such as where to study and what career to pursue can be challenging. Ian shares plenty of tips and advice below that can help those making CAO decisions for September 2025 discover the right path for them.

Being awarded Intern of the Year Runner-Up at L'Oréal was the highlight of the work placement experience for Clodagh Cahill-Turley who is currently completing the final year of her BA (Honours) in Business degree. As the only intern based in Ireland to be nominated for an award, this showcases her contribution to the company and recognises her achievements during her year-long placement.

NCI's award-winning Young Future Leaders Programme offers international students in high school, as well as Transition Year students in Ireland, a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills, fostering both personal and professional growth. Tailored to inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders, the programme is designed for students who want to experience college-level learning, develop essential skills for their future, and connect with peers from around the world.

One thing stood out to Zsuzsanna Nicoli when making her CAO choices. The BA (Honours) in Human Resource Management at NCI included the option to complete a year-long work placement in industry, meaning she would gain real-world experience and have an opportunity to apply theoretical learnings before she even graduates. She shares insights into her work placement with Ryanair and studying HRM as well as advice for those making their CAO choices below.

Many students think about what they would like to do with their degree when they are still in college. At National College of Ireland, many courses are designed to give students direct, practical experiences alongside classroom learning to highlight how you may go on to use the qualifications gained here.

About to jump into her final year of studies, BA (Honours) in Business student Sophie Sherlock reflects on her experience on the course so far along with her time completing work placement in Human Resources with the Central Bank of Ireland. She also looks back to making her CAO choices and shares advice for anyone who is currently in that position.

Computing has become an increasingly popular choice for third-level study in recent years. Demand for industry professionals in Ireland remains high with companies such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, Indeed and LinkedIn all having EU headquarters in Dublin and requiring top tech talent for positions in cybersecurity, software development, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and related areas.

A strategy many students consider when deciding what to do in college is to join a Level 6 course in an area they are interested in before committing to the Level 8 degree. These courses tend to be shorter, have lower entry requirements and graduates can gain entry to year two of an Honours Bachelor Degree.

Now this is amazing news to shout about: current Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) student, Naoise Howley, will represent Ireland at the World Lacrosse Women's Under 20 Championship in Hong Kong in August! In this interview, she shares her path to being selected for the team and her excitement at the opportunity ahead, along with insights into studying ECEC and advice for anyone considering their CAO choices.