Key Dates & Deadlines
Miss the 1 February deadline and you’re paying extra; miss your offer deadline and the place could go. One timeline, in plain order.
The CAO calendar, front to back.
The CAO runs on a fixed annual rhythm that resets every November. The dates below follow the most recent cycle; the exact dates shift by a few days most years, so always confirm on the official cao.ie ↗ website.
| When | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 5th November | Applications open for the next admission round | Start your application and note the deadlines in your diary. |
| 1st February | Normal closing date for new applications | Online fee applies; after this it costs more. |
| 5th March | Late-application opens (extra fee) | An additional €65 charge. |
| 1st July | Change of mind closes | Final chance to review your choices. |
| Late August | Leaving Cert results issued | Points are calculated from your results. |
| September | Round 1 offers released | Respond within the deadline shown (usually ~7 days). |
- 20th January — discounted applications fee of €35.
- After 1st February — late applications carry an extra €65 fee.
Application & change of mind
Your initial CAO application is about course choice order — you list, in genuine preference order, the courses and colleges you’d be happy with. The “change of mind” window lets you reorder that list (or swap courses) until early July without cost. After you finish your exams can be a good time to fine-tune your list.
Results and offers
Results day is followed in early September by Round 1 offers. From there, offers continue in later rounds as places free up into autumn for courses that are not filled. If you don’t land a course in Round 1, don’t write the year off — later rounds and plan-B options genuinely change outcomes for a lot of students.
Practical reminders
- Online application fee is €45; paper applications slightly more. Paid by debit/credit card at the end.
- You can start the application and return to it.
- Keep your CAO number and password safe; you’ll use the same account for change of mind, offers, and acceptance.
- Mature applicants have their own earlier deadlines — see the mature students page.
Building the application around your real options
We’ll fix your course-order logic first — then put every deadline you care about on one calendar you can actually trust.