CAO Parents Presentation
Outline of presentation
Some of the key issues this year for students
& parents:
CAO Applications/points system/offers
Decisions, Dates and Deadlines
Cost of studying and living at home and away
from home
Student Supports:

Grants, Access Schemes, Scholarships,
Disability
Other routes: FETAC/QQI Progression Schemes

Other non CAO options
So how does the CAO
and points system in
Ireland work?
CAO System
CAO system based on matching
No. of qualified applicants with No. of course places
Selection system used in Irish 3rd Level Colleges is
CAO POINTS SYSTEM
• Students must gain required points AND minimum subject
requirements
• How much will the points be based this year?
• Honestly no-one knows at this stage
• Depends on Supply & Demand
• The fewer the places , the greater demand = higher points
• More places, lower demand = less points
• So students need a “cushion”
Choice 1: Going to college in Ireland:
Making a CAO Application
• Since 2007 there are 3 types of courses students can apply for under the
National Qualifications Framework.
• These are applied for on 2 separate lists on a single form:
Level 6 & 7 Courses
Ordinary Degrees (7) Higher Certificates (6)
Up to 10 Course Choices
Level 8 Courses
Honours Degrees (8)
Up to 10 Course Choices
• The courses and levels are clearly labelled in the CAO Handbook
• N.B. – Care must be taken with ‘Restricted’ courses
• These ‘restricted’ courses cannot be applied for after February 1st
due to extra assessments required.
• Check out the CAO website at cao.ie
How are points calculated?
• Points are calculated from ONE sitting of the
Leaving Certificate only.
• Points total is calculated from SIX best subjects
• Entry Requirements (e.g. Pass in Maths and
English) can be satisfied over more than one
sitting of the Leaving Certificate- with some
exceptions –e.g. Medicine
Grade
A1
A2
Honours
100
90
Ordinary
60
50
B1
B2
B3
85
80
75
45
40
35
C1
C2
C3
70
65
60
30
25
20
D1
D2
D3
55
50
45
15
10
5
Points System – the best 6
• Since 2012, bonus points in higher maths –
•
25 extra points
BEST
6
SUBJECTS
How the points are calculated
• All the subjects a student presents are given a
CAO points score and
are
added up to get the overall total points.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Irish
English
Maths
French
Biology
Geography
History
POINTS
H
O
H
H
H
O
H
C2
A1
D2
B2
C1
A1
B3
65
65
50 +25=75
80
70
60
75
425
•
•
•
BEFORE THE POINTS WILL BE LOOKED AT A STUDENT MUST SATISFY THE :
1:
COLLEGE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (MATRICULATION)
2:
COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (CAN BE SUBJECT OR GRADE SPECIFIC)
Guidance
Department
Presentation
Secondary School
Trends
• Points in Science, Engineering , IT courses went
up last year
• Healthcare courses are high
• Arts low
• Law from 420
• Most popular university for ISK students is UCC
CAO Timetable –crucial dates
5th Nov – online CAO application facility opens
Early Bird Special Offer –Jan 20th 2016 (€25)
▫ 1st February, 2016Closing date for receipt of normal applications -€40
• Before/By Mid February, 2016
▫ Receive Statement of Course Choices
• 1st March 2016
Closing date for final completion of online HEAR and DARE applications
Most tests & interviews for Restricted courses are held in March & April
1st April 2016
Closing date for all final HEAR/DARE documentation
• 1st May, 2016
▫ Closing date for receipt of late CAO applications
• Before/By 31st May, 2016
▫ Receive Statement of Application Record
• From 5 May, 2016
▫ Change of mind opens -FREE
1st July, 2016
▫ Latest date for receipt of change of mind form in CAO.
• August, 2016
•
•
▫
Mid August LC Results
▫
▫
▫
▫
Cost of CAO Application:
Early Bird
–25 Euro [on or before Jan 20th]
Normal
– 40 Euro [by Feb 1st]
Students are encouraged to apply soon and avail of the FREE change of mind facility until
the end of January [to avoid the last minute panic and computer problems]
▫
▫
First round of offers will commence on Aug 22 2016 ( expected date)
Round 1, Aug Acceptances closing date 29th August 2016 (expected date)
CAO Offers – how it works
• In August 2016 the CAO will make offers to
students from both lists(level 6/7 and 8)
• Students can only accept one offer at a time
• Students are still eligible for ALL higher
preference offers in later rounds
• Students can accept online
• If deferring, students must contact the HEI
directly in writing
• From May to July 1st students can adjust their
course choice lists using the FREE change of
mind facility.
Choice 2: Going to College Abroad
UK
UK APPLICANTS
• For UK applicants (Oct 15th or Jan 15th)
• Students set up their accounts online and work through
the sections
• Up to 5 choices maximum [sometimes only 4]
• Guidelines have been given regarding writing the
personal statement
• Ensure you are aware of the courses that must be
applied for by Oct 15th
Check out the admissions tests list on the
UCAS website for UKCAT, HPAT etc
Going to college in Europe
• Many colleges offer EU students the opportunity
to study at very reasonable prices through the
medium of English across many excellent
universities
• Look at www.eunicas.com
Making A College Application
Important Key Dates for
Ireland/UK
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
UCAS
UCAS
CAO
PLC applications
◦
HEAR and DARE applications
Pre exams
Practical/Oral LC exams
LC written exams
Grant applications SUSI
January 20th 2016
March 2016
[some accept later applications]
Feb/March/April2016
March 2016
March/April 2016
June 2016
June/July 2016
How will
you finance it?
Cost of Living at Home – 2014
Registration Fees approx: €2,750
Cost of living for Students
living at home
Monthly (€)
Annual (€)
Contribution to Utilities
33
297
Food
65
585
Travel
119
1071
Books & Class Materials
55
495
Clothes/Medical
45
405
Mobile
32
288
Social Life
132
1188
Student Contribution charge 306
2750
Total’s
7083
787
Registration Fees approx: €2,750
The Cost of Living Away From Home
Cost of Living for Student’s
Living away from Home
Rent (National – for Dublin see
below)
Utilities
Food
Travel
Books & Class materials
Clothes/Medical
Mobile
Social life/Misc
Student Contribution Charge
Total’s
Monthly (€)
Annual (€)
307**
2763
33
172
119
74****
45
32
132
306
1220
297
1548
1071
666
405
288
1188
2750
10980
• Students in receipt of a grant will get their registration
fees paid and may also receive additional support
Is there any financial support?
Yes, there is!
Let’s see what support
there is out
there for you
What Supports are Available?
1. GRANTS/SUSI
2. H.E.A.R. Scheme
3. Other Scholarships
4. D.A.R.E. Scheme
Financial
Access/financial
Access/disability
1. Grants
• Applications are completed online at SUSI –Student Universal Support
Ireland susi.ie
• Check out studentfinance.ie website for more information
So how much do students get?
Max
Min
5,915
305
Most students
3,025
or
Living away
(45km+)
1,215
Living at home
2. HEAR
Higher Education Access Route
•
•
This is an access scheme which the following 16 Institutions are involved in:
DCU, DIT, NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway, TCD, UL, UCC, UCD, Marino, Mary I, Mater Dei, St.
Angela’s, St. Pats, COI College of Education, NCI, PUM
•
Targets students who are motivated and have the ability to attend 3rd level but may lack some of
the social or economic supports.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Who is eligible to apply?
Long term unemployed
Low family income – must be within the Irish grants income limits
Little family tradition of progression to 3rd level
Under represented socio-economic groups
Applications are due in by Feb 1st 2016 – through the CAO scheme and must be fully complete
by March 1st 2016
ALL FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS must be in by APRIL 1st 2016
•
•
•
Student Supports:
Financial (1,200 approx)
Academic
•
Students must get about 90% of the points needed to do the course of choice. A lot of students
who are on the HEAR scheme achieved their place with no concession on points.
Personal Guidance
Social Supports
Orientation Programme
Extra Tuition
SIPTU – for children of SIPTU members
5.
Other
Scholarships
Reid Scholarship for Kerry Students in Trinity
Sports Scholarships – check with college
Entrance scholarships – awarded to best students
Irish Taxation Institute Scholarship – taxation
Science Foundation Ireland/DELL Scholarship –
young women in engineering – engineering
degrees – €2000
• NUI Equal Opportunities Scheme - €1625
• All Ireland Scholarship Scheme – 120 top LC
students, open to medical card holders
•
Details of all schemes on studentfinance.ie
•
•
•
•
•
•
6. D.A.R.E – Disability Access Route to
Education
• This is part of the supplementary CAO application process.
• Forms are completed online with additional information forwarded to the
CAO.
• The scheme is intended to support students with diagnosed disabilities
such as:
• Asberger’s Syndrome, Autism, ADD, ADHD, blind, vision impaired,
Dyspraxia, mental health condition, neurological conditions, significant
ongoing illness, physical disability, specific learning difficulty and others….
• The following 12 colleges are part of this scheme:
• Athlone IT, DCU, DIT, MATER DEI, NCI, NUIG, NUIM, TCD, UCC, UCD,
UL, PUM
• Applications due in: FEB 1 st to be fully completed by March 1st 2016
• Additional information due in by: APRIL 1st 2016
• For further information check out: www.accesscollege.ie
Financial Documentation needed
• Parents are encouraged to collect in a file all the financial
documentation that will be needed.
• The following are often requested:
• P60 for year ended 2014/5
• P21 for year ended 2014/5
• Self-employed: copy of accounts ending 2013 and 2014
•
• Social Welfare recipient: statement from local office showing total
amounts received for the year ending 2014/5
• An original birth cert may also be requested
• Grant applications require information from 2015 while HEAR
applications require 2014.
• If you are doing a HEAR and grant application you will need both sets
of documents.
Supports In Summary
• Students are encouraged to look at all these schemes and put
the time and effort into applying if they feel they are eligible.
• HEAR /DARE forms are completed as part of the online CAO
process (students NOT the school send them off)
• Scholarship applications are usually returned to the
college/Institute
• Grant forms are completed in the summer online and supporting
documents are returned to the SUSI office [note: they are not
returned to school]
If direct entry to college is not for you or you need a back up
plan:
FETAC Progression Routes –
Further Education (PLC) FETAC level 5 or 6
• In 2014 there are 38 HEI’s offering places to
FETAC applicants
• Currently 20% of all CAO applicants have a level
5/6 FETAC AWARD (not applying on the basis of
LC)
• Since 2014 every FETAC Award will be part of
the CAS (Common Awards System)
• Based on a CREDITS system
(max120=400points)
• Some courses are ‘linked’ to specific related
courses
• For more information look up fetac.ie website
The FETAC(QQI) Progression Route
Leaving Cert
FETAC(PLC)
Level 5 course
Level 6 course
Level 7 course
Level 6 course
Level 7
Level 8
Level 8 course
Websites
Websites:
• Qualifax.ie
• studentfinance.ie
• cao.ie
• ucas.com
• accesscollege.ie
• careersportal.ie
• eunicas.ie
• fas.ie
• Collegeboard.com
• Thank you for your attention
• If you have any questions please ask
• Feel free to ring me at school on 066 9790924