Central Applications Office
Encyclopedia
The Central Applications Office (CAO) is the organisation responsible for overseeing most undergraduate applications in the Republic of Ireland
.
The primary mission of the Central Applications Office is to centrally process applications in a fair and efficient manner. The colleges and universities delegate the administration of admissions to the Central Applications Office; colleges and universities retain full control of admissions.
The Postgraduate Applications Centre
is a related organisation that oversees some taught postgraduate courses.
The Central Admissions Service (CAS) was introduced independently by the Dublin Institute of Technology
and the Regional Technical Colleges, both of whom were outside the initial Central Applications Office.
Commencing in the 1991 intake the Central Applications Office and Central Admissions Service decided to combine their admissions procedures so that students would have to complete only one joint application form for both systems - the CAO/CAS. The common points scale came into operation the next year, with the best six results from one sitting of the Leaving Certificate becoming the standard; previous to that there had been some allowance to accumulate points by sitting the Leaving Certificate more than once. Also the combined system was taken as an opportunity to reduce non-standard applications such as interviews for selection and portfolios of work - and overall to simplify the applications process. Eventually the CAS was subsumed into the CAO.
s and universities. The CAO then offers places to students who meet the minimum requirements for a course for which they have applied. In the case that there are more qualified applicants than available places on a particular course, places are offered to those students with the highest score in the CAO points system.
. Many institutions reserve places in some courses for older adults
, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, or other groups unlikely to achieve a place through the points system. Applications for most of these are routed through the CAO, but processed manually by the individual institutions rather than automatically via the points system.
The CAO awards points to students based on their achievements in the Leaving Certificate
examination. A student's points are calculated according to these tables, counting their best six subjects only (resulting in a maximum score of 600 points). If a student has sat the Leaving Certificate examination on more than one occasion, their points are calculated according to their best year's performance. If you do not get the points required for admission, you will not be offered a place on your chosen course.
Points can also be scored for results in other examinations, such as UK
A levels. The current CAO point allocation for these exams is: A* (150), A (135), B (120), C (100), D (75) and E (40).
In the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, students may obtain a Distinction (70 points), Merit (50 points), or Pass (30 points) that can be used as well as their 6 best subjects.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
The primary mission of the Central Applications Office is to centrally process applications in a fair and efficient manner. The colleges and universities delegate the administration of admissions to the Central Applications Office; colleges and universities retain full control of admissions.
The Postgraduate Applications Centre
Postgraduate Applications Centre
Postgraduate Applications Centre is an organisation that processes applications for large number of postgraduate courses in the Republic of Ireland....
is a related organisation that oversees some taught postgraduate courses.
History
The Central Applications Office was founded in January 1976 based in Galway, with nine colleges and universities participating initially. The first students processed through the system commenced courses in 1978.The Central Admissions Service (CAS) was introduced independently by the Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology was established officially in 1992 under the but had been previously set up in 1978 on an ad-hoc basis. The institution can trace its origins back to 1887 with the establishment of various technical institutions in Dublin, Ireland...
and the Regional Technical Colleges, both of whom were outside the initial Central Applications Office.
Commencing in the 1991 intake the Central Applications Office and Central Admissions Service decided to combine their admissions procedures so that students would have to complete only one joint application form for both systems - the CAO/CAS. The common points scale came into operation the next year, with the best six results from one sitting of the Leaving Certificate becoming the standard; previous to that there had been some allowance to accumulate points by sitting the Leaving Certificate more than once. Also the combined system was taken as an opportunity to reduce non-standard applications such as interviews for selection and portfolios of work - and overall to simplify the applications process. Eventually the CAS was subsumed into the CAO.
Background
Students applying for positions in third level education courses apply to the CAO rather than to individual educational institutions such as collegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s and universities. The CAO then offers places to students who meet the minimum requirements for a course for which they have applied. In the case that there are more qualified applicants than available places on a particular course, places are offered to those students with the highest score in the CAO points system.
Outside the points system
The points system is designed for young people leaving secondary educationSecondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
. Many institutions reserve places in some courses for older adults
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, or other groups unlikely to achieve a place through the points system. Applications for most of these are routed through the CAO, but processed manually by the individual institutions rather than automatically via the points system.
The points system
EWLINE
|
EWLINE
|
The CAO awards points to students based on their achievements in the Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
examination. A student's points are calculated according to these tables, counting their best six subjects only (resulting in a maximum score of 600 points). If a student has sat the Leaving Certificate examination on more than one occasion, their points are calculated according to their best year's performance. If you do not get the points required for admission, you will not be offered a place on your chosen course.
Points can also be scored for results in other examinations, such as UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
A levels. The current CAO point allocation for these exams is: A* (150), A (135), B (120), C (100), D (75) and E (40).
In the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, students may obtain a Distinction (70 points), Merit (50 points), or Pass (30 points) that can be used as well as their 6 best subjects.