On its 50th year in operation, the Central Applications Office (CAO) has released its 2026 course choice data, along with milestones in the organisation’s history. The figures show applications by course classification, course level, and applicant address. Most applicants will be able to use the Change of Mind facility, opening on 5 May, to add, remove, or re-order course choices, which will likely affect the numbers released today. Late applications are accepted until 1 May at 5pm.
The CAO’s mission is to provide a centralised, transparent application process for higher education in Ireland. Since its establishment, over 1.5 million students have secured places in third-level institutions. Speaking about the organisation’s origins, Joseph O’Grady, General Manager of CAO, noted:
“CAO offers a high degree of convenience to applicants and their advisors. It also offers considerable economies and efficiencies to Higher Education Institutions in filling their course places. Fairness and transparency are the foundations of the system, as well as equality of treatment for both applicants and participating Higher Education Institutions.”
For CAO’s first intake in 1977, there were 14,845 applicants, with five participating higher education institutions (UCC, UCD, UCG, St. Patrick’s College Maynooth, and Trinity College Dublin) offering 69 courses in total. Over the years, the number of participating institutions increased, particularly in the 1990s with the addition of Regional Technical Colleges, Colleges of Education, and Private Colleges, reaching a peak of 45 institutions. Recent years have seen consolidation due to mergers and the establishment of technological universities.
In 1992, the HEI Common Points Scale was introduced to standardise Leaving Certificate admissions. This was complemented by CAO’s central evaluation software, streamlining the application process further. Mr O’Grady added:
“All too often, CAO is incorrectly conflated with or used as shorthand for the Common Points Scale. The essence of the CAO is the fair and transparent way applications, offers, and acceptances are processed, and the order of preference system.”
The turn of the millennium saw CAO move online, largely replacing the paper application system within a few years. While initially focused on Irish Leaving Certificate applicants, CAO has since expanded to include GCE, QQI Further Education, and EU applicants, alongside mature applicants aged 23 and over. The office also manages applications for the HEAR and DARE schemes.
To date in 2026, 7,249 mature applicants have applied. Additionally, 13,870 applicants indicated interest in the DARE scheme, and 8,107 applicants in the HEAR scheme, though these figures may change as supporting documentation is received and processed.
The 2025 end-of-season application figures highlight the diversity of applicants:
89,960 total applicants
8,434 mature applicants (over 23 years)
71,687 applicants presenting Leaving Certificate results from 1985–2025
51,480 applicants with 2025 Leaving Certificate results
3,691 applicants presenting GCE qualifications
13,347 applicants with QQI FET qualifications
2,813 applicants with other Further Education awards
10,414 applicants presenting other school leaving exams
7,194 applicants with previous Higher Education experience
12,067 applicants to the DARE scheme
8,222 applicants to the HEAR scheme
Note: Some applicants appear in multiple categories if they hold multiple qualifications, for example, a mature applicant may also be counted under Leaving Certificate or Further Education.
