The CAO application process opens up today at 12pm for students hoping to attend third-level education next year.
There are over 1,400 courses available, which can make students feel overwhelmed when making the decision.
The normal closing date for applications is on the 1st of February 2027.
Students who apply online by the 20th of January can avail of the discounted application fee of €35.
As thousands of students across the country now prepare for life after school, Jane Weighton, career guidance coach at Future Connect is urging them to focus on their interests and their strengths:
"No one can really say what the careers of 10 years are going to look like.
When you are evaluating courses for your CAO, think about the skills that you're developing as part of those and how you can market them to employers."
Students are recommended to create the application and get familiar with how the CAO application works.
"It's a great way to get familiar with the tool now.
Register, avail of the early bird discount and get your CAO number. So, you have that done for when you want to put your CAO courses down."
