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1
Welcome:
Welcome to the 2010 CAO Handbook.
Your Handbook will be an invaluable guide to the process
of applying for courses in the Higher Education
Institutions participating in the central application service.
Read it carefully and keep it to hand for future reference.
You will find the answers to most of your questions in this
Handbook. In addition, the CAO website www.cao.ie
contains a wealth of information for applicants as well as
links to information pages on Higher Education Institution
websites, and other external websites.
The CAO understands how important this process is to you
and you are encouraged to research your course choices
carefully and use all of the resources available to keep
yourself informed.
If you have any questions for CAO that are not answered
in CAO literature, or if you do not understand any
instruction you receive from CAO, then you should not
hesitate to contact us.
You will find contact details on this page and more contact
information on page 20.
We hope that you have a positive experience using the
CAO service for application to Higher Education.
Central Applications Office (CAO):
CAO is an organisation which was founded in 1976 by the
higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Republic of
Ireland. The HEIs have delegated to CAO the task of
processing centrally applications for admission to their
first year undergraduate courses.
The purpose of the CAO is to process applications
centrally and to deal with them in an efficient and fair
manner. The HEIs retain the function of making decisions
on admissions.
Applicant’s Responsibility:
It is the applicant’s own responsibility to ensure
that the application is submitted accurately and
on time.
In any one year, you may not present more than
one application (either online or paper).
General Principles:
Applications for admission in Autumn 2010 will be
processed in accordance with the regulations, procedures
and timetable described in the CAO Handbook 2010
("the Handbook"), in the CAO Application Form 2010
("the Form") and in the other documents mentioned in the
Handbook.
It is your responsibility to acquaint yourself with these.
Other such regulations and procedures in relation to online
application, change of mind and acceptance of offers will
appear on the CAO website.
The intention is to provide fair and equal treatment for all
applicants and to minimise expense for the applicant-body
as a whole.
CAO is purely an administrative facility and does not
endorse or recommend any course. It is your responsibility
to determine the status and the suitability of any course
chosen.
CAO is agent for the HEIs participating in the Application
System. These bodies agree annually the application
regulations, procedures and timetable.
CAO has no discretion to set them aside so as either to
afford special treatment to any applicant over another or to
deprive any applicant of their entitlement in favour of
another.
Address:
The CAO Application System operates from the CAO
premises at:
TOWER HOUSE,
EGLINTON STREET,
GALWAY.
Phone : (091) 509800
Fax: (091) 562344
The CAO website is at: www.cao.ie
Application may be made online at this site.
Hours of Business:
09:30 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:15
Monday through Friday.
Application Dates and Fees:
Applicants should avoid submitting an application close to a
Closing Date. No extension to the closing date will be allowed.
All fees are Non-refundable.
FEE
CLOSING DATE
Normal application
(online or paper)
€45
1 Feb 2010 (5:15 pm)
Online discounted rate
€35
20 Jan 2010 (5:15 pm)
Late online application
€70
1 May 2010 (5:15 pm)
Late paper application
€90
1 May 2010 (5:15 pm)
Change of Mind
Nil
1 July 2010 (5:15 pm)
Introduction