Cao personal statement guidelines

In May, a Statement of Application Record e-mail is sent to all applicants. The purpose of this e-mail is to instruct you to log in and verify that all of your information has been recorded completely and correctly on your CAO account. There may be very serious consequences for your application if you do not follow these instructions immediately.

  1. Read the instructions on this page.
  2. Log in to your CAO Account to review your account information, including your personal details, the qualifications and assessments section (examination and exemption information) and your course choices. Do not delay.
  3. If there are any errors or omissions inform CAO immediately (see instructions for editing your application below). Failure to correct errors or omissions at this stage may have very serious consequences and lead to the loss of a place.
  4. You must click the 'Confirm' button (located at the bottom of your account homepage) to indicate that you have checked your account information is present and correct, and have followed the instructions in the Statement of Application Record e-mail and the instructions on this page.

What information do I need to review in my CAO account?

Personal Details

Check that all of your personal information is correct. Pay particular attention to the date and place of birth as eligibility may depend on it. This information is subject to later verification by HEIs. If you need to make changes, click on 'Change Personal Details'. If you need to change your name or date of birth you must e-mail CAO via the Correspondence Section of your account.

Qualifications and Assessments

Please ensure that you have provided details of any examinations being taken this year, or any examinations taken in previous years. Below you will see links to certain categories of application. Please click on the section(s) relevant to you for more detailed instructions.

Supporting Documents

You can view documents you have sent to CAO by clicking on 'View Supporting Documents'. If the 'View Supporting Documents' facility is not available to you, this is because you have not sent any documents to CAO or your documentation was not received by 31st March. All documents received by CAO up to the end of March have been scanned and added to applicant accounts. Documents received after the end of March are processed and added to accounts on a fortnightly basis. If you have sent documents to arrive after 31st March you must check your account no later than 30th June to ensure they have been uploaded.

Please note: HEAR and/or DARE documentation is not available to view via 'View Supporting Documents'.

If you have been granted an exemption from the NUI Irish (and/or third language) requirement, and there is no reference to it in the Qualifications and Assessments section, please notify us immediately by sending a query from the Correspondence Section of your CAO account.

If you have been granted an exemption from Trinity College Dublin matriculation/language requirement and there is no reference to it in the Qualifications and Assessments section, please notify us immediately by sending a query from the Correspondence Section of your CAO account.

If wish to seek an exemption from minimum entry requirements, such as Irish or a third or modern language, you must contact the Admissions Office of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) you are applying to (in the case of NUI institutions contact the NUI, see www.nui.ie for details). CAO plays no role in processing exemption applications. Apply for exemptions without delay, see here for deadlines and further information.

Course Choices

Do not assume that your course choices are correct. Check the course codes against the CAO Handbook/website and ensure that they are in the desired order of preference.

You can change your course choices as many times as you like (and free of charge) from 7th May at 12pm up to 1st July at 5pm by logging in to your CAO account and clicking on Change Level 8 Course Choices or Change Level 7/6 Course Choices. If you have no courses recorded at this time you will clicking on Add Level 8 and Add Level 7/6 Course Choices.

How do I view and make changes/updates to my examination information?

Leaving Certificate Applicants (LCE) 1985 - 2024

2024 Leaving Certificate Applicants

Check that your Leaving Certificate examination number is correct. Do not assume that it is, check the number on your CAO application with the number supplied to you by the State Examinations Commission and/or your school.

  1. Log in to your CAO Account
  2. Go to the Qualifications and Assessments section, click on 'Modify Details' and follow the instructions provided.
  3. Enter/edit/remove your examination number(s) and years in the spaces provided and remember to click on 'Submit'. Please allow some time for this change to be reflected in your CAO Account. If we receive your changes/updates before the end of May they will be updated to your account in early June. Do not delay in updating this information.

Leaving Certificate Applicants (1985 – 2023)

If you sat the Leaving Certificate in a prior year (i.e. 1985 – 2023), check that this information is recorded correctly on your account.

  1. Log in to your CAO account and go to the Qualifications and Assessments section.
  2. Click on 'Details' beside your examination number and year.
  3. Check that your examination number, subjects, levels and results are present and correct. If you have multiple sittings, make sure all sittings are recorded.
  4. If your examination number or results are incorrect, click on the 'Modify Details' button, enter your correct examination number or year in the space provided and click on 'Submit'. Please allow some time for your change to be reflected in your CAO Account. If we receive your changes/updates before the end of May they will be updated to your account in early June. Do not delay in updating this information.

QQI FET/FETAC Applicants (FET)

  1. Log in to your CAO Account
  2. Go to the Qualifications and Assessments section where you will see your examination information. To view your results/component awards (if applicable) click on 'Details'.
  3. If you need to update your examination number or provide additional information, click on 'Modify Details' and update your PPSN in the space provided. Please allow some time for your change to be reflected in your CAO Account. If we receive your changes/updates before the end of May they will be updated to your account in early June. Do not delay in updating this information.

GCE/GCSE Applicants (GCE/GCN/GCB)

  1. Log in to your CAO Account.
  2. Go to the Qualifications and Assessments section where you will see your examination information. To view your results (if applicable) click on 'Details'.
  3. The "2006-2023 GCE A/AS and/or GCSE Examination Details" table shows the examination data entered by you. If any results are missing or are appearing in red*, you must enter the correct details in your online application and supply a certified copy of these results to CAO by post.
  4. Candidates presenting summer 2024 examinations must check that all of your information is correctly supplied in the "GCE A/AS Level examinations TO BE TAKEN" table. If you need to update your Board, Centre or Candidate number (or provide additional information) click on 'Modify Details' and update your information in the space provided. Please allow some time for your change to be reflected in your CAO Account. If we receive your changes/updates before the end of May they will be updated to your account in early June. Do not delay in updating this information.
  5. If you need to supply supporting documentation, please do so by sending certified photocopies of your documents to CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway.

Other Applicants (OTH) including Mature and Other School Leaving

Central Applications Office Ltd. - Registered in Ireland Number 53983 - Registered Office: Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway.