All Irish and EU national students applying for the liberal arts, international business and accounting and finance degree programmes for the September intake must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO), Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway, Ireland (www.cao.ie).

The CAO is the main application system for Irish higher education. The system is very simple to use. Applicants must choose courses in their genuine order of preference. Students will then be accepted to the highest preference course that they have met the requirements for. It is important to note that once the student has accepted a place, all lower preferences are deleted from the system. If a place becomes available in a higher preference than the student has accepted, the student will be offered that place.

The closing date for applications to the CAO is 1 February every year. There is a late application procedure until 1 May. Students can adjust their preferences until the 1 July every year. Students are advised to apply well in advance of the deadlines.

The College normally has a limited number of places available through available of vacant places on the CAO system each year for its listed courses. Students are advised to make all applications for AC137, AC120 and AC121 through the CAO system. This will make the admissions process much faster. For all other courses, students can apply directly through the College website or come to the Admissions Office to discuss their options with a member of the admissions staff.

Students can apply on-line at www.cao.ie or make a paper application. Paper application forms are available from the student’s secondary school or directly from the CAO.