Disappointed students advised to check vacancies online

THOUSANDS of aspiring college students accepted offers of places on the CAO website yesterday.

The online service opened at 6am and within a little over three hours, around 2,500 people had already accepted an offer of a degree, diploma or certificate course.

While most applicants check for offers and accept them online, those who prefer to use the traditional postal service still have until August 31 to return the acceptance form.

A spokesperson also reminded students that vacant places are on offer on the website, www.cao.ie.

More than 40 degree courses and more than 60 diploma or certificate courses were available through the site yesterday evening.

“Some are courses that were not listed in the handbook sent to candidates before applications closed in January. But many of them are courses in which there were more places than numbers of qualified applicants seeking entry,” a CAO spokesperson said.

These courses are open to applications from anybody, regardless of whether they have already applied to the CAO for a place on other study programmes.

Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) president Paddy Healy urged students not to panic if they have not been offered a college place.

“There is another round of offers to come and there are also various options open to them outside the CAO system and also vacancies on some courses,” he said.

He referred to the diverse range of Post-Leaving Certificate courses on offer, openings in apprenticeships and other training opportunities.

The National Parents Council - Post Primary (NPC-PP) free helpline was kept busy again all day, mostly with calls from disappointed students.

The helpline - 1800-265165 - is open from 8am to 10pm until Thursday and between 10am and 4pm on Friday. Callers having trouble getting through can send an email to [e-mail].