Last updated: 31 August 2026
CAO 2027 applications open at 12:00 noon on 5 November 2026. The discounted €35 online fee runs to 5pm on 20 January 2027, the normal closing date is 5pm on 1 February 2027 at €50, late applications close at 5pm on 1 May 2027 at €65, and Change of Mind closes at 5pm on 1 July 2027.
- According to the CAO Handbook 2027, restricted courses, mature assessment and HEAR/DARE consideration all require an application by 5pm on 1 February 2027.
- According to the CAO Handbook 2027, HEAR and DARE supporting documents cannot be uploaded and must arrive at CAO by 5pm on 10 March 2027.
- According to CAO, the Leaving Certificate results date and Round One offer date for 2027 are still to be confirmed.
Next hard deadline
Discounted €35 application fee deadline
20 January 2027, 5pm
141
Days
18
Hrs
56
Min
12
Sec
The full CAO 2027 timetable
| Date | What happens | Detail | Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | CAO 2027 interactive handbook goes onlineApplication | The interactive CAO Handbook 2027 is published, listing every course, code and restricted-course requirement for 2027 entry. | — |
| 5 November 2026, 12:00 noon | CAO 2027 application facility opensApplication | The online application and the course choices facility both open at 12:00 noon. Changing your course choices is free from this point until 1 February 2027. | — |
| 20 January 2027, 5pm | Discounted €35 application fee deadlineFees | Apply online and pay by 5pm on 20 January 2027 and the fee is €35 instead of €50. All CAO fees are non-refundable. | |
| 1 February 2027, 5pm | Normal closing date for CAO 2027 applications (€50)Application | The normal closing date. Restricted courses, assessment on mature grounds, and HEAR and DARE consideration all require an application by this time. Free changes to course choices also close. | |
| 5 February 2027, 12:00 noon | Facility to amend course choices opens (€10)Fees | A €10 facility for mature applicants and for adding restricted courses to an application already made by 1 February. | — |
| 1 March 2027, 5pm | Amending course choices, mature section, HEAR and DARE forms all closeHEAR / DARE | Last time to amend course choices for €10, to complete the mature applicant section, and to submit the online HEAR and DARE forms. | |
| 5 March 2027, 12:00 noon | Late application facility opens (€65)Fees | Late online applications cost €65. Late applicants cannot be considered for HEAR, DARE or restricted courses, and some colleges restrict late applications further. | — |
| 10 March 2027, 5pm | HEAR and DARE supporting documents must arrive at CAOHEAR / DARE | Documents cannot be uploaded for 2027. Anything you are required to supply must be posted and must physically arrive at CAO by 5pm. Get a free Certificate of Posting. | |
| March–April 2027 | Most tests and interviews for restricted coursesTests & interviews | Portfolios, auditions, interviews and written assessments for restricted courses are held over these two months. Colleges contact applicants directly. | — |
| 1 May 2027, 5pm | Late applications closeApplication | The final deadline for a new CAO 2027 application at the €65 late fee. No extensions are allowed. | |
| 5 May 2027, 12:00 noon (expected) | Change of Mind opens, free of chargeApplication | Change of Mind is free and can be used as often as you like until it closes. Restricted courses generally cannot be added at this stage. | — |
| Before end of May 2027 | Check and Confirm email issued to all applicantsApplication | Formerly the Statement of Application Record. Log in, check your account and examination details are complete and correct, and click Confirm. Report errors to CAO within seven days. | — |
| June 2027 | Leaving Certificate examinationsResults | The written examinations run through June. The State Examinations Commission publishes the detailed 2027 timetable separately. | — |
| Late June 2027 | HEAR and DARE eligibility outcomes issuedHEAR / DARE | Applicants are told whether they are eligible for reduced points places and support under HEAR, DARE or both. | — |
| 1 July 2027, 5pm | Change of Mind closesApplication | The final order of your course choices is locked at 5pm. Whatever list stands at that moment is the list your offers are made from. | |
| Early July 2027 | Round A offersOffers | Deferred, mature, mature nursing and midwifery, some graduate entry, visa and Access course applicants. | — |
| Early August 2027 | Round Zero offersOffers | Graduate entry medicine, additional mature, deferred and Access applicants, and QQI FET applicants for courses with a QQI quota. | — |
| August 2027, date to be confirmedTo be confirmed | Leaving Certificate results, then Round One offersResults | Both dates are still to be confirmed by the State Examinations Commission and CAO. Round One is the main offer round for school leavers. | — |
| September 2027, dates to be confirmedTo be confirmed | Leaving Certificate appeal results and end of the offer seasonOffers | Later rounds continue until places are filled or the season closes. Appeal results and the closing date are to be confirmed. | — |
Source: CAO Handbook 2027 and the Important Dates section of cao.ie. CAO states dates may be subject to change; always confirm against cao.ie before acting.
CAO 2027 fees at a glance
| Application type | Fee | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Early online application (discounted) | €35 | 20 January 2027, 5pm |
| Normal online application | €50 | 1 February 2027, 5pm |
| Late online application | €65 | 1 May 2027, 5pm |
| Amend course choices | €10 | 5 February to 1 March 2027, 5pm |
| Change of Mind | Free | 1 July 2027, 5pm |
| Paper application | €50, or €95 after 1 February | 1 May 2027, 5pm |
| Available Places (new applicants) | €50 | Free for existing applicants |
Three ways students lose a year
Missing 1 February. Restricted courses, mature assessment and HEAR/DARE consideration all close at 5pm that day. A late application at €65 cannot recover them.
Posting HEAR or DARE documents too late. Documents must arrive by 5pm on 10 March 2027, not be posted by it, and uploads are not accepted.
Leaving Change of Mind in the wrong order. Whatever list stands at 5pm on 1 July 2027 is the list your offers come from, so order by genuine preference.
CAO 2027 offer rounds
Round A
Early July 2027
Deferred applicants, mature applicants, mature nursing and midwifery applicants, some graduate entry pathways, applicants needing visa arrangements, and applicants who completed an Access course.
Round Zero
Early August 2027
Graduate entry medicine, additional mature, deferred and Access applicants, and QQI FET/FETAC applicants applying to courses with a QQI quota.
Round One
August 2027, date to be confirmed
All applicants assessed on school-leaving examination results regardless of the year completed, QQI FET applicants where the course has no QQI quota, and additional mature applicants.
Round Two onward
To the end of September 2027
Offers continue to issue until the offer season closes or all places are filled.
The deadline is the easy part
CourseCompass matches your interests, aptitudes and values to CAO courses, PLCs and apprenticeships, so the list you lock in on 1 July is one you actually believe in.