Overview

• Tens of thousands of first-round college offers issue from 2 p.m. today through the CAO system.
• Applicants must accept round-one offers by 3 p.m. on Tuesday 2 September to secure their place.
• Applications total nearly 90,000, up almost 8% year on year, including more than 51,000 recent Leaving Certificate candidates.
• CAO guidance advises accepting any initial offer because higher preferences may be offered in later rounds if places become available.
• An 'available places' list opens at noon on Thursday 28 August with up to around 180 courses that applicants can add for later-round consideration, and offers are accessible via the online portal, email and SMS.