Changing course choices on the CAO

Filling out the CAO can be an overwhelming experience. There are a lot of decisions to be made around what to study, where to study, and what order everything should go in. You won’t necessarily want to stick with your original preferences. What your course list looks like the first time you fill it out could be completely different by the time you’re finished.

When can I change my CAO course preferences?

Currently, there are three different stages to changing course choices with the CAO. It’s important to be aware of key dates when it comes to changing your course choices so that you can be certain you’ll be able to put down the courses you want.

If you want to apply for a restricted course, such as courses that need a portfolio as part of the application or require an additional admissions test such as medicine, make sure to add these courses during Stage 1 or Stage 2. You won’t be able to introduce a new restricted course to your list after 1st March.

View a full list of CAO dates and deadlines.

Find full details and access to the Change of Mind application process.

Stage 1: Between the date the CAO first opens and 1st February (free of charge)

You can make changes to your application as often as you like from the day the CAO opens in November until the 1st of February, free of charge. 

You may have to pay a fee when you first sign up for the CAO, but after that, you can add and remove any course you like for free, including restricted courses, up until the 1st February.

Stage 2: 5th February – 1st March at 5:15pm (€10 fee)

From early February up until 1st March, there is a processing fee of €10. This can be paid on the CAO website by Credit/Debit Card. Applications being changed by post will need to pay the €10 charge in the form of a Bank Draft or Postal Order. 

During this time, you can still add and remove restricted courses. If you want to apply for a restricted course, you must have it on your list by 1st March. You will not be able to introduce a new restricted course after this time.

Stage 3: Early May – 1st July (free of charge)

This is the final time period in which you can make changes to your CAO choices. Whatever preferences you have listed by 1st July will be final. There is no fee for making changes during these dates.

It is not possible to add any restricted courses at this time, but you should be able to introduce any regular course. 

Find out more about the restrictions and any possible exceptions.

How do I change my course preferences?

Applications can be changed either online by logging into your account, or through a paper application. 

The form works the same way as the regular CAO form. It is important that you list your courses in order of preference (i.e. the ones you want most at the start) and not based on how many points you think you’ll get. It is also important to remember that the Change of Mind form cancels out your previous application form.

Watch a video from CAO explaining how to fill out your Change of Mind.

What happens after you submit the CAO Change of Mind form?

Once you enter choices in your Change of Mind form, you will receive a revised Statement of Course Choice. This confirms that your new choices have been entered into your record. For online changes, you should receive an email with an acknowledgement of the edits you made. For paper applicants, this revised statement is issued after the 1st June. If you do not receive this before the 7th July, contact CAO immediately with proof of your Change of Mind form.

Find full details about the change of Mind application process. See a full list of CAO dates.

If you need support on filing out the CAO, read our article on how to choose a college course.

Need more information?

We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options. Our online chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm. Chat to us now about your situation.

• Chat now to a trained Youth Information Officer
• Or leave us a message and we will email you back