How the CAO system works: How do colleges decide the points needed for a Leaving Cert course? Widely-held belief that CAO points are determined by colleges in advance and remain relatively constant is incorrectThu Aug 24 2023 - 04:00
Key dates for Leaving Cert 2023: Results, script viewing, appeals and offersTimeline of this year’s Leaving Certificate results, with dates and deadlines for viewing exam scripts, appealing subjects and CAO offersWed Aug 23 2023 - 05:00
Unlocking the door to career advancementContinuous education and training essential for lifelong success in rapidly evolving societyTue Jun 27 2023 - 01:25
How to explore a career change: assessing strengths and opportunitiesSteps include conducting a self-assessment of strengths, skills and competencies, and researching additional training opportunitiesTue Jun 27 2023 - 00:30
Leaving Cert 2023: Exam survival guide for students – and parentsKnow the exam schedule, review subject requirements and get there on timeTue Jun 06 2023 - 10:17
Leaving Cert survival guide: ‘Get seated 30 minutes before the first paper’These are the first State exams for most students due to the Covid-era cancellation of the Junior CertTue Jun 06 2023 - 05:47
My son wants to study medicine but CAO points are very high. Are there other options?Polish universities offer courses through English where entry is based on their own tests and interviewsTue Jun 06 2023 - 00:00
My daughter narrowly missed out on her dream CAO course. Is there an alternative further education entry route?There are more and more routes into degree programmes via post-Leaving Cert courses in further education collegesTue May 23 2023 - 00:00
I retired recently. What education or training options are there for people of my age?There are a multitude of course and online education resources available for people of all agesTue May 23 2023 - 00:00
I need to maximise my CAO points. Which is the easiest Leaving Cert subject?Some subjects deliver higher proportions of top grades than other subjects, but that’s not because they are ‘easy’Tue May 16 2023 - 00:00
It’s time to decide on your college course choicesWhether you are a current year Leaving Cert student or sat your school leaving exams at another time or in another jurisdiction, and have applied to the CAO in 2023, now is decision timeTue May 09 2023 - 09:00
Alternatives to the CAO application process There are other routes you can take to achieve your career advancement goalsTue May 09 2023 - 01:00
Thinking of changing your CAO course choice selection?CAO sees a surge in activity at this time of year as the change of mind deadline approachesTue May 09 2023 - 01:00
My son’s school has no guidance counsellor. How can I help him choose the right Leaving Cert subjects?There are practical steps you can take to identify what he needs to study for his courses of interestTue May 09 2023 - 00:00
Leaving Cert exams: the dos and don’ts of the final countdownThere is still time to improve your grades if you approach the coming weeks calmly and strategicallySun May 07 2023 - 00:00
Why should I consider studying at a technological university?Exploring the full range of course choices within your areas of interest is keyTue May 02 2023 - 01:30
Brian Mooney: Creation of technological universities brings risks as well as benefitsIf newly created institutions shift their focus too much in striving to be academic like the traditional universities then students and vocational education will sufferTue May 02 2023 - 01:30
A new model of progression linking further education and higher educationNew degree programmes will be made available outside CAO systemTue May 02 2023 - 00:45
My son says he could lose a college place if his CAO details are incorrect. Can this be true?Several hundred of last year’s applicants failed to receive an offer in round one of the CAO offers due to ‘errors or omissions’ in their applications.Tue May 02 2023 - 00:00
I’m struggling to make ends meet. Will I be eligible for the new €500 student grant?Thousands of additional students are likely to qualify for grants this year due to increases in eligibility thresholdsTue Apr 25 2023 - 00:00
My daughter wants to work in childcare. Is this really a good idea?Ask Brian: Vast majority in early years education are now highly qualifiedTue Apr 18 2023 - 00:00
Will delay in Leaving Cert results affect my chance of going to college abroad?Most students in recent years have been able to take up places outside Ireland despite late release of gradesTue Apr 11 2023 - 00:00
I’m due to graduate shortly but don’t know where to go looking for a jobAsk Brian: Finding the right employer and performing well in an interview is all about researchTue Apr 04 2023 - 00:00
I feel burnt out after just four years of working as school principal. What can I do?While there are supports out there, the growing number of roles and responsibilities involved in leading a school are increasingly unsustainableTue Mar 28 2023 - 00:00
My child’s Catholic primary school is considering becoming multidenominational. What might change? While the curriculum would be broadly the same, there are implications for ethos and religious educationTue Mar 21 2023 - 00:00
What skills are needed in the current economic climate?A postgrad may help you gain in-demand skills to match the needs of employersTue Mar 14 2023 - 02:00
I qualified to teach in the UK. Can I work in an Irish school?Ask Brian: Changes to the registration process for teachers who qualified outside Ireland will make it easier for many to return homeTue Mar 14 2023 - 00:00
Am I eligible to take part in the Erasmus programme?Studying abroad allows you to improve your communication, language and intercultural skills and gain highly valued soft skillsTue Mar 07 2023 - 12:15
I’m thinking of studying physiotherapy abroad. Can I still apply?Ask Brian: There is still time to apply for most courses - although it is too late for someTue Feb 28 2023 - 00:00
My son performed poorly in the mocks - and he’s panicking about his CAO choicesAvoid reading too much into the results. Much can change between now and exams in JuneTue Feb 21 2023 - 07:00
Career choice advice: ‘My son loves film. I think he should do law. Can you help?’What’s love go to do with choosing the right career? Quite a lot, actuallyTue Feb 14 2023 - 00:00
My son is aiming for high CAO points. What if he doesn’t get the grades he’s hoping for?He is right to aim high - but Leaving Cert students should keep all their options openTue Feb 07 2023 - 00:00
Leaving Cert: I’m in a panic. Is February 1st really the deadline for CAO applications?Applicants for the majority of courses on offer still have five months to make a final course selectionTue Jan 31 2023 - 00:01
What next after the Leaving Certificate? How to make the right decision for youConsider these questions to help you determine your career path and how to get thereTue Jan 24 2023 - 01:10
Key dates for 2023 CAO applicationsTimeline for this year’s college application processTue Jan 24 2023 - 01:00
Six key considerations in the CAO application processTransition from school to third level can be a challenge. This is what you have to think aboutTue Jan 24 2023 - 01:00
I recently retired. Would I be crazy to go to college to study English?Carpe diem: you are never too old to follow your dreamsTue Jan 24 2023 - 00:00
Am I eligible for reduced CAO points for my first choice college course?Hear and Dare access schemes offer eligible applicants the possibility of lower points requirementsMon Jan 09 2023 - 00:00
My son wants to go to UCD but is weak at Irish. Could this put his college hopes at risk?Applicants to any NUI constituent colleges should check out the matriculation requirementsTue Jan 03 2023 - 00:01
My daughter wants to be a primary teacher but is weak at Irish Ask Brian: As the oral is now worth 40%, a good performance is key to getting a decent gradeTue Dec 20 2022 - 00:01
How did your school perform in the Feeder School list?Tables highlighting the data collated in Feeder Schools 2022Wed Dec 14 2022 - 06:30
Five key takeaway points from 2022 Feeder SchoolsMore students from Deis schools secured places on high-points courses than from fee-paying schools but disparity remainsWed Dec 14 2022 - 02:02
Who exactly is included in Feeder Tables 2022?All incoming first-year students are included, no matter what year they sat the Leaving CertWed Dec 14 2022 - 01:00
Feeder schools: Ironing out statistical quirks College data accounts for current and previous students who register in the same yearWed Dec 14 2022 - 01:00
I want to be a vet, but I’ll never get 600 points. Are there other options?Veterinary medicine courses on offer in eastern Europe are more expensive, but accommodation is much cheaperTue Dec 13 2022 - 00:00
I want my students to be active citizens and learn about the EU. What resources are there for teachers?Ask Brian: Knowledge about the EU tends to be an elusive hobby rather a core part of our schools’ academic programmesTue Dec 06 2022 - 00:00
Why are so many of my daughter’s teachers changing all the time?Ask Brian: There is currently a huge crisis in the recruitment and retention of teachersTue Nov 29 2022 - 00:00
‘Are Junior Cert results of significance any more?’Ask Brian: Delays in issuing grades are frustrating for many, but they can inform subject choices for senior cycleSun Nov 20 2022 - 12:45
Why are there so few mixed sex secondary schools in Dublin?For historical reasons single sex secondary schools predominate in Dublin – and that looks set to continue for years to comeTue Nov 15 2022 - 00:00
Can my daughter secure a CAO course on lower points through Hear or Dare access routes?Ask Brian: Places are set aside for access routes but entry requirements vary every year due to a number of factorsTue Nov 08 2022 - 12:00
