Your Questions Answered About the CAO Available Places Process
With Leaving Cert students getting their CAO offers, this is a time of big decisions for anyone who is thinking about starting college. Many students are unsure about how the 'Available Places' process works. So, we've put together this handy guide to help you through what might be a life-changing opportunity for you!
How does the CAO Available Places process work?
Basically, the Available Places process does what it says on the tin. Every course has a number of places on it and if they weren't filled up via the first round of CAO offers, they are distributed through the Available Places process. Anyone can apply for an available place. Points don't matter but you must check you meet the normal minimum entry requirements for the course you'd like to study. Usually, this is two H5s and four O6/H7 for a Level 8 degree and 5 O6s/H7s for a Level 6 or 7 degree or certificate. Please keep in mind that each course varies, with some needing an O6/H7/F2 in Maths.
Thankfully, the CAO Available Places facility is open to both new and existing CAO applicants. If you've already applied through the CAO, then all you need to do is log into your account on CAO.ie and locate the 'Available Places' tab.
If you have not already applied through the CAO, it's the exact same process but you'll have to register and pay a fee of €45.00
What kind of courses can I study through Available Places?
Griffith College has Available Places on some highly prestigious courses over the years we've offered a variety of courses such as Law, Computing, Business, Creative Arts and Journalism. These courses are highly regarded by employers and our graduates are working in some of the biggest companies in the world. The level 8 courses that are available are listed immediately below and the list of level 7 degrees are just below that.
Honours Bachelor Degrees - Level 8
GC200 Business [Cork]
GC201 Accounting and Finance [Cork]
GC230 Computing Science [Cork]
GC300 Business [Limerick]
GC301 Accounting and Finance [Limerick]
GC302 Business (HRM) [Limerick]
GC307 Business (Marketing) [Limerick]
GC400 Business [Dublin]
GC401 Accounting and Finance [Dublin]
GC402 Business (HRM) [Dublin]
GC403 Law [Dublin]
GC407 Business (Marketing) [Dublin]
GC430 Computing Science [Dublin]
GC450 Communications and Media Production [Dublin]
GC456 Film, TV and Screen Media Production [Dublin]
GC462 Graphic Communication Design (Portfolio) [Dublin]
GC489 Interior Architecture (Portfolio) [Dublin]
GC494 Fashion Design (Portfolio) [Dublin]
Ordinary Bachelor Degrees/Higher Certificates - Level 7/Level 6
GC335 Computing [Limerick]
GC435 Computing [Dublin]
GC460 Music Production for Games (Portfolio) [Dublin]
GC465 Communications [Dublin]
GC470 Photographic Media [Dublin]
GC475 Photography [Dublin]
GC480 Graphic Communication Design [Dublin]
GC490 Interior Design [Dublin]
GC495 Fashion Design [Dublin]
Available Places courses are also advertised here on the CAO website.
What careers are open to me after a Griffith College degree?
All our degree courses at Griffith College are validated by the QQI. This means that a degree from Griffith College is globally recognised. A Griffith College degree is a passport to future success. In law, our graduates are solicitors, barristers and legal advisors in some of the biggest law firms in Ireland and further afield. In accountancy, our graduates are accountants, auditors and financial controllers in businesses large and small. In computing, our graduates are in Google, Facebook and other big tech firms, while our journalism graduates are working in the likes of the BBC, RTE and the Irish Independent.
If you have any further questions, please contact us at - [email protected]
We also encourage you to watch this very useful CAO video on how the Available Places process works.