The Irish CAO Points System Explained: How Applications and Offers Work
By Muntasir • Published Jul 03, 2026 • Updated Aug 08, 2026 • Education Planning, Study in Europe, Admissions & Applications
The CAO ranks every applicant by points, from a maximum of 625 (six H1 grades plus the 25-point Higher Level Maths bonus) down to 0. Round 1 offers for 2026 went out on August 26, later rounds fill places as students decline.
🎓 Points come from your best 6 Leaving Certificate subjects, H1 = 100 points down to H8 = 0.
💶 Higher Level Maths at H6 or above adds a 25-point bonus.
⏱️ Round 1 offers land in late August, further rounds run into September.
📩 EU/EFTA/UK applicants get their grades converted using CAO's official equivalency guide.
How CAO points work
The Central Applications Office (CAO) is Ireland's single portal for undergraduate admissions. It ranks every applicant to a course by a points total built from your six best Leaving Certificate subjects. Each grade converts to points on a fixed scale, and the same scale applies whether the subject sits at Higher or Ordinary level, though Higher Level grades score more overall (CAO points calculator ).
The points scale
| Grade | Higher Level points |
|---|---|
| H1 | 100 |
| H2 | 88 |
| H3 | 77 |
| H4 | 66 |
| H5 | 56 |
| H6 | 46 |
| H7 | 37 |
| H8 | 0 |
Students with an H6 grade or higher in Higher Level Mathematics receive a 25-point bonus on top of that subject's own points. Six H1 grades plus the Maths bonus give the maximum possible score of 625 points. For 2026 entry, some courses set their cut-off at exactly 625, including two joint honours combinations, and Trinity College Dublin used random selection to allocate places in two courses where more 625-point applicants applied than there were seats (Irish Examiner ).
Course codes and how you apply
Every course has a five-character CAO code. You list codes in order of preference on your application, with separate lists for Level 8 (honours degree) and Level 6/7 (certificate/ordinary degree) courses. You change your order of preference until the change of mind deadline in July, so an early application does not lock you into your original ranking.
Offer rounds
The CAO issues Round 1 offers in late August, based on points and your ranked preferences. For 2026, Round 1 offers went out on August 26 at 14:00, with a reply deadline of September 1 at 15:00 (CAO ). Accepting an offer drops your other applications automatically. Declining or not responding opens your place for later rounds. Rounds 2 through 5 fill remaining vacancies as accepted students confirm or decline, so points requirements sometimes drop between rounds as places open.
EU applicants outside Ireland
If you hold a non-Irish qualification, such as A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate, or another EU school-leaving certificate, the CAO converts your results into an equivalent points score using its official EU/EFTA/UK Entry Requirements Guide (CAO EU/EFTA/UK guidelines ). For A-Levels, grades convert roughly as A* = 90, A = 77, B = 71, C = 64, D = 55, E = 45 points per subject, with your best three subjects counted toward your total. Course-specific requirements, such as HPAT for medicine, still apply on top of your points score.
How grades map to bands
Higher Level grades run from H1 (highest) to H8 (lowest), each covering a percentage range of exam and coursework marks. Ordinary Level uses the same lettering pattern with its own, lower points scale. Your CAO points total always comes from your best six subjects regardless of level, so a strong Ordinary Level result can outscore a weak Higher Level one in some cases.
Alternative entry routes
Not every place gets awarded purely on points. Irish universities reserve some spots for mature students, usually over 23, and for HEAR and DARE, access schemes for applicants from under-represented socioeconomic backgrounds or with a disability. These routes use separate application forms alongside your CAO application, with their own criteria and earlier deadlines, so check whether you qualify before results day.
Restricted and portfolio courses
Some courses need more than a points application. Medicine and related health science courses require the HPAT-Ireland admissions test, sat separately from the Leaving Certificate, and your HPAT score combines with your points to determine your final ranking. Art, design, and some architecture courses ask for a portfolio submission and sometimes an interview, judged alongside your points, not instead of them.
What happens if you don't get an offer
Not every applicant below a course's cut-off is finished with that course. As accepted students decline places through the summer, cut-off points can drop in Round 2 and later rounds, sometimes significantly for courses with lower initial demand. Keep your CAO account active and check each round's results even if Round 1 didn't include an offer you wanted.
What to do before you apply
Check whether your target course needs an additional test or portfolio beyond points, such as HPAT, DATHS, or a portfolio review for art and design.
List courses genuinely in order of preference. Points-based ranking means a higher-preference course you meet the points for always wins over a lower one.
Keep your CAO account details current through results day, offers arrive through the account, not by post.
Confirm your route as EU/EFTA/UK before you register, it changes which grade conversion table applies to you.