Supporting Documents

1. Do I need to send documents as part of my application?
    
   The Qualifications and Assessments section of the CAO Handbook provides information on documentation or evidence you may need to supply to support your application.
   Further instructions on how to post your documents can be found on page 100 of the CAO Handbook.

2. What is the deadline for submitting documents?
    
   Supporting documents must arrive in CAO within 10 days of registering online with CAO (or by 10 February, 2025 at 5pm)*.
   
   *Documents received by CAO later than 10 February 2025 will be processed and added to your CAO account, however you must contact the HEI admissions offices directly to check if they will consider your documents at this stage.
   The assessment process for mature applications takes place during March and April for most HEIs, therefore CAO urges you to get your documentation to CAO as soon as possible to ensure that you do not miss out on an offer.
   HEI contact details can be found here: Admissions Offices Contacts
   
   HEAR DARE documents must arrive in CAO by 17:00 on 15th March, 2025.
   
   Evidence of the results of examinations which are being taken in the current year must be sent to CAO as soon as they are available to the applicant and must be with CAO a minimum of 12 days before the relevant offer round.

3. What type of documents do you require?
    
   You must supply certificates to CAO for all qualifications which you mention on your application form:

   • Certificates/transcripts should be supplied in their original language and should show dates, subjects and results.
   • They should NOT be originals*; they should be A4 photocopies, certified typically by a school stamp, a HEI Admissions Office stamp, or by a notary. CAO will not return documents. (*except for Graduate Medicine where original transcripts of results for all years are required)
   • A certified English translation is required in the case of qualifications not issued originally in English or Irish, in addition to the certified A4 photocopies of the documents themselves.
   • If your documentation is in a different name from the name used on your application, then a certified copy of your official name change document must also be provided.
   • If English is not your first language you must provide evidence of English language competence and details of the English Language Qualification(s) that you hold – contact the HEIs directly for requirements.
   • Applicants presenting GCSE/GCE A/AS qualifications should click here for instructions.
   • DARE and/or HEAR applicants should refer to Applying for HEAR and DARE - CAO handbook for instructions on the submission of supporting documents to CAO by 15th March at 17:00.

   CAO will not check that the documents supplied meet with the requirements of the institutions.

4. How and where do I send the documents?
    
   Applicants presenting GCSE/GCE A/AS qualifications should click here for instructions.
   
   All documents should be posted to: CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway, H91 X25V, Ireland.
   When sending supporting documents to CAO please:

   • Number and date the top of each page.
   • Write your CAO application number on the top of each page.
   • Put your documents in an envelope ensuring the envelope contains only supporting documents for your CAO application.
   • If you wish to receive confirmation from CAO that your documents have been received you must include a self-addressed and stamped postcard in your envelope (you will not require a stamp for the postcard if you live outside of the Republic of Ireland).
   • Seal the envelope and include your return address on the back of the envelope.
   • You should obtain a Certificate of Posting from the Post Office. Please do not register your post; a Certificate of Posting will suffice.

5. Can I e-mail or upload my documents?
    
   Applicants presenting GCSE/GCE A/AS qualifications should click here for instructions.
   
   It is not possible to upload, e-mail, fax or send external storage devices of documents to CAO. Faxed, e-mailed or scanned documents are not considered sufficient evidence. All documents must be posted to CAO.

6. I am applying on the basis of GCSE/GCE A and A Level results – what documents do I need to send?
    
   GCE/GCSE Applicants must inform CAO of any GCSE, AS & A Level examinations previously taken. GCSE results are required to meet minimum entry requirements, but are not used for points computation purposes.
   
   Applicants must upload or post certified photocopies of GCSE, AS and A Level certificates/statements of results produced by an examining board (i.e. they must show the exam board logo) to support their application. For information on applying to CAO as a GCE applicant read the CAO Handbook. Applicants presenting GCSE/GCE A/AS qualifications should click here for instructions.
   
   Applicants are advised to supply their supporting documents to CAO as soon as possible. In respect of examinations already taken, evidence should be uploaded or posted to CAO within 10 days of registering with CAO. We expect to collect the results of summer 2025 ‘A’ and ‘AS’ level British and Northern Ireland examinations electronically from examining authorities in August. In order to do this, applicants must enter their correct examination board, centre and candidate number in the GCE section of their CAO application.
   
   Applicants completing summer 2025 ‘A’ and ‘AS’ levels outside the UK must arrange to upload or post certified copies of their results to CAO as soon as they are available.
   
   When the exam results are released in August, we will send an email to all applicants. Applicants will then need to login to their online application to ensure that all ‘GCSE’, ‘A’ and ‘AS’ examination results are on file in CAO. Certified photocopies of any certified examination results not appearing on your application should be uploaded or posted to CAO without delay.
   
   You must retain original copies of your transcripts or certificates as you may be required to present these to HEIs in advance of registration. Failure to present the required documents upon request of a HEI may result in a HEI withdrawing an offer of a place or declining to register you as a student.

7. Do my uploaded GCE/GCSE certificates need to be certified photocopies?
    
   If you choose to upload your GCE/GCSE certificates, an image of the original certificate is sufficient. The image must clearly show the exam board logo, level, subject and grade awarded.
   
   If you choose to supply your GCE/GCSE certificates by post, you must supply certified photocopies of your results. Documents must be produced by the examination boards (i.e. they must show the exam board logo). Documents must also be certified. A certified photocopy means that you photocopy your certificates/statements and then bring both the originals and the photocopies to an acceptable person or body (School, College, University, Police Station, Admissions Office, Notary) where they will stamp the photocopy as being a true copy of the original.
   
   You must retain original copies of your transcripts or certificates as you may be required to present these to HEIs in advance of registration. Failure to present the required documents upon request of a HEI may result in a HEI withdrawing an offer of a place or declining to register you as a student.
   
   You must choose whether to upload or post your documents - please do not do both.
   Instructions for Uploading Documents

8. I am a Mature Applicant – what documents do I need to send?
    
   Mature applicants are advised to supply evidence of any qualifications that they mention in their online application. For more information please read the CAO Handbook. You will also find more information in the Mature Applicant section of the CAO website: cao.ie/mature.
   If you have questions about the personal statement or referees you can contact the Mature Student Officer or the Admissions Officer of the HEIs that you are applying to for more information.

9. I am an EU/Other School Leaving Applicant – what documents do I need to send?
    
   Applicants are generally required to supply a certified copy of their final school leaving examination results as soon as they are available. Documents not printed in English must be accompanied by an official translation.
   You may also be required to supply proof of English language proficiency.
   If you have further queries in relation to English Language proficiency, please see HEI websites or contact HEIs directly. HEI contact details can be found here.
   
   If you are sitting your examinations this summer, you do not need to supply your documents within ten days of applying, but you must supply the certified photocopies of your results as soon as they are available to you. For entry requirements criteria for EU/EFTA applicants, please click here.
   
   Please note: Candidates born and fully educated outside the Republic of Ireland who are presenting qualifications other than the Leaving Certificate for matriculation are automatically exempt from Irish and do not need to make application to NUI.

10. I am applying for Graduate Entry Medicine – what documents do I need to send?
     
    For information on making an application to Graduate Entry Medicine and for details on the documents that are required, please see cao.ie/gradmed.

11. I am making an Advanced Entry Application – what documents do I need to send?
     
    Please ensure that you have included all relevant information that might help the HEIs assess your application including: Copies of FETAC Level 5 and 6 awards, copies of BTEC and other awards, transcripts from previous Higher Education, a CV with information about relevant previous experience with references, a statement of interest.
    
    All supporting documentation, including cover sheet, must be sent to `Advanced Entry, CAO, Tower House, Eglinton St., Galway`. Failure to supply CAO with supporting documentation may result in your application being rejected by the HEI. For more information on Advanced Entry applications please click here.

12. What supporting documents do I need to supply in relation to my exemption from minimum entry requirements?
     
    Please click here for further information on exemptions from minimum entry requirements.

13. How do I know if my documents have been received by CAO?
     
    If you wish to receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your documents, you must include a stamped-addressed postcard or envelope with your mailing. CAO will return this postcard/envelope on receipt but please note that CAO is not in a position to check supporting documents for correctness and completeness.
    CAO will scan your documents electronically and you will have an opportunity to view them online via the 'My Application' section of the CAO web site (by the end of April for documents received by the end of March).
    Documents received after the end of March are processed and added to accounts on a fortnightly basis.
    If you have sent documents to arrive after 31st March, you must check your account no later than 30th June to ensure they have been uploaded.
    
    Please note: HEAR and/or DARE documentation is not available to view via 'View Supporting Documents'.

14. When can I view my documents online?
     
    From 17 April, you can view documents you have sent to CAO by clicking on 'View Supporting Documents'.
    If the 'View Supporting Documents' facility is not available to you, this is because you have not sent any documents to CAO or your documentation was not received by 31st March.
    All documents received by CAO up to the end of March have been scanned and added to applicant accounts. Documents received after the end of March are processed and added to accounts on a fortnightly basis.
    If you have sent documents to arrive after 31st March you must check your account no later than 30th June to ensure they have been uploaded.
    
    Please note: HEAR and/or DARE documentation is not available to view via 'View Supporting Documents'.

15. I applied to CAO before, do I need to resend my documents for my new application?
     
    If you applied to CAO in a prior year and you wish to reapply for 2025, you must make a new application in full i.e. you must complete the application form, pay the application fee, and supply any additional information/documentation required.
    Documents from a previous CAO application cannot be transferred to a new CAO application.

16. I have a Department of Education Exemption from taking Irish in secondary school - what do I need to do?
     
    If you have been granted an exemption from completing Irish at secondary school by the Department of Education, it will still be necessary to follow the steps outlined at cao.ie/exemptions in order to obtain an exemption from Higher Education Institution minimum entry requirements.
    A school exemption will not be sufficient.