Data Privacy

We collect information from you through our online and paper application form, supporting documentation that you provide with your application, and our online email communication system - all of which you complete voluntarily when you make your decision to apply to third level or contact us with a query.

The CAO shares this information with any Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that you apply to, as they are considered Joint Controllers of the data for the purposes of GDPR (see the Sample Joint Controller Agreement below for more information).

Where you are successful in securing an offer and subsequently enrol/register at the HEI, the information collected by the HEI at the point of enrolment/registration, and subsequently, is not available to CAO.

By contacting us in regards to your application you are consenting to the CAO processing the data, normally to answer your query. If you have contacted the CAO without using the Contact facility on the CAO website your data may not be stored as part of your application.

If you are not an applicant (or have ever been one), the CAO may process your personal data in a variety of methods depending on circumstances. Any queries in regards to such personal data and processing may require you to verify your identity, and provide information regarding the data that the CAO processes.

The Central Applications Office respects your right to privacy and will not collect any personal information about you on this website without your permission. Any personal information which you volunteer will be treated with the highest standards of security and confidentiality, strictly in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018.

The legal basis for the CAO to process your data under GDPR for the majority of the data is contract. However, where you apply for an access scheme such as Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) or Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme, the legal basis is consent of an applicant.

For more information click on the links below: