There were 89,308 applicants to the Central Applications Office (CAO) this year for college courses this autumn, representing a record high.
This is an increase of over 6,000 applicants on last year.
There were 61,610 students registered to sit the Leaving Certificate this year, up 3,262 on 2024.
While 71,000 students have applied to the CAO this year on the basis of Leaving Certificate results, 51,000 of these are presenting results from 2025.
Other students are presenting results from previous years' exams.
Over 13,000 of this year's applicants have a QQI FET qualification, up from 11,958 in 2025.
More students changed their minds this year about their chosen courses before the CAO's July deadline.
In total 50,787 students submitted 68,743 course changes - up about 4,000 on the numbers who changed their minds in 2024.
Applicants to the DARE scheme have also increased.
DARE is an access route for students whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education.
There were 12,039 applicants to the scheme, up from 10,255 last year.
CAO figures show that applicants to the HEAR scheme remained steady at over 8,000.
HEAR is an admissions scheme for Leaving Certificate students under 23 whose economic or social background is underrepresented in higher education.
Round zero course offers have already been made to about 7,000 students. These are offers to mature students and to some of those coming from abroad to study here.
The 2025 Leaving Certificate results are released on Friday, 22 August.
The CAO will make first round offers to students on Wednesday, 27 August.
