Just over half of all students applying for Level 8 or degree courses via this year's CAO have received an offer of a place on their top choice course, and four out of five have been offered one of their top three preferences.
In a year where demographic growth has increased pressure for college places, these figures are lower than last year’s - 51% this year compared to 56% with a first preference Level 8 offer last year, and 80% as opposed to last year’s 83% receiving one of their top three preferences.
At Level 6/7, 90% of students have been offered their top choice, compared to 92% last year.
The Central Applications Office has issued a total of 86,098 offers to just over 59,000 applicants.
A total of 54,256 offers have been made for Level 8 courses and 31,842 for Level 6/7.
Successful applicants will have received a text message and an email this lunchtime with their offer.
Students can check to see if they have received an offer by logging in to their account using the 'My Application’ facility at www.cao.ie.
Some applicants may receive two offers at the same time: one from the Level 8 list and one from the Level 6/7 list.
Applicants must choose between these lists and can only accept one offer per offer round.
Offers must be accepted by 3pm on Tuesday 2 September.
With many factors coming into play this year, including rising demographics and deflated Leaving Certificate results, points requirements have both risen and fallen.
They are up for 50% of courses, while 42% of courses have seen points reductions.
CAO Head of Communications Eileen Keleghan said applicants should carefully consider any offers received in this round.
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"One of the common queries that we receive at the offers stage is around order of preference.
"Applicants who receive a lower preference offer can accept this offer, and it will not prevent them from receiving an offer of a course higher up on their courses list in a later round should a place become available, and they are deemed eligible," she said.
"Those who have received an offer in this round should also consider the current offer carefully as it may be the only one they will receive."
If an applicant has not received an offer, they will receive a ‘Statement of Application’ email.
Ms Keleghan said: "It is important that applicants notify CAO immediately if there are any errors or omissions in their CAO account. They must make sure to do this as soon as possible to allow any corrections to be considered for subsequent rounds."
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