Updated: Available Places 2026

At 12:00pm today, the CAO Available Places will open for application. Currently there are over 150 L8 & L6/7 courses nationwide with available places. This number will increase/decrease on instruction from HEIs. These courses can be a mixture of new courses to the CAO or established courses that have places which remain unfilled. These courses present a wonderful opportunity for students to consider new CAO options. If you wish to apply or review the wide range of courses available, visit www.cao.ie and note the updated application and offer timelines. For further information on CAO Available Places, see my original blog below.

• Available place course entered by: 11:00 on 3rd of September - considered for Round 2 offers

• Available place course entered by: 11:00 on 10th of September - considered for Round 3 offers

• Available place course entered by: 11:00 on 17th September* - considered for Round 4 offers

* Closing Date

All You Need to Know - Available Places 2026

Did you know that your CAO journey isn’t necessarily over after Round 1? Every year, the CAO opens an 'Available Places' facility for courses that still have openings. This year the CAO will advertise available places on Thursday 27th August. CAO Available Places are open to all CAO applicants AND new CAO applicants. These places can be on NEW COURSES which opened for application after the Changer of Mind deadline back in July or for courses that have places which remain unfilled. In previous years, highly sought-after new courses in fields such as Medicine, Engineering, Psychology and Law have used the Available Places system.  

Who is Eligible for an Available Place?

• Students that have already made a CAO application this year 

• Applicants who have not made a CAO application this year but who now wish to apply (subject to a fee).

The Golden Rule of Minimum Entry Requirements:

• Applicants for Available Places must meet the minimum entry requirements for the course(s) they wish to apply to 

Application Date:

• Available Places opens on Thursday 27th of August

How to apply?

• The application process is similar to the CAO Change of Mind process. 

• Available Place course codes can only be inserted higher in the CAO list of preferences than any offer already received

• If an applicant wished to be considered for an existing course on their choice list, insert the Available Places course code below the courses they wish to retain

• Applicants can still only have a maximum of 10 course choices on their list

• The CAO website has a helpful video (link) on Available Places and a step-by-step guide (link)

Crucial Small Print:

• Before making an “Available Places” application, those matching the “Restricted Categories of Applicant” should consult with the Admissions Office of the HEI.

• Acceptance of an Available Place automatically cancels and supersedes an previous offer and acceptance by the applicant

Why do Some Courses Still Have Available Places? 

Some of these courses are new to the CAO for 2026 and the HEI only approved the course after the CAO Change of Mind deadline in July which means the course was never open for application before now. For other courses, they may have unfilled places due to narrow eligibility requirements, receiving less applications than places available or have received a higher number of Round 1 deferrals. 

Still Unsure About Your Next Move?

Book in for a free consultation (link) or contact me directly on jane@futureconnect.ie