CAO registration 2026: your admission to a bachelor's degree in Ireland made easier!
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Table of Contents
CAD SUPPORT
Firstly, CAD support is one of Study Experience's specialties. In short, this support is aimed at students who wish to enroll in a Bachelor's degree program in Irish higher education.
What is CAD?
CAO is THE mandatory step for enrolling in a bachelor's degree program in Ireland. In short, you cannot enroll directly at an Irish university for a bachelor's degree without going through CAO.
Note that a CAO registration costs between €30 and €60 depending on the date on which your application is submitted.
CAD registration 2026 for bachelor's degree
Are you intimidated by the online CAO 2026 application process via this platform? Are you unsure which documents you need to provide, or how many universities to apply to? Do you not know the application deadline(s)?
Relax, we're here to help. We'll optimize your application by ensuring it's completed correctly and all required documents are submitted on time, giving you the best chance of admission to your chosen university.
And in practice?
In short, Study Experience guides you through the entire application process , which is far more complex than applying to a Belgian, French, or Luxembourgish university. Why? It's important to remember that in Ireland, the university decides on your admission based on your profile. They evaluate the documents you submit: your transcripts and English proficiency tests. Depending on the program, a language proficiency test may also be required.
Level 5-6-7… what is that?
Each degree level corresponds to a "level" from 4 to 7. Level 4 corresponds to the first year of your bachelor's degree. Upon completion of your bachelor's degree, you will obtain a Level 7 or 8 diploma, which will allow you to apply for a master's program. At the end of this program, you will obtain a Level 9 diploma.
In Ireland, you have the choice between a "classic" Bachelor's degree and a Bachelor of Honours (BA Hons). Obtaining a BA Hons will give you a Level 8 qualification.
You can also apply for a Higher Certificate which will award a level 6 diploma and allow you to enter the 3rd year of a Bachelor's degree.
10 programs
Study Experience will create a realistic selection of around ten programs. This selection is based on your academic results, what you wish to study, and your various preferences.
Next, we will work together to develop an application strategy: we will assist you in the final selection of programs. You will be able to choose a maximum of 10 programs , which you will need to rank in order of preference.
And after your CAD registration?
Once your CAO is submitted, our work doesn't stop there! We guide you through all the necessary steps until the start of the academic year: sending documents by mail according to specific instructions, developing a housing search strategy, contacting the university… This is why it's so beneficial to entrust your CAO registration to us.
A whole range of scenarios can occur. Therefore, Study Experience will be by your side to ensure your admission is successful.
Key dates for your CAD 2026 registration
CAD registration deadline 2026
First, the initial application deadline for programs in Ireland is February 1st; however, you will still be able to apply after this date for most programs. For more selective universities and programs, it will no longer be possible to apply after the February 1st deadline.
For most programs, it is still possible to register after this date, but your application will not be given priority.
In summary, Study Experience is familiar with the various registration dates on CAO, hence the benefit of professional support.
CAD 2026 application fees
When you submit your UCAS application, you will need to pay a CAO registration fee , the amount of which varies depending on the date you submit your application. Note that this fee is reduced to €30 if you submit your application before January 20th; for applications submitted between January 20th and February 1st, the fee is €45; and for applications submitted after February 1st, the fee is €60.
We also recommend reading our article “Studying in Ireland”.
It is application process UCAS.
