A step-by-step guide to applying for college this yearEducation expert Brian Mooney goes through the steps you need to take to make a final decision on your course preferencesThu Dec 14 2017 - 16:33
My son wants to work in construction, what’s the best route in?Ask Brian: There are a multitude of career options in sector that is expanding againTue Dec 12 2017 - 00:00
Privately-educated elite have greater access to third levelFigures illustrate socio-economic inequality in progression rates to college and universityTue Dec 05 2017 - 01:01
Explaining the progression charts of Irish secondary schoolsPercentage progression rates do not solely reflect success of this year’s Leaving Cert classTue Dec 05 2017 - 01:00
Accounting for statistical anomalies in collated dataSchools with significantly falling numbers can have grossly inflated progression ratesTue Dec 05 2017 - 01:00
Ask Brian: I work in business, but want to teach. How do I join the profession?The Teaching Council spells out the qualifcations required to teach in key areasTue Dec 05 2017 - 00:00
My daughter’s anxiety about the Leaving is getting worse. Is this normal?Ask Brian: Try easing the pressure by emphasising the range of options she hasTue Nov 28 2017 - 00:00
Ask Brian: My son has dyslexia. Will he qualify for lower CAO points?Reduced points are available for students with learning challenges – but be sure prepare your application wellTue Nov 21 2017 - 00:00
Ask Brian: UCD arts has changed. How does this affect my deferred place?Applicants can choose between the arts programme or social sciences in 2018Tue Nov 14 2017 - 00:00
Ask Brian: How can I help my daughter register for the right CAO course?It’s worth registering now, though there is plenty of time to select college coursesTue Nov 07 2017 - 00:00
Ask Brian: What are my employment options in the financial sector?Apprenticeships now offer school-leavers a route into major firms in the finance sectorTue Oct 31 2017 - 00:00
Ask Brian: Will my students be able to take the Irish oral exam this year?A union directive requiring schools to boycott oral exams has been suspendedTue Oct 24 2017 - 00:00
Choosing a course? Do your homework firstOpen Days give you a great chance to gauge how good a fit your course and college choice will beTue Oct 17 2017 - 08:35
Ask Brian: Where can my students get work experience in the tourism sector?New online programme offers a wealth of advice over how to get started in the industryMon Oct 16 2017 - 12:00
Do’s and don’ts: How to get the best out of college open daysWhat you need to know to make sure you take full advantage of your open day opportunityMon Oct 16 2017 - 11:54
Ask Brian: Should my son do an apprenticeship instead of college?Earn and learn: Apprenticeships offer great options in new areas such as financial servicesMon Oct 09 2017 - 16:00
Ask Brian: Do I qualify for a postgraduate course grant?There are a range of assistance options, but they are subject to strict income limitsMon Oct 02 2017 - 11:30
Ask Brian: I’m struggling with my college course. Should I drop out ?There can be heavy financial consequences depending on when you leave a courseTue Sept 26 2017 - 00:00
Ask Brian: ‘My teacher isn’t qualified. Should I go to a grind school?’A shortage of qualified teachers in key subjects is a real problem across many schoolsTue Sept 19 2017 - 00:00
Junior Cert results out: Wait is over for 61,500 studentsMajority of subjects record a drop in the number of As awarded at Higher LevelWed Sept 13 2017 - 06:00
Drop in Junior Cert students performing at highest levelMore than 61,500 candidates sat English under new Junior Cycle reform frameworkWed Sept 13 2017 - 06:00
Ask Brian: My son wants to be a doctor but didn’t get the points. Are there other options?Many EU universities offer medical programmes through EnglishTue Sept 12 2017 - 00:00
Ask Brian: What subjects should my daughter choose for the Leaving Cert?Transition year can be an amazing period of self-discovery for studentsMon Sept 04 2017 - 13:00
CAO Round 2: Increase in offers issued to applicantsInstitutions in Dublin and Cork offer highest number of second-round coursesThu Aug 31 2017 - 06:11
University not the be-all and end-allIs accepting a college place through the CAO today always the best option?Thu Aug 31 2017 - 00:00
CAO 2017: Lots of supports available for students with disabilitiesIf you have a disability, don’t try to be a hero by trying to get by on your ownThu Aug 24 2017 - 20:41
CAO 2017: Am I eligible for a student grant?Last year, about 40% of college applicants were entitled to financial assistance from SusiWed Aug 23 2017 - 19:38
CAO 2017: Still time to apply for some courses beginning next monthCAO’s ‘vacant places’ list shows dozens of courses which may still accept applicantsTue Aug 22 2017 - 18:50
CAO 2017: Should I accept my CAO offer?All you need to know, from reviewing scripts to being wary of accommodation scamsMon Aug 21 2017 - 18:27
CAO 2017: What’s up and what’s downPoints have gone up for courses linked to growing economyMon Aug 21 2017 - 06:00
You have a course offer but what now?Weighing the options: there are three possible scenarios when you log into your CAO fileMon Aug 21 2017 - 00:00
Brian Mooney: Disappointing results? All is not yet lostLeaving Cert 2017: Further education colleges offer a diverse array of programmesThu Aug 17 2017 - 06:00
More students taking higher level subjects and fewer failingNew grading system sees major increases in higher-level participationWed Aug 16 2017 - 07:52
Now that you have your results – what happens next?If your grade falls below your expectation you can request a review of the scriptsWed Aug 16 2017 - 00:00
Leaving Cert results: Fixing errors and making queries on gradesViewing all scripts allows students to find the subject with the best chance of an upgradeWed Aug 16 2017 - 00:00
Brian Mooney: Waiting almost over for Leaving Cert studentsNew grading system and CAO points structure may cause confusionMon Aug 14 2017 - 01:00
CAO: College applicants banking on strength of Irish economyRecovery in property has driven demand for places in architecture and constructionSat Jul 15 2017 - 01:00
CAO starts making formal offers of college placesFirst places to be offered to applicants such as those who deferred and mature studentsThu Jul 06 2017 - 01:00
What students (and parents) need to know about CAO deadline dayDecision time for CAO applicantsMon Jun 26 2017 - 01:00
A survival guide for Junior and Leaving Cert students (and parents)Read Brian Mooney's simple tips for helping you get the most out of your examsTue Jun 06 2017 - 00:00
Ask Brian: I want to study nursing. What are my options?Recent decision to increase undergraduate numbers should ease some of the pressureTue May 30 2017 - 00:00
CAO decision time: How to pick the right course for youIf you’re not sure about your choices, you have until July 1st to rectify the situationTue May 23 2017 - 06:37
Should I take a hairdressing job without doing a PLC course?Ask Brian: A formal qualification will make it easier to advance in Ireland or abroadTue May 23 2017 - 00:00
Key CAO dates, from change-of-mind right through to appealsKeep on top of your college application process with this calendar of crucial datesTue May 23 2017 - 00:00
Brian Mooney’s Q&A: Everything you need to know about the CAOAdvice on how to approach the CAO process and how to get your course choice rightTue May 23 2017 - 00:00
Ask Brian: What’s the best archaeology course available?I have looked online and they all seem pretty similarTue May 09 2017 - 11:05
JP McManus spends €32m on college scholarships for low income studentsAll-Ireland programme open to 125 less well-off students annually over next decadeFri May 05 2017 - 06:51
Ask Brian: My son has no idea of what he wants to study in college. Can you help?Online tools can help students identify suitable courses based on their interestsTue May 02 2017 - 00:00
Why business degrees are such a popular third-level choiceOne in every six 2017 CAO applicants for a level 8 degree lists a business course as their first optionTue Apr 25 2017 - 10:00
Ask Brian: Should my children drop their weak subjects?Be careful: some third-level courses have minimum subject entry requirementsTue Apr 25 2017 - 00:00
