Those in their 40s and 50s are the forgotten generation when it comes to the budget
We will pay for the proposed new schemes and get no utility from them
Third Level
News and advice covering the third level education system.
Student accommodation lobby group seeks VAT removal from building costs for student beds
PBSA Council of Ireland wants Government to remove VAT on construction costs for approved developments
‘I realised I wasn’t this strange person people didn’t like. I just hadn’t found my people’
Students describe feeling lonely in groups and struggling to make deeper connections all while feeling under pressure to be living socially active lives
University is a chance to remake yourself. No one knows if you were shy at school
It can seem that everyone else is easily making friends and having fun in the early days. Some of them are pretending
The issues worrying students – and parents – when it comes to Leaving Cert 2026 results and CAO offers
Next Tuesday at 3pm is the cut-off point for receipt of acceptance of CAO round-one offers
A parent’s guide to helping your children start college life
‘Almost 4,500 every year in Ireland do not progress from year one to year two … There’s a lot of unhappy students and parents’
Empire was central to how Ireland’s nonsectarian colleges justified themselves
Queen’s colleges were established in 1845 in Belfast, Cork, and Galway to serve growing middle-class that included the island’s Catholic majority
Advice for college first years: ‘You need to force yourself to go to at least one club’
If initially it can seem a bit hard to break into circles, clubs and societies are key to settling in to college life, says one fourth year
Engineer shortage threatens Ireland’s housing and infrastructure plans, new research shows
Profession contributes €12.65bn to Ireland but warns recruitment must meet demand
Scramble for student accommodation begins as shortages deepen nationwide
Ireland’s housing crisis has made the ritual of living away from home a nerve-racking one for the country’s 280,000 third-level students
Cost of college: How much can you expect to pay for third-level education in Ireland?
Rent, food, travel, books, laptops and the €2,500 contribution fee add up to a considerable amount for students and families
Starting college: ‘The social life, making new friends, new connections, the education’
New horizon beckons for teenager who hails from DRC but has progressed from St Aidan’s Community School in Tallaght
Relief at securing a college place: ‘I’m just going to enjoy Galway city’
Having been denied Dare, Grace McNamara is very excited to have secured an arts place
Still plenty of options for those who didn’t receive an offer
Applicants who receive no offer can check the CAO’s ‘available places’ facility, or wait for Round 2
CAO points and college places: Good news and bad for the class of 2026
For some, the good fortune of high points is countered by the misfortune of random selection
How to study at third level and what to expect in your first year
Many students find the change from learning at second level challenging, but there are a variety of supports in place
Opposing views on Palestinian student visas
Green Party councillor calls on Jim O’Callaghan to intervene; UCC academic says universities showing contempt for native Irish students
Education matters: ‘Committing to something for four years, I needed to think about it’
When the offer came through, Alex Murphy was unsure if he wanted to pursue the course
‘It felt like I’d won’: CAO delight on anniversary of teen’s diabetes diagnosis
Danny Goff says moving to Maynooth will pose challenges, but he can’t wait to get started
Points rise in over half of all college courses across Ireland
Campaigners call for reform of ‘pressure cooker’ points system
CAO round one offers bring delight, surprise and disappointment
Applications for veterinary medicine, physiotherapy and medicine all increased this year
Got a CAO offer? The temptation is to accept immediately, but take your time
How to accept or defer – and what happens if you get an upgrade in your Leaving Cert points
Skills-based FET courses versus traditional university education: Which are the real routes to opportunity?
What are the outcomes for respective graduates, particularly on durability of skills and earning potential, in the age of AI?
Fall in Leaving Cert grades will not lead to points drop
Grades may be down, but applications to college are up
Sending a child to college costs an average of €11,102 this year. Here is the smarter way to pay
College costs a lot of money, so start planning now
What is an apprenticeship and would it work for me?
Being paid while you study is a key factor, and there are more than 80 programmes available across all sectors of the economy
Apprenticeships: ‘It’s hard, working and studying at the same time’
A social media post planted the idea of an accounting technician’s apprenticeship in Lauren Hickey’s head
What’s college life like for disabled students?
Specialised disability support services are improving, but stigma still exists and transition to third level can be a challenge
Students warned of ‘spike’ in accommodation scams as they return to college
Garda describes three red flags to watch out for
If you love working with animals, you don’t have to be a vet
Smart Choices: The many careers you can build with animals
Restricted courses: It’s difficult when everyone around you is going, ‘oh, you’ll get in’
Students typically apply for restricted courses earlier in the CAO process
Huge range of options now available to school leavers to secure their desired course choices
Further Education sector growing in popularity with school leavers
‘Even the canteen lady knew my name at the PLC college. Everybody is so close-knit’
Lana Dowling was ‘lost’ for a long time in secondary school, but PLC courses proved a huge help in building her future
Leaving Cert: All thoughts now move to CAO round one offers
Good luck on Wednesday, and please do get in touch if you have any questions
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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