Thousands of Irish students will receive their first round offers in the CAO today.

From 2pm students will be able to log in to their CAO portal and either accept or decline the course they have been offered. 

The deadline for accepting the first round offer is 3 o’clock on Wednesday and guidance counsellor Betty Mc Laughlin told students it is usually best to accept whatever they are offered: 

“They need to think carefully,” she told Newstalk. 

“However, the rounds will continue until courses are filled and that often goes into the middle of October. 

“It is recommended to students to accept whatever offer they have been given - provided you’re interested in that course because there is no guarantee you will be offered a higher course up on your list in subsequent rounds.” 

Students are seen on the campus of Trinity College Dublin in March 2016. Picture by: Sergio Azenha / Alamy Stock Photo

This year’s CAO offers were delayed once again because of COVID-19 - a decision that many students said had put them under added pressure. 

“The delay in results, not only is it very stressful but it’s very worrying,” Angelica from Wicklow told Lunchtime Live. 

“As you said there, in terms of accommodation, students like myself around the country are wondering if we’re even going to have a place to live and actually attend college. 

“Because if you don’t have accommodation and you’re from rural Ireland, how are you expected to be able to commute to Galway or Cork?”

Main image: Students with their Leaving Cert results.