If the results of Leaving Cert Appeals are only issued in October, and the college academic year is already 5 or 6 weeks underway, what is college policy on awarding places at this stage to students that have successfully appealed their results to the required upgrade?

Colleges do their utmost to accommodate students in the current year if at all possible. However, they do advise students to consider deferral until the following year, since they may be taking on a course that is already several weeks into the first 12 week semester.

If students opt to start a course several weeks into term, they are advised to contact the Student Advisor for their particular subject area. The advisor will give them orientation and advice on what they have missed.

The Programme Office and academics in the subject / course area try to help as much as possible. However applicants are also advised that special provision cannot be made for assessments if they have missed the start of term.

What happens if our son/daughter is awarded an upgrade on their results but a place is not available on the course for which they are now eligible?

If the course is absolutely full, (this is particularly true with courses involving practicals or placement), the college in question simply may not be in a position to accommodate students. Also if students were awarded a later upgrade (eg in December) they would definitely be given a deferral.

How does the deferral procedure work for upgraded students?

If they decide it is wiser to opt for a deferred place, the student needs to indicate to the college that they wish to defer. If the college is only in a position to offer a deferred place they inform the student they are being offered a deferred place. In either case, the following year the applicant reapplies through the CAO placing their allocated course as the only preference. This will then be offered in ROUND A in early July. This is prior to the main round of CAO offers.

Will we be required to pay the full tuition fee, if our child completes a year in third level college before taking up his deferred place?

To date the DES (Department of Education and Skills) has allowed students to attend third level college in the intervening year between school and taking up the deferred college place without charging full fees for the following year. There is no guarantee however that this situation will continue.

One final point that can be considered when a student is deciding whether or not to defer a place they have secured on appeal, is that some colleges have terms that start later, for instance Trinity College which starts later than many other colleges.