Our Step-by-Step Approach to Higher Education

Further Education and Training is your gateway to Higher Education and to work. At Carlow Institute we provide a really effective pathway through to Higher Education, that allows you take a step-by-step approach, achieving internationally recognised qualifications as you go, and without the pressure of a four-year commitment at the outset.

We have progression agreements with our Higher Education partners so you can progress to a wide range of Higher Education courses. You can benefit from our special links which allow preferential access to degree programmes.

Round zero offers are preferential CAO offers made to Carlow Institute students by our Higher Education Partners. These vary by course, but in general a Round Zero offer is a conditional offer made in advance of the general Round One CAO offers. This means you can get ahead of the game by completing a Further Education qualification, and secure your CAO offer before the general offers made to Leaving Certificate completers.

Round Zero Offers are based on achieving prescribed grades or other Institution requirements, and in some cases the number of Round Zero Offer places available for particular Higher Education Courses are limited.

Look out for the CAO Round Zero symbol on the course information pages.