Many school leavers are concerned about points requirements for courses. But there are also career pathways beyond the traditional routeBreffini Norton and Emma Doyle celebrate after receiving their Leaving Certificate results in Carlow. Photograph: Evan Treacy/PA Sat Aug 22 2026 - 06:01 • 4 MIN READThe Irish Times Help Desk has been busy dealing with readers’ questions since students received their Leaving Certificate results on Friday. It will be also be open on Saturday and Saturday with experts answering questions. The central question on the lips of many readers so far has been about CAO points requirements for courses, which will be revealed next Wednesday afternoon at 2pm.CAO points are the score of the last applicant to be offered a place. Therefore the fact that there are 5,000 more applicants in 2026 than were in the system in 2025 will push up CAO points overall.However, due to the further reduction in the enhanced grades in 2026, the percentage of H1s is down 2 per cent and H2s is down 1.7 per cent, which will lead to an easing of points.Unfortunately, while 55,000 applicants will be affected by those reductions in grades, there are 20,500 applicants who are also seeking CAO places this year that retain higher grades secured between 2020-2025.New third-level placesThe Government is conscious of the need to expand third-level places to meet the growing needs of an expanding population. Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless announced on Friday the largest expansion of healthcare education places in the history of the State, with the Government approving measures that will create capacity for an additional 612 students every year across nursing, midwifery, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and veterinary medicine.At full rollout, the measures will support more than 2,600 additional students enrolled in healthcare programmes across the Republic’s higher education system. Collectively, the measures approved today will support:268 additional nursing and midwifery places annually;151 additional pharmacy places annually;80 additional veterinary medicine places annually;78 additional medicine places annually; and35 additional dentistry places annually.Many of these places, once approved by the academic councils and governing bodies of our universities, will be offered to existing CAO applicants next Wednesday, which will result in lower points requirements in those specific courses.Alternate routes into healthcareThere are also now pathways into healthcare careers beyond the traditional CAO route. This year, 33 tertiary degree programmes are offering 339 places in healthcare-related disciplines, including nursing, occupational therapy and health promotion.Ten of these pathways, accounting for 95 places, are being offered for the first time. These programmes provide an alternative route into healthcare professions, focusing on students’ potential, aptitude and commitment, while creating even more opportunities to access in-demand careers in the sector.[ Covid impacts and enhanced grades: five takeaways from 2026 Leaving Cert resultsOpens in new window ]Anyone interested in securing a tertiary degree place offer can apply though the nto.ie website over the coming days.Other tertiary degree optionsThe helpline received numerous enquiries relating to CAO points requirement for primary school teaching. I do not anticipate any reduction in points requirements through the CAO route. But the pathway into primary school teaching is just one of 32 new tertiary bachelor’s degree routes announced in April. These programmes remove long-standing barriers such as points pressure and upfront fees, while also upholding the same academic standards and outcomes as any other degree pathway.There are almost 80 tertiary bachelor’s degree route options across areas as diverse as health and welfare, business, applied sciences, arts and computing with artificial intelligence, to name but a few. And they are available in 24 counties in Ireland, so they are right on your doorstep.Now in its fourth year, 1,200 tertiary places will be available to applicants in 2026 outside of the traditional points system, recognising that talent and potential exist across every stage and walk of life. I’d urge anyone unsure of their next step to have a look and see what is there for them.Can our family afford to accept a CAO offer?Another area of concern for callers was the cost of education at third level. In 2025 there was Government approval for a €500 reduction in fees, a first permanent cut since 1995. The student contribution charge had in previous years been reduced as a temporary measure. Budget 2025 also increased the Susi income threshold for the student contribution grant and increased the non-adjacent maintenance grant support.Relating to the cost of accommodation, a short-term activation programme is currently running, which will deliver almost 1,000 new beds across Maynooth University, University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin, 30 per cent of which will be at discounted rents.[ CAO points system cannot be used to measure intelligenceOpens in new window ]In response to previous columns I have written relating to the difficulty of securing affordable accommodation, I received offers from a number of readers who wanted to offer a room often for companionship or company through the winter months. A “Rethink the Room” awareness campaign was recently launched aimed at encouraging homeowners to consider renting a room to students. Research has revealed that providing or staying in “digs” accommodation can be an overwhelmingly positive experience for both parties. Homeowners interested in offering digs accommodation can find more details from their local college and on the Government’s website.How about progressing my career aspirations through the apprenticeship route?A new Level 8 social care apprenticeship with University College Cork and Munster Technological University addresses the need for a new pathway to open up this profession to a more diverse audience, and an apprenticeship in paramedicine has also been introduced to address critical workforce needs in the public sector.The social care apprenticeship is supported by Tusla, Oberstown Children Detention Campus and the HSE and will see the first cohort of apprentices start this September. The programme has been approved by Coru, Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator, and is overseen by a consortium led by the Social Care All-Employer Forum.IN THIS SECTION