The deadline for applications to the CAO is set to close tomorrow, February 1, at 5.15pm, have you made an application to study an agricultural course in 2017?

The CAO system will reopen on February 5 for people who want to amend their applications, though a €10 fee will be charged.

The closing date for making these amendments is scheduled for March 1, while the deadline for late applications to the CAO has been set as May 1.

All applicants will be offered the chance to alter their course choices between May 5 and July 1, these alterations will be free of charge. 

The current fee for an online application is €40, but this will rise to €50 for a late application after February 1.

How to fill in your CAO form:
  • Go online at www.cao.ie and click on ‘Apply’.
  • Enter your personal details.
  • Select the qualifications and assessments section that are relevant to you.
  • Enter your payment details.
  • Create a password.
  • Supply a valid email address.
  • You must then click on ‘Proceed with application’ to obtain your CAO application number.
  • Your application details will appear on screen and you will also receive an email containing your CAO application number.

Agricultural Courses at Tralee IT

There are a number of agricultural courses available in Tralee IT, including Agricultural Science (Level 7 and Level 8), Agricultural Engineering (Level 7 and Level 8) and Veterinary Bioscience (Level 8), according to Dr Patrick Carney.

Tralee IT has been offering Agriculture Engineering courses since the 1970s, Dr Carney, who is Head of Engineering at Tralee IT, said.

The Agriculture Engineering courses have gone from strength to strength over the last few years.

“During the boom numbers dropped, but since 2008 the courses have been performing very strong,” he said.

Tralee IT also began to offer Agricultural Science as a course option four or five years ago, while a new Veterinary Bioscience course is open for applications this year, he added.

“We are just reflecting the demand, in the past we weren’t getting enough demand, but now we are are seeing a lot more people wanting to get back into farming.

“Our agriculture courses attract students from all over the country, they are proving to be some of the most popular in the IT.

“Generally our other courses would be mainly made up of students from within two or three counties away,” Dr Carney said.

The IT also offers an Agriculture Mechanisation course which requires students to apply directly to the college and have a sponsor willing to provide them with work experience during the course, he said.

In total, there is currently well in excess of 300 students studying agricultural courses in Tralee IT, with this expected to grow with the addition of the new Veterinary Bioscience course.

Some Of The Other Courses Available:

Agriculture (BSc) – Cork Institute Of Technology

Students who successfully complete Year 2 of this programme and do not wish to progress to Year 3 will receive the Higher Certificate in Science in Agriculture.

Students also have the opportunity to complete a 15-week work placement in second year.

Course details:
  • College: Cork Institute of Technology
  • CAO: CR010
  • Duration: Three years
  • Points required in 2016: 340

Agriculture (Bsc) – Dundalk Institute Of Technology

The course is based in Ballyhaise Agricultural College in Co. Cavan and Dundalk Institute of Technology, which allows for both theory and practical learning.

Course details:
  • College: Dundalk Institute of Technology
  • CAO: DK882
  • Duration: Four years
  • Points required in 2016: 355

Agricultural Science (BAgrSc) – University College Dublin

Students who are not 100% sure of which area of agriculture they want to specilise have the option to select the ‘No Preference Option’ on the CAO form when applying for the degree programme in UCD.

This allows students to chose from one of UCD’s agricultural disciplines during their first year in college.

The disciplines include Animal and Crop Production, Animal Science, Animal Science – Equine, Agricultural Systems Technology or Food and Agribusiness Management.

Course details:
  • College: University College Dublin
  • CAO: DN250
  • Duration: Four years
  • Points required in 2016: 460

CAO UCD

Agriculture And Environmental Management (BSc) – Galway-Mayo Institute Of Technology

This course covers production agriculture, environmental science, economics, accountancy, communications, computing and information systems in its first year, as well as advanced dairy production and dry stock production in second year.

Course details:
College: Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
CAO: GA777
Duration: Three years
Points required in 2016: 300

Agriculture (BSc) – Waterford Institute Of Technology

The three-year course in agriculture at Waterford includes a period of work placement on farms specially chosen by Teagasc during second year, while students also take modules at Teagasc Kildalton.

WIT also offers a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Agricultural Science in addition to the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, in which students can complete an add-on year to obtain a level 8 Honours qualification in Land Management in Agriculture.

Course Details
College: Waterford Institute of Technology
CAO: WD126
Duration: Three years
Points required in 2016: 385

Agriculture (BSc) – Letterkenny Institute of Technology

The BSc in Agriculture at LyIT offers graduates a combination of skills and knowledge of key arears in Agriculture, such as Soil and Plant Science, Ruminant Husbandry and Agriculture business management.

Course details:
• College: Letterkenny Institute of Technology
• CAO: LY877
• Duration: Three years
• Points required in 2016: 250