Exploring CAO Alternatives? What Direct Application Means at Portobello Institute

For many Leaving Certificate students, the CAO can feel like the only route into higher education. However, there is more than one way to work towards the career and future you want.

As an independent higher education provider based in Dublin, Portobello Institute accepts direct applications via our website or over the phone. This means you can apply for our undergraduate degree programmes without going through the traditional CAO process or relying on Leaving Cert points.

You may not have achieved the results or points required for a particular programme. Perhaps your interests have changed since submitting your choices. You may simply want to understand all your education pathway options after the Leaving Cert before making a decision.

Whatever has led you to consider alternatives to the CAO, there may be more possibilities open to you than you first realised.

What Is the CAO and How Does It Work?

In Ireland, students complete the Leaving Certificate at the end of secondary school, taking exams across a range of subjects. Results are awarded as grades and converted into points. These points contribute to a CAO points score, which is used for higher education applications.

The Central Applications Office, better known as the CAO, processes applications for undergraduate programmes at participating higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country.

Students can list up to 10 level 8 programmes through the CAO, ranking them in order of preference. Once Leaving Cert results are released, the CAO issues offers based on applicants’ results, programme entry requirements, available places, and the order in which they ranked their choices.

The points required for a programme can vary from year to year depending on demand, the number of places available, and applicants’ results. Individual institutions may also set their own entry requirements.

Can You Apply to College Without the CAO in Ireland?

While the CAO is the most widely recognised route into higher education in Ireland, that’s not to say it’s the only route. Some higher education institutions accept applications directly.

At Portobello Institute, you can apply for an undergraduate programme without going through the CAO process or relying on a CAO points cut-off.

Direct application does not mean there are no entry requirements. Each programme has its own criteria, which may include specific Leaving Certificate grades or subjects, QQI qualifications, previous study, or another recognised entry route.

Portobello prides itself on guiding students onto programmes of study they are genuinely interested in and intend to start or progress their career with.

How to Apply Directly to Portobello Institute

1. Find the programme you want to study

Start by researching the programme in full on our website – consider what you’ll study, how it’s delivered, entry requirements, fees, placements, real-world learning, and career prospects.

Our Career Pathway Consultants can talk you through your options and help you find a programme that fits your goals, lifestyle, and where you want to go after graduation.

Leaving Certificate entry requirements vary by programme and may include specific grades or subjects. Other entry pathways can include QQI qualifications, previous study, or relevant experience.

An example of the entry requirements for the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy for applicants coming straight from the Leaving Cert are: Minimum of grade O6 in ordinary level Biology* or Physical Education, English, and Maths with a pass in 3 other subjects.

If you did not complete Biology during your Leaving Cert, there is an Anatomy and Physiology bridging programme to support you to meet the requirements.

Our aim is to make more routes to the professional career you want possible.

Once you’ve chosen your programme, apply directly through the Portobello Institute website – there’s no need to add it to your CAO application.

Select the relevant intake date on the programme page, click ‘Apply’, and follow the steps to complete the online application form. You may be asked to upload a copy of your personal identification documents, Leaving Cert results, or CV, depending on the programme.

4. Your application is reviewed

Your application is reviewed by Portobello Institute’s academic team to confirm that you meet the programme’s entry requirements. In some cases, further information or an interview to assess your interest in the area of study may be required.

5. Receive an offer

If you meet the entry requirements, at this point in the application process you may receive an offer of a place on the programme.

If you apply for a place ahead of completing your Leaving Certificate, you may receive a conditional offer pending the required results. This can give you more certainty before sitting your Leaving Cert and CAO offers are released.

6. Accept your place

Your offer will explain how to secure your place, including deposit or payment requirements.

Once you accept your offer and complete the required payment steps, your place at Portobello Institute will be held pending results or confirmed. You can start looking ahead to the programme and next steps that come with it.

Explore Portobello’s Undergraduate Degrees and Career Pathways 

Portobello Institute offers undergraduate degree programmes across sport, health science, business of fashion, early childhood care and education, and inclusive education.

Our programmes are delivered in partnership with leading UK universities: University of Essex and Health Sciences University.

These partnerships mean students can study in Dublin while working towards internationally recognised UK university awards, with academic standards and quality overseen by the awarding university.

Sports Therapy and PE

Portobello Institute’s BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy prepares students to work as sports therapists. Eligible graduates can also apply to the MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration), creating a five-year pathway to becoming a physiotherapist.

The BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching & Physical Education opens routes into coaching and physical education (PE). Graduates may also apply for a Professional Master of Education (PME) with an external provider. Entry is subject to the provider’s requirements and, for post-primary teaching, applicants must meet the Teaching Council’s curricular subject requirements for PE.

Health Science

The BSc (Hons) Applied Health Science provides a broad foundation in health science, with opportunities across health and wellbeing or further postgraduate study.

Eligible graduates can apply to the:

• MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration)

• MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration)

• MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) 

• MSc Speech and Language Therapy (Pre-registration)

After completing the relevant pre-registration master’s programme, graduates may be eligible to apply for professional registration with CORU in Ireland or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in the UK, subject to programme recognition and regulatory requirements. Once registered, they can begin practising in their chosen regulated healthcare profession.

Business of Fashion

Portobello Institute offers two honours degrees in fashion: the BA (Hons) Fashion Buying & Merchandising and BA (Hons) Fashion Management. Both programmes focus on the commercial and business side of the fashion industry.

Graduates can pursue careers in buying, merchandising, brand and retail management, fashion marketing, product development, e-commerce, and more.

The programmes share the same first-year modules, giving students the flexibility to switch from one to the other when they begin Year 2, depending on how their interests develop.

Early Years and Inclusive Education

The BA (Hons) Early Childhood Care & Education and BA (Hons) Inclusive Education Practice prepare students for rewarding careers across early years, inclusive education, and related support roles.

Graduates can also continue into postgraduate or specialist study in areas including the MSc Speech and Language Therapy (Pre-registration). They may also explore a Professional Master of Education (PME) with an external provider, subject to the provider’s entry requirements and the Teaching Council’s requirements for registration as a teacher.

Discover What’s Possible With a Portobello Degree

See where Portobello's undergraduate programmes in sport, health science, business of fashion, early years, and inclusive education could take you.

Our Career Pathway Consultants specialise across different faculties and can help you explore your options, understand the entry requirements, and identify the programme that best supports your ambitions. They can also guide you through each stage of the direct application process.

FAQs: CAO Alternatives and Direct Application

Is Portobello Institute on the CAO?

No. Applications for Portobello Institute programmes are made directly rather than through the CAO. This means you are assessed against the entry requirements for your chosen programme instead of competing for a place based on a CAO points cut-off.

Can I apply to Portobello Institute and the CAO at the same time?

Yes. Applying directly to Portobello Institute is separate from your CAO application, so you can consider Portobello alongside your CAO choices.

Can I apply before I receive my Leaving Certificate results?

Yes. You can apply while completing your Leaving Certificate. If you meet the relevant criteria, you may receive a conditional offer based on achieving the required results.

Is funding available for Portobello Institute programmes?

As an independent higher education provider, Portobello Institute is not funded in the same way as public institutions. Payment and funding options may be available depending on the programme and your circumstances, including payment instalment plans.