CAO Year 1 Deferral
Every year when CAO offers are made, some students decide that, while they are happy with their offer, they don’t want to take up the course immediately and wish to apply for a Deferral. This page contains information on the deferral process for 1st year entry, following an offer from the CAO.
Taking up your Deferred Place
If you successfully deferred your course and wish to take up your place, you will need to:
- Make an application to the CAO for the deferred course by the 1st of February 2026.
- You will need to list your deferred course as your first and only choice.
- Applicants who apply for their deferred course only, will get a CAO offer in Round A (early July). Applicants must accept their CAO offer in order to get a registration invite in September.
- Applicants who do not follow the above instructions will have their deferred place automatically cancelled.
- Applicants will be contacted in January by email with information on applying for their deferred course.
- Fill in the following MS form informing us of your new CAO number 2025 CAO Year 1 Deferrals applying for September 2026 entry
Applying for a Deferral
- In order to avail of the facility, an applicant must have been offered a place through CAO.
- Do not accept the CAO offer in the manner shown on the offer notice. Instead, email admissions@tudublin.ie with your CAO number and we will respond to you.
- Please allow 5 working days to get an acknowledgement email confirming your deferral. Check your SPAM/Junk folder if you do not receive an email from admissions@tudublin.ie
- The online form must be received by the admissions office before the “reply date” shown on the CAO offer notice.
- This deferral is for one year only.
- Applicants who request a deferral in order to take up another third level place in the CAO system will not be granted deferred entry.
- Deferrals are at the discretion of the university.
Students who registered online with TU Dublin should refer to the following link for deferral information https://www.tudublin.ie/for-students/student-services-and-support/deferring-from-your-programme/
Contact Us
- Admissions Office: admissions@tudublin.ie - Please include your CAO number on all emails.