From further education and training (FET) to higher education (HE): Performance of CAO candidates with QQI FET awards
On average about 12,000 of CAO applicants each year include reference to QQI FET awards in their application. Many of these applicants have both a QQI FET award and a Leaving Certificate.
This analysis focuses on a subset of this group of learners: QQI FET learners who achieved a level 5 or 6 major award in a single sitting (i.e. within one academic year) and applied to the CAO in the same academic year.
The analysis presents the CAO points attained by these learners from their QQI FET awards in 2018 – 2024 and provides an insight into how, and in what subject areas these QQI learners may potentially progress to HE through the CAO using their QQI award.
Important note: data published in 2023 indicated an increase in the size of the 2022 cohort. Following a review of our data, we are now publishing corrected data for 2022 which indicates a significant reduction in the size of this cohort. Stakeholders who have used the previously published 2022 data are advised to revise accordingly.
Key findings from this analysis:
- There was a significant drop in the overall number of learners with this profile between 2021 and 2022. The numbers recovered in 2023 and 2024 by 24% and 10% respectively from 2022.
- The decrease in number of these CAO applicants observed in 2022 is partly explained by a reduction in the number of QQI awards in ‘nursing studies’, which represents a large proportion of all awards achieved by this cohort of applicants. For further information of QQI awards made and trends visit: Our Data | Quality and Qualifications Ireland (qqi.ie)
- The average CAO points earned by these learners peaked in 2021, when the average points reached 355.7. In 2024, the average CAO points earned was 345.8.
- In 2020 and 2021, 48% and 52% of these learners respectively, earned the maximum CAO points possible (i.e., allowed under the Higher Education Links scheme, 390 points), the greater proportion of higher grades observed in the period of analysis. These high proportions are likely to be related to factors associated with the COVID-19 experience.
- The most common major QQI award attained by these learners is the NFQ Level 5 award in ‘nursing studies’.
- The top 2 QQI major awards in terms of numbers of these learners have been almost the same since 2018, namely: ‘nursing studies’ and ‘business studies’. In 2024, the award ‘software development’ was for the first time part of the top 5 award group.
You can view more detailed information in our interactive graphic below.
