# IrishGuidance.ie > Ireland's student guidance hub: accurate, dated, plain-English guides on the Leaving Cert, CAO offers, SUSI grants, student accommodation, college life, and careers. Operated by CourseCompass (https://coursecompass.ie), an Irish education platform with AI course recommendations and CAO tools. All guides are researched against official Irish sources (CAO, State Examinations Commission, SUSI, Citizens Information) and updated when rules or deadlines change. ## Leaving Cert - [How to Calculate Your Leaving Cert Points (2026 Guide)](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/how-to-calculate-leaving-cert-points): The full points table, the best-six rule, and how the Higher Maths bonus works — with a worked example so you can total your points in minutes. - [How to Appeal Your Leaving Cert Results in 2026](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/leaving-cert-appeals-2026): An appeal is a full re-mark by a different examiner. How to apply, the tight deadline, refunds, and how an upgrade can change your CAO offer. - [Leaving Cert Results 2026: What Happens Next](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/leaving-cert-results-2026): Leaving Cert results land Friday 21 August 2026 at 10am. Here's how to check them, what your points mean, and every deadline that follows. - [Repeating the Leaving Cert: Is It Worth It?](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/repeating-the-leaving-cert): Thinking of repeating the Leaving Cert? An honest look at when it makes sense, what it involves, how the CAO treats repeats, and faster alternatives. - [Viewing Your Leaving Cert Exam Scripts: How It Works](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/viewing-leaving-cert-scripts): Script viewing is free and shows you exactly how every answer was marked — the smartest first step before deciding whether to appeal. ## CAO & Offers - [CAO Available Places 2026: How It Works](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/cao-available-places-2026): The CAO Available Places facility opens 27 August 2026, listing courses with vacancies. Who can apply, how it works and how to use it well. - [CAO Round 1 Offers 2026: How to Accept, Decline or Wait](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/cao-round-1-offers-2026): CAO Round 1 offers land on 26 August 2026 at 2pm. Here's how to read your offer, accept it correctly and keep later-round upgrades open. - [How to Defer Your CAO Place: Rules and Deadlines](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/deferring-your-cao-place): Want to defer your CAO offer to next year? Don't accept it online — contact the college admissions office fast. Here's the exact procedure. - [No CAO Offer? Your Full List of Options in 2026](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/no-cao-offer-what-to-do): No CAO offer in 2026? You still have real routes to a degree: Available Places, PLC courses, apprenticeships, repeating and more. ## Student Finance - [How Much Does College Cost in Ireland in 2026/27?](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/college-fees-ireland-2026): What college really costs in Ireland in 2026/27: the new €2,500 student contribution, who pays what, SUSI support, and a realistic budget guide. - [SUSI Grant 2026/27: Who Qualifies and How to Apply](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/susi-grant-guide-2026-27): Who qualifies for a SUSI grant in 2026/27, what Budget 2026 changed, how to apply, and what to do if you're refused. Plain-language Irish guide. ## Accommodation - [Digs in Ireland: What Students (and Parents) Should Know](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/digs-accommodation-ireland): How digs work in Ireland: 5-day vs 7-day arrangements, what's included, your legal position as a licensee, and the questions to ask first. - [Student Accommodation in Ireland: Your Options Compared](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/student-accommodation-ireland-guide): On-campus, PBSA, digs, private renting or commuting? Compare every student accommodation option in Ireland, spot scams, and know your rights. ## College Life - [First Year of College in Ireland: A Survival Guide](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/first-year-college-survival-guide): Starting college in Ireland? How to handle orientation, money, friends, workload and your head — and what to do if it isn't working out. ## Careers & Pathways - [Apprenticeships in Ireland 2026: Earn While You Learn](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/apprenticeships-ireland-2026): Apprenticeships in Ireland now cover tech, finance and engineering as well as trades — get paid while you qualify. Here's how to apply in 2026. - [PLC Courses: The Smart Back Door to Your Degree](https://irishguidance.ie/articles/plc-courses-route-to-degree): PLC courses are a proven route into degrees in Ireland — low cost, direct application, and links to higher education. Here's how they work.