CAO Change of Mind

A CAO Change of Mind (COM) is a request to change your study choices after you have applied to the Central Applications Office (CAO). This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as:

  • You no longer want to do a particular programme or programmes.
  • You want to add a programme to your list of choices.
  • You want to change the rank order of your choices.
  • You want to extend your application to the following entry year/term.

To submit a CAO COM:

  1. Go to the CAO website and click on the “Change of Mind” icon.
  2. Log into your profile.
  3. Select the “Change of Mind” option from the left navigation bar.
  4. Enter your programme choices as you now wish them to appear.
  5. Pay the COM administration fee.

Once you have submitted your COM, it will be processed immediately if you submitted it online. If you submit a hard-copy COM form, it will take up to 4 weeks to be processed.

Change of Mind

You must check your course choices immediately to ensure that they are correct. If you need to amend or add courses you may use the Change of Mind facility before the 1st of July at 17:00.

To make changes to your course choices (during the periods outlined below):

  • – log in via the ‘My Application’ facility and go to add/change course choices;
  • – introduce all of your courses on the ‘New List’ in your preferred order of preference, remembering to click ‘Continue with course changes’ to save the information; and,
  • – check the acknowledgement e-mail sent to the e-mail address you supplied when making your application. Make sure to check that your changes have been recorded completely and correctly.

Once you have submitted your COM, it will be processed immediately if you submitted it online. If you submitted a hard-copy COM form, it will take up to 4 weeks to be processed.

Change of Mind – 5th May (12:00 noon) to 1st July (17:00)

At the beginning of May applicants will be able to register an online change of course choices, free of charge. If you change online an acknowledgement will be sent to the e-mail address you used at the application stage.

There is no fee for using the Change of Mind facility.

Making Changes:

  • – subject to the exceptions and restrictions mentioned below, you may change course choices (without fee) as often as you wish, up to 17:00 on the 1st July;
  • – if you submit a Change of Mind it cancels and supersedes all the previous course choices in any category in which changes are made. However, choices in the two categories (Level 8 and Level 7/6) are considered to be completely separate from each other for this purpose e.g. a change of Level 8 course choices will not affect Level 7/6 choices.
  • – if you do not wish to change the courses in one category, do not submit a change. Your original courses in that category will remain unchanged.
  • – do not mix courses from different categories (Level 8 and Level 7/6) and make sure to list all of your course choices for the particular category which you change.
  • – except for Restricted Application Courses/Restricted Categories of applicant (see below), you may enter on the form courses which did not appear on your original application.

Watch the `CAO Change of Mind` video for a step-by-step guide to the process.

Restrictions:

Restricted courses

You may not enter on a Change of Mind any restricted courses.

Exception: you may be permitted to introduce a restricted course which shares the exact same assessment procedures with a course you had applied for by 1st February at 17:00 – you should consult with the relevant HEI before introducing such a course.

Mature applicants

Individuals admitting HEIs may impose restrictions on Change of Mind for mature applicants. These are generally the same as for late applications. Mature applicants should make enquiries from individual Admissions Offices before introducing new course choices after 1st February.

Change of Mind notifications

If you make a change of mind you will receive an e-mail to confirm your new course choices. You can also log in to your account via the My Application facility to confirm that all of your details are recorded completely and correctly.

Your course choices must be correct.

Errors and Omissions

Do not wait until August to notify us of errors or omissions as it will be too late to do anything about them at that stage.

Paper applicants

If you applied to CAO using a paper application form, and you have not yet logged in to your CAO account online, you can do so by going to ‘My Application’, click on the forgotten password link and follow the steps to obtain a password. You can then log in with your CAO application number, your date of birth and your new password to use the online Change of Mind facility.

Change of Mind (Exception to Timetable):
Exceptional Closing Date: 22nd July (17:00)

Subject to the exclusions below, and subject to the usual conditions for Change of Mind, if you are registered as an undergraduate student on 1st May in any one of the HEIs (and entered that HEI through the CAO system), you may submit a Change of Mind, in paper form only, to arrive in CAO not later than 17:00 on 22nd July.

The Change of Mind Form must be stamped by the Admissions Office of the HEI where you are a student.

(If you did NOT enter your current course through the CAO system you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply. That Admissions Office will inform you whether you may submit a Change of Mind.)

Exclusions:

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  1. Such a Change of Mind may be made only for entry to a course (or courses) other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course, you must arrange this within your HEI and it is not a matter for application through CAO.
  2. Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, Maynooth University, Marino Institute of Education and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure
  3. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of the three HEIs in (b) above, you should submit your paper Change of Mind to CAO.

 

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NSFAS primarily funds undergraduate qualifications, but certain postgraduate programs (e.g., PGCE, postgraduate diplomas in education, and professional courses like LLB) may be considered under the NSFAS loan scheme, not bursaries.

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Step-by-Step NSFAS Online Application Process (2025)

  1. Visit the NSFAS Website

    Go to: https://www.nsfas.org.za

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    • Click on “MyNSFAS” and register your profile.
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🗓️ Important NSFAS Dates (2025)

  • Application Opening Date: September 1, 2025
  • Application Deadline: January 31, 2026
  • Appeals Period: February 2026 (if rejected)
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💸 What Does the NSFAS Loan Cover?

NSFAS funding typically includes:

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Repayments are:

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🔁 How to Appeal a Rejected NSFAS Application

If your application is rejected, you may submit an appeal via your MyNSFAS portal:

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📱 NSFAS Contact Information

📝 Final Tips Before Applying

  • Apply early to avoid system overload near the deadline.
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  • Double-check that all your documents are certified and legible.
  • Keep a copy of your submission confirmation for reference.

By following this guide, you can confidently apply for NSFAS funding and move one step closer to achieving your academic and career dreams—without the burden of immediate financial pressure.

 

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