How to Change Your CAO Choices After Applying

How to Change Your CAO Choices After Applying So you’ve submitted your CAO application, and now you’re having second thoughts. Trust me, you’re not alone. Whether you’re reconsidering a university, a course, or both, the good news is that the Central Applications Office allows applicants to amend their program choices even after the initial submission.

But before you jump in, be aware of the important rules, deadlines, and costs, as getting this wrong could cost you more than just an administration fee.

Most students don’t realize until it’s too late that they can change their minds after submitting, and this procedure is not only allowed but also a common process. CAO, both at CAO.ie for Irish college applications and CAO.ac.za for South Africa, has built this flexibility into the system precisely because students often reconsider their options after doing more profound research, receiving matriculation results, or getting advice from teachers and career counselors. The key is knowing how the system works before you touch anything in your applicant portal.

One crucial rule that catches people off guard: your new list completely cancels and replaces your old list. This means that if you log into your account at www.cao.ac.za or CAO.ie and submit updated choices, any programs not listed in your new application will be withdrawn automatically by the system. So remember to re-enter your backup choices along with any new ones you want to keep.

Timing is everything here, and missing the on-time deadline can turn a free change into a costly one or worse, an impossible one. There are typically two windows available to applicants:

Period	Deadline	Fee	Notes
Before Closing	31 October 2026	Free	Changes before the on-time deadline are free of charge
After Matric Results	Late January 2027	May Apply	Changes after results may incur an additional fee
Ireland’s Change of Mind Opens	Early May	Free	As many changes as you want during this window
Ireland’s Change of Mind Closes	1 July at 5:17 PM	Free	Miss this and you’re locked out entirely

Always cross-check the CAO website or your applicant portal for the most current information, because these exact dates and fees are announced by CAO each year and can shift.

Having walked students through this process more times than I can count, here’s the cleanest way to approach it without making an error.

• Visit CAO.ac.za and click the Change of Mind icon on the homepage

• Log in to your profile using your username and password

• Select your new programs and enter all choices you want to keep,keep, including existing ones, in your exact preferred order, most preferred first
• Pay any applicable administration fee if required
• Submit your changes and save a copy of the confirmation

• Go to CAO.ie and log in using your CAO number, date of birth, and password
• Click on “Change of Mind” under your application portal
• Submit your updated course list in the exact preferred order, most preferred first
• Re-enter your backup choices without fail; your new list cancels your old list entirely

Crucial Rule for Both Systems: The system will automatically withdraw any programs not listed in your new application. The system will not provide any warnings or allow you to reapply.

This phase is where strategy matters more than speed. Here are a few things to consider before you change your choices:

• Research thoroughly before making any move. Use a university comparison tool, check the APS requirements for any new choices you are considering, and ensure you meet the specific subject requirements. A high APS score alone is not enough to qualify for competitive programs.
• Be strategic about your matric results. If your results came in better than expected, adjust upward and target more competitive programs you now qualify for. If they came in worse, be honest with yourself and include safe options, at least one or two programs where you comfortably exceed the minimum requirements.
• Please take career prospects seriously. Each program leads somewhere specific, and it’s worth checking a guide to the highest-paying careers before making adjustments based purely on APS scores or gut feelings.
• Avoid impulsive, emotional decisions. Think carefully, take your time, and don’t make last-minute changes under pressure.

Once you submit changes, your old selection is replaced entirely. Here’s exactly what that means:

What Changes	What Happens
Old programme selection	Replaced entirely no recovery
Status updates on old programs	Cancelled immediately
Provisional offers from old programme	Cancelled immediately
New programme choice	Processed from scratch
Processing time	It may take time for the new university to assess
Choices not listed in new application	Withdrawn automatically by the system

This is why it’s so important to be certain before you submit. The moment you confirm your updated course list, the previous one is gone, and the new choices are processed and sent to the relevant institutions.

Not every situation calls for a change, and occasionally the worst thing you can do is touch your application when things are actually going well. Avoid changing your choices in these situations:

• You already have an acceptance: If you’ve been provisionally accepted or firmly accepted to a program you’re happy with, changing it could mean losing that offer entirely. Acceptance isn’t guaranteed twice.
• It’s too close to the deadline: Last-minute changes may not be processed in time, and an unprocessed change is as good as no change.
• You’re making an emotional decision: If you’re not in a calm, informed headspace after a stressful results day, step back. Please consult your teachers or career counselors, revisit the requirements, and then return to your portal.

Changing your CAO choices after applying is straightforward as long as you respect the deadlines, follow the correct steps, and think strategically before submitting. Always re-enter every program you want to keep, avoid last-minute emotional decisions, and regularly check your applicant portal at CAO.ac.za or CAO.ie for the most current updates.