Decoded - Career Paths Translated

Alternatives to the CAO: UK and Europe, fees, deadlines, and what to expectThis episode wraps is part 3, of Decoded's CAO special by looking at study options outside Ireland. Laura and Ailish Egan cover how UCAS works in the UK, how European applications differ, and what students need to weigh up beyond points, including fees, travel, language, and living abroad. It’s especially useful for students considering medicine, veterinary, dentistry, or other high-demand courses.
Key topicsWhy students consider the UK or Europe instead of the CAO route, especially when competition for courses in Ireland is high.
UK universities offer a wider choice of courses, but fees have become a bigger consideration for Irish applicants.
UK tuition may cost about £10,000 per year, while Northern Ireland fees are generally lower, at around £5,000 for many courses.
UCAS is separate from the CAO. Ailish explains school buzzwords, references, predicted grades, and applying independently.
Medicine and dentistry applicants in the UK must sit the UCAT, usually during fifth year, with deadlines well before the Leaving Cert.
UCAS entry requirements may include tariff points, specific subjects, interviews, or portfolios.
UCAS personal statements go to every university on an application, making it challenging to apply across different subject areas.
English-taught courses in Europe may not use CAO-style points, but can require entrance exams such as Italy’s IMAT.
Poland and Italy are popular options for medicine and veterinary studies; tuition and accommodation costs vary.
Studying abroad also means considering homesickness, travel to Ireland, language needs, and placements in local hospitals.
Ailish discusses postgraduate opportunities in Europe, where some courses may cost less than their Irish equivalents.
Timestamps00:00 — Final episode intro: alternatives to the CAO
00:55 — Why the UK has long been a popular option
01:54 — UK tuition fees, accommodation, and Northern Ireland costs
03:15 — More options for high-demand courses in the UK
03:44 — UCAS basics and the UCAT for medicine and dentistry
05:12 — School buzzwords, references, and predicted grades
06:34 — Tariff points and subject-specific entry requirements
07:59 — Why students should visit a university before applying
09:22 — Why Europe is becoming more popular
10:20 — UCAS deadlines for Oxbridge and other courses
11:18 — Conditional and unconditional offers
12:44 — UCAS course limits and the personal statement
15:33 — Considering Europe for medicine and veterinary studies
16:32 — Poland, Italy, and comparing fees with living costs
17:54 — The IMAT exam for English-taught courses in Italy
18:50 — Same-year applications and the possibility of a November start
20:41 — Returning to Ireland after studying medicine abroad
21:38 — Application support and agencies
22:29 — Language, placements, and adapting to life abroad
23:22 — Living abroad and managing the distance from home
24:47 — Why determination matters when studying abroad
26:13 — Postgraduate options in Europe
26:41 — Quick-fire recap: costs, language, Brexit, and backup plans

This episode focuses on the practical side of the CAO process: how to complete the form, avoid common mistakes, and handle the key dates that can trip students up.
Laura is joined once again by Guidance counsellor Ailish Egan and explains the difference between the Level 8 and Level 6/7 lists, how HEAR and DARE work, and why getting started early matters.
Laura & Ailish also walk through the paperwork, deadlines, and checks that can make or break an application, so students and parents know what to do before the pressure ramps up.
Key topics
In this episode, Ailish Egan explains that the CAO has two separate lists: Level 8 and Level 6/7, and both should be filled out in order of preference.
She recommends only listing courses you would genuinely take, rather than padding the form with options you would never accept.
We discuss why it is risky to build a list based only on points, since points change every year and cannot be predicted.
Ailish breaks the list into a practical strategy: dream courses at the top, realistic backup options in the middle, and genuine fallback choices lower down.
She explains how some courses have no direct Level 6/7 route, while others can be approached through a longer, “scenic route” via related courses and later progression.
We cover the CAO opening date, the importance of setting up an account early, and why personal details like email, phone number, and date of birth must be entered carefully.
Ailish recommends using the demo CAO as a practice run before completing the real form.
She explains the DARE process, including the disability section, the supplementary information form, school input, and supporting evidence from consultants or existing reports.
We discuss HEAR, how it differs from DARE, and why it is based on income and related indicators rather than disability.
Ailish stresses that HEAR and DARE are not cash grants, unlike SUSI, and that they only affect access through reduced points where applicable.
She also outlines the deadlines for forms and supporting documents, and why posting evidence and using your CAO number on every page is essential.
Parents and guardians can help by checking details, supporting paperwork, and understanding the dates, especially for HEAR and SUSI.

The biggest CAO mistake is thinking you need to have your whole life figured out at 17 or 18. Laura is joined by Guidance counsellor Ailish Egan to break down exactly how to choose courses when you genuinely have no clue, and why the right move is to stop obsessing over points and start researching the actual course.
If you are a student staring at a blank CAO form, or a parent trying to help without making things worse, this episode gives you a clear starting point. Ailish explains why uncertainty is normal, what undecided students get wrong, and how to build a shortlist using interests, values, subjects, and entry requirements instead of panic or peer pressure.You’ll discover:
Why course points tell you almost nothing about quality
The psychology trap so many students fall into
How to use interest tests, subject choices, and lifestyle questions to narrow your options
Why broad courses like arts, science, business, and common entry engineering can buy you time
How level 6, 7, and 8 routes can still lead to the same destination
Why a PLC can be a smart backup, not a second-best option
Laura and Ailish discuss the role parents can play without taking over, including how to ask better questions, watch the deadlines, and keep realistic expectations around accommodation, commuting, and costs. The conversation ends with a rapid-fire myth-busting round that clears up some of the most common CAO assumptions once and for all.If you want a calmer, smarter way to approach CAO season, this is essential listening. Perfect for anyone who needs to turn confusion into a plan, one practical step at a time.

From fashion to medicine, Dr. Laura Lenihan’s journey shows that it’s never too late to change direction. Every detour taught her something she now uses to build a career—and business—that fits who she is. Sometimes the path only makes sense when you look back. And sometimes, the role you’re meant for doesn’t exist yet!

Decoded - Laura Morgan Walsh on her career path, sport, values, and building a life around what matters to her.
For Season 2's opening episode, Laura Morgan Walsh is joined by her brother Eoin, who is asking the questions as we meet the host of Decoded, the podcast that translates career paths.
Laura shares the story behind Decoded and walks through the career path that led her from school subjects shaped by a timetable to leadership in payments, board roles, and founding Morgan Walsh Consulting. This episode is especially useful for students, parents, and anyone trying to make sense of a non-linear career.She also explains how sport, part-time work, and a values-led approach shaped her decisions around work, family, and ambition.