Open Days 2023-2024: Everything You Need To Know (+ BONUS Higher Options & Worldskills Ireland)

Now that we’re well into the first term of the school year, it’s time to start thinking about college open days.

And while you might be thinking that it’s FAR too early for that, college open days have been taking place since mid-August!

In this blog, we’re going to go through EVERYTHING you need to know about college open days, what to expect from them, as well as a complete list of all the college open day dates for the 2023-2024 year!

But that’s not all! We also have BONUS content about the Higher Options Exhibition 2023! Kepp reading for more information!

PS – If you’re looking for more advice on picking a college course, check out our blog on 3 Practical Tips for Choosing A College Course!

What are Open Days?

Open days are organized by third-level institutions to give prospective students a comprehensive view of what the institution has to offer and to help them make informed decisions about their CAO choices.

They provide prospective students and their families the opportunity to visit the campus, learn about course offerings, explore facilities, meet current students, and get a feel for the overall campus vibe.

Often, there will be opportunities to attend campus tours, course presentations, Q&A Sessions, and sample lectures.

Hence, open days are an excellent opportunity for you to get a sense of the institution and whether it aligns with what you’re looking for from a college. It allows you to gather information that might not be easily accessible through the website.

Attending Open days is particularly helpful to any students who will be filling out their CAO this November, but also to TY and Fifth Year students who may want to start narrowing down their options earlier on.

However, for TY and Fifth Year students, the Higher Options Exhibition can be an effective introduction to picking out your top choice courses!

What is Higher Options?

The Higher Options Exhibition is an annual event organised by The Irish Times that provides secondary school students with the opportunity to explore various educational options available to them after completing their Leaving Cert.

Representatives from higher education institutions set up stands with brochures, prospectuses, and other important information for students to look at as they walk through the exhibition.

Many are also happy to answer any questions you have about the HEI they are representing, but there is also a live Q&A session and a full programme of talks from industry experts.

Over 150 universities, colleges and educational providers will be at Higher Options this year. The full list will be made available here in September.

Plus, this year, the Higher Options Exhibition will be teaming up Worldskills Ireland, which showcases apprenticeships and skills with live demonstrations and competitions, meaning there will be something there for everyone!

The Higher Options Exhibition takes place in the RDS in Dublin from the 20th to the 22nd of September 2023. You can book your ticket here.

Open Days 2023-2024

Below is a table of all of the dates for college open days that have been announced so far:

Dates	Institution
16 August	Griffith College – Dublin Campus NLN Roslyn College (Online) Progressive College (BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education & Care) (Online)
23 August	ATU Donegal – Letterkenny Campus Irish College of Humanities & Applied Sciences (ICHAS) NLN Roslyn College (Online)
28 August	Bray Institute of Further Education
29 August	Dublin Business School (Online) NLN Roslyn College Sallynoggin College of Further Education
30 August	Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board Griffith College – Dublin Campus Monaghan Institute NLN Roslyn College (Online) Rathmines College* (Town Hall Building)
31 August	Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute Mayo College of FE & Training – Ballina Campus Mayo College of FE & Training – Castlebar Campus Mayo College of FE & Training – Westport Campus
04 September	Blackrock Further Education Institute
05 September	Dublin Business School
06 September	An Cosán
07 September	Moate Business College Open Training College (BA Social Care, BA (Hons) Applied Social Studies – Disability Service Management)
08 September	Moate Business College
12 September	Dublin Business School (Online) Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute
13 September	Bray Institute of Further Education
20 September	Bray Institute of Further Education Higher Options
21 September	Higher Options
22 September	Higher Options
26 September	TUS Limerick – Moylish Campus (5th Years studying Engineering)
27 September	Bray Institute of Further Education
04 October	ATU Galway/Mayo – Mountbellew Campus Mountbewllew Agricultural College
06 October	Teagasc Agricultural College – Ballyhaise Campus  Teagasc Agricultural College – Kildalton Campus University of Galway
07 October	Teagasc Agricultural College – Ballyhaise Campus  Teagasc Agricultural College – Kildalton Campus University of Galway
12 October	Shannon College of Hotel Management
13 October	Gurteen Agricultural College MTU Kerry Campus Teagasc Agricultural College – Clonakilty
14 October	University College Cork (UCC)
17 October	University College Dublin – Lochlann Quinn School of Business
18 October	ATU Galway/Mayo – Mayo Campus
19 October	Mary Immaculate College Limerick School of Art & Design (LSAD) – Clare Street TUS Limerick – Moylish University of Limerick (UL)
20 October	Mary Immaculate College Limerick School of Art & Design (LSAD) – Clare Street TUS Athlone TUS Limerick – Moylish Campus University of Limerick (UL)
21 October	TUS Athlone
24 October	ATU Galway/Mayo – Wellpark Road Campus
26 October	Open Training College (BA in Contemporary Disability Studies) SETU Carlow
28 October	ATU Galway/Mayo – Dublin Road Campus
01 November	TUS Clonmel
04 November	The Lir Academy Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
06 November	Ballyfermot College of Further Education
07 November	University of Galway
09 November	ATU Donegal – Letterkenny Campus National Maritime College of Ireland SETU Waterford
10 November	ATU Connemara SETU Waterford TU Dublin – Blanchardstown
11 November	Mary Immaculate College – Thurles Campus National College of Ireland (NCI) TUS Thurles University College Dublin
15 November	Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) Liberties College
16 November	Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture – Botanic Gardens
17 November	MTU Cork – Bishopstown Campus SETU Carlow TU Dublin – Tallaght Campus ATU Sligo   ATU Sligo – St. Angela’s Campus Dublin City University (DCU) – Glasnevin Campus
18 November	ATU Sligo   ATU Sligo – St. Angela’s Campus Dublin City University (DCU) – Glasnevin Campus Dublin City University (DCU) – St. Patrick’s Campus Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry
21 November	National College of Art and Design (NCAD)
22 November	Crumlin College of Further Education
23 November	Coláiste Dhulaigh of Further Education Dunboyne College of Further Education
24 November	Maynooth University Shannon College of Hotel Management St. Patrick’s Pontifical University
25 November	Institute of Art, Design and Technology Dun Laoghaire (IADT) Maynooth University
02 December	TU Dublin – Grangegorman Campus
05 January	Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI)
13 January	TUS Limerick – Moylish Campus (Engineering)
16 January	Dublin City University (DCU) (Online)
17 January	Ballyfermot College of Further Education Blackrock Further Education Institution (BFEI) Sallynoggin College of Further Education TU Dublin (Online)
18 January	ATU Sligo ATU Sligo – St. Angela’s Ballsbridge College of Further Education Drogheda Institute of Further Education Rathmines College of Further Education TUS Clonmel
19 January	Bray Institute of Further Education Liberties College
20 January	Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) National College of Ireland (NCI) University of Limerick (UL)
21 January	Cathal Brugha FET College – North Strand Campus Cathal Brugha FET College – Cathal Brugha St Campus
24 January	ATU Donegal – Letterkenny Campus Carlow College – St. Patrick’s Campus Shannon College of Hotel Management
25 January	ATU Galway/Mayo – Dublin Road Campus Greenhills College Inchicore College of Further Education
06 February	University of Galway
21 February	Cathal Brugha FET College – North Strand Campus Cathal Brugha FET College – Cathal Brugha St Campus
24 February	National College of Art & Design
29 February	Dunboyne College of Further Education
01 March	Teagasc Agricultural College – Kildalton
02 March	ATU Donegal – Letterkenny Campus
05 March	Monaghan Institute
06 March	ATU Galway/Mayo – Mountbellew Campus Mountbellew Agricultural College
07 March	Bray Institute of Further Education Carlow College – St. Patrick’s Campus Mayo College of FE & Training – Ballina Campus Mayo College of FE & Training – Castlebar Campus Mayo College of FE & Training – Westport Campus O’Fiaich Institute
08 March	Gurteen Agricultural College
09 March	Institute of Art, Design and Technology Dun Laoghaire (IADT) University of Galway
13 March	ATU Galway/Mayo – Mayo Campus
14 March	Pearse College of Further Education
15 March	Teagasc Agricultural College – Ballyhaise Teagasc Agricultural College – Clonakilty
21 March	Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture – Botanic Gardens
23 March	ATU Connemara
13 April	ATU Galway/Mayo – Dublin Road Campus ATU Galway/Mayo – Wellpark Road Campus Dublin City University (DCU) – Glasnevin Campus Dublin City University (DCU) – St. Patrick’s Campus MTU Kerry Campus TU Dublin – Bolton Street Campus TU Dublin – Grangegorman Campus
16 April	TU Dublin – Tallaght Campus
17 April	Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) TUS Athlone
18 April	SETU Waterford TU Dublin – Angier Street Campus TU Dublin – Blanchardstown Campus
20 April	ATU Sligo   ATU Sligo – St. Angela’s TU Dublin – Aungier Street
27 April	ATU Galway/Mayo – Mountbellew Maynooth University St. Patrick’s Pontifical University
30 April	Shannon College of Hotel Management (Online)
02 May	ATU Donegal – Letterkenny Dublin City University (DCU) (Transition Year Students) – Glasnevin Campus
09 May	Monaghan Institute
11 May	SETU Carlow
22 May	Cathal Brugha FET College – North Strand Campus Cathal Brugha FET College – Cathal Brugha St Campus
23 May	Bray Institute of Further Education
22 June	Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry
28 June	Dublin City University (DCU) – Glasnevin Campus
29 June	Maynooth University St. Patrick’s Pontifical University

There are also a number of institutions that have not announced open days for the 2023-2024 academic year:

• American College Dublin
• BIMM Institute Dublin
• Cavan Institute
• Cavan Monaghan ETB (Education and Training Board)
• Central College Limerick
• Colaiste Ide College of Further Education
• Cork College of Further Education and Training
• Donegal ETB (Education and Training Board)
• Dorset College Dublin
• Dundrum College of Further Education
• Dungarvan College
• Galway Technical Institute
• Grange Community College
• Hibernia College Dublin
• Kerry College
• Limerick College of Further Education (LCFE)
• Mayo College
• Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board (ETB)
• Mullingar Community College
• National Fisheries College Greencastle
• Ormond College of Further Education
• Plunkett College
• Portobello Institute
• Setanta College
• Sligo College of Further Education
• St. Nicholas Montessori College Ireland
• Stillorgan College of Further Education
• Templemore College of Further Education
• The Law Society of Ireland
• Tullamore College
• Waterford College of Further Education
• Whitehall College of Further Education

We will update the list of open days whenever possible, but as always, you should consult the college website for the most accurate information.

Conclusion

Attending Higher Options or college open days can be a great way to get a deeper insight into your courses of interest, as well as what it would be like to study at a particular college, which is equally as important.

We recommend attending as many open days as you can. Even if you don’t have enough time during the school year, many universities will hold open days during the summer months. This is especially valuable to any sixth-years having second thoughts about where to go, as they usually take place just before the Change of Mind facility closes on the CAO.

You can also visit campuses at other points during the year to get a feel for the atmosphere. However you work it, we definitely encourage you to visit the institution you plan to spend the next few months or years at!

Stay tuned for more tips on going to college over the next few weeks!

-T.J.