Round one CAO offers for students are now available online.
The Central Applications Office released around 50,000 offers online in the last few minutes.
Prospective students now have a week to accept the places offered this morning and join the some 210,000 people already in higher education.
President of the Union of Students in Ireland Kevin Donoghue has this advice for anyone who didn't get their first choice course.
He said: "It's always important to consult with the institution if you don't get your first choice, and you want to see if you are going to hang on, because sometimes courses are in very high demand and even though you may be only five points away, it's just not going to happen for you.
"You just have to be practical in that respect, sit down with your parents and your friends, it is an informed decision that has to be made, so bear that in mind as well."