Leaving Cert Results 2026: A Parent's Guide to What Happens Next

University is a good option for students who enjoy academic learning and for careers where a degree is required, but getting enough points for a course does not automatically make it the right choice.

Before accepting a place, encourage your teenager to think about whether they are genuinely interested in the subject, whether they can see themselves studying it for several years and whether it leads towards something they actually want to do.

Students sometimes choose a course because they have the points for it, because their friends are going, or because university feels like the expected next step. Those are understandable reasons, but they are not always enough to sustain someone through three or four years of study.

Post-Leaving Certificate courses can be a very useful option for students who did not get the points they hoped for or who are still unsure about what they want to study.

A PLC gives a young person the chance to explore an area they are interested in, gain a qualification and, depending on the course, potentially progress into higher education afterwards. For some students, that extra year also gives them more confidence and a much clearer idea of what they want to do next.

If your teenager is considering a PLC, check the progression options attached to the individual course. They vary, so it is important to understand exactly what opportunities the course may open up afterwards.

For a young person who learns better by doing, an apprenticeship may suit them much better than spending several more years mainly in a classroom or lecture hall.

Apprenticeships combine employment with structured learning and lead to recognised qualifications. They are also no longer limited to the traditional trades, with options now available across a much wider range of industries and professions.

This is where it can be useful to think beyond school results and consider how your teenager actually learns. Someone who struggled with classroom-based learning may do very well when they can apply what they are learning in a practical setting.

Traineeships and other further-education programmes can offer another route into employment or further study. They often combine learning with practical or workplace experience and can help young people build specific skills before deciding what they want to do next.

For someone who is not ready to commit to a three or four-year degree, a shorter programme may be a much better fit. It gives them the chance to gain experience, build confidence and make a more informed decision about what comes next.

Tertiary degree programmes are another option worth knowing about, particularly for students who want to work towards a degree but may not have the CAO points they expected.

These programmes allow students to begin their studies in a further-education setting and then progress to a higher-education institution as part of the programme. They can therefore provide another route towards a degree without relying solely on the traditional CAO points route.

The entry requirements and progression arrangements vary by programme, so families should check the details carefully before applying.

Going straight into work does not mean giving up on education. For some young people, working first can help them understand what they enjoy, what they are good at and what kind of career they might want.

They can build practical experience, confidence and workplace skills, and return to education or training later if that makes sense for them. There is no requirement to complete every qualification straight after school, and plenty of people return to education, retrain or change direction later in life.

Some young people are naturally creative, independent or entrepreneurial and may be interested in a path that does not fit neatly into the traditional university route.

That does not mean education or training is irrelevant. It may simply mean that they need a different combination of qualifications, practical experience, mentoring and support. The important thing is to understand what they want to work towards and what they will realistically need to get there.

What do you genuinely enjoy?

Not just which subjects gave them the highest grades. What actually interests them? What do they enjoy doing, reading about or spending time on?

What are you good at?

Think beyond academic results. They may be strong at communication, organisation, practical tasks, problem-solving, technology, creativity or working with people.

How do you prefer to learn?

Do they enjoy studying and researching, or do they learn better by doing? Would they prefer a practical setting, a workplace, a classroom, or a mix of different approaches?

If they are not sure, the free learning style quiz takes about three minutes and gives them a starting point to talk from.

What kind of setting brings out the best in you?

Some young people thrive in academic environments. Others are much more confident when learning is practical and connected to real work.

What matters to you?

That might be job security, creativity, helping people, independence, travel, earning while learning or eventually running a business.