ALMOST 6,800 APPLICANTS will receive offers for third-level courses in the CAO Round Zero today. Round Zero offers are for people who are not competing with those awaiting 2026 Leaving Certificate examination grades, or who are assessed on other criteria. Applicants who fall into this category include graduate entry medicine applicants, additional mature applicants, deferred and Access applicants, and applicants presenting QQI FET/FETAC qualifications for consideration for entry to courses with a quota for QQI FET applicants. This year, there have been 5,831 Level 8 offers and 3,149 Level 7/6 offers issued in Round Zero. CAO head of communications Eileen Keleghan has urged mature, deferred, graduate entry medicine, and access applicants to log in to their CAO accounts today to check if they have received a Round Zero offer.