Dreams · €99
For students choosing a course, and parents helping them
Find a course you can picture yourself enjoying.
There is a lot to think about when you are asked to choose what to study.
Points and entry requirements matter. So does whether the subject will hold your interest once you get there.
The Compass begins by getting to know your preferences.
What interests you? How do you enjoy learning?
Your answers help us understand your potential strengths and the conditions that could help you develop them. We then suggest courses in Ireland or the UK, with reasons to explore each one.
You leave with a clearer starting point and questions that can help you make the choice your own.
Whether you are considering CAO choices in Ireland or a degree through UCAS in the UK, there is room to begin with what matters to you.
Looking for a place to begin? Read CAO for parents or how to choose a CAO course.
What your Dreams report helps you understand
Seven parts to read at your own pace, return to and talk through with someone you trust.
01
A clearer picture of you
See how your interests and preferences connect. Your profile explains the patterns in your answers and what they could mean for the way you study, contribute and develop.
02
Up to five potential strengths to build on
Each strength is explained with care, including how it could develop through study. You may recognise familiar interests or see possibilities you hadn’t noticed.
03
Points to consider as you choose
Understand the demands and study conditions worth asking about, so you can choose with a fuller picture of what a course involves.
04
Up to five top courses, plus others to consider
A short list of courses in your chosen country that connect closely with your answers, chosen to cover more than one subject area. Each one explains the connection with your answers and what to investigate before deciding. Most people get five. Below them, you will find other courses that may still suit you. If fewer courses in our catalogue genuinely fit, we show fewer and tell you why, rather than fill the list.
05
Other routes into the subject of your first course
Explore related courses and routes into the field behind your first recommendation. These may include further education. Different entry routes give you more ways to consider a subject that interests you.
06
Practical next steps
Begin your research with clear actions, such as reading the course details, visiting an open day or speaking to a current student.
07
A personal report to return to
Read your full report on the site and keep it in your account. Come back to it as you research courses and discuss your choices.
What people say
Seeing new possibilities for what to study.
“I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do. The test gave me a few course ideas I'd never thought about before and actually made me feel a lot clearer.”
“I was stuck between a few courses and this helped me understand which ones probably suited me better. Really useful.”
“I honestly didn't expect to learn that much about myself from it. A few things in the report really clicked and gave me a better idea of what to look at next.”
Our promise to you
Feel it was worth it, or get your money back.
If you don’t feel your report was worth it, email us within 14 days for a full refund. No forms to fill in and no argument.
Read more about what you can expect from The Compass.
Help them hear their own answer.
As a parent, you want to help them make a choice they will feel good about.
It can be hard to know how much guidance to give.
The report gives you something specific to explore together: what interests them, where they could develop and which courses deserve a closer look. Ask what they recognise, what surprises them and what they want to know more about.
There is no need to settle everything in one conversation.
Start by listening. Their response is part of the picture.
Read CAO for parents, or share our guide to how to choose a CAO course.
Discover your Dream Courses — €99Before you decide
- Can Dreams help with my CAO choices?
- Yes. With Ireland selected, your report suggests Irish courses to look into, with reasons for each match and related routes to consider. It can help you build a shortlist whether an application is approaching or you are exploring well in advance.
- Can a parent and student use Dreams together?
- Yes. The student should answer The Compass in their own words and according to their own preferences. You can then read and discuss the report together. Under-18s use Dreams through a parent account; the parent is the account holder.
- Can Dreams help with choosing a degree in the UK?
- Yes. Select the United Kingdom before you begin to see courses from the UK catalogue. The report can help you explore what to study as you consider your A-level interests and UCAS choices. Check each course’s current entry requirements separately.