Dramatic increase in demand for college places [IrishTimes]
- Published: 10 January 2011
DEMAND FOR college places this year has increased dramatically, raising the prospect of increased college admission points for students this year.
By last Friday, the Central Applications Office (CAO) had already received 16,000 applications – a 14 per cent increase on the same week last year. Last night, career experts said we are seeing a return to a 1980s-style “points race”; even a 5 per cent increase in demand at the end of the CAO process will, they say, put upward pressure on points. The initial closing date for applications – February 1st is still three weeks away.
The CAO has seen the surge in demand – as mature learners, the unemployed and increasingly students from England join the scramble for college places.
As yet, the CAO has no indication as to the disciplines proving popular with students this year.
Last year two-thirds of the 70 most popular honours degree courses showed an increase in points. Points moved up for virtually all higher-level courses in science, computing, agriculture, medicine and nursing. Points are rising because third-level colleges are struggling to cope with the huge demand for places. Last year, college applications for higher-level courses reached record levels, up from 64,774 to 67,640.
There had been speculation the new €2,000 student contribution fee (up from €1,500 last year) would dampen student demand. But colleges say there is no evidence of this, as yet.
Record demand for college places is being driven by several other factors including;
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
