Students check college offers
Tens of thousands of Leaving Certificate pupils were today checking offers for places at college from the Central Applications Office (CAO).
And many expect to get the course of their choice after points requirements for a range of degrees and diplomas dropped.
The first round of offers was published today for almost 50,000 applicants - roughly the same number as sat the Leaving Certificate in June, leading to the drop in the points.
The CAO revealed that points are down across a broad range of courses in arts, business, science and social science.
But requirements for many of the traditionally high-scoring areas such as medical-related courses remain high, and in some cases they have risen.
The points for medicine have not gone up but they are at last year’s record levels – between 590 and 570 points.
Points for the most popular undergraduate course in the State – an arts degree at UCD – have fallen from 370 five years ago to 350 this year. Points for arts and social science degrees have dropped at universities all around the country.
Requirements for other popular choices such as nursing and primary school teaching have also gone down.
The drop in points is being blamed on fewer pupils sitting the Leaving Certificate.
It is expected that around 75% of all students will secure one of their top three CAO choices this year.
