THIS week’s CAO application figures have shown a significant increase in the academic requirements for a wide range of courses at Limerick third-level institutions with a growing demand for areas such as business, engineering and arts.
At UL, there were marked points increases on over 63 per cent of its Level 8 degree programmes.
The university’s business and German degree course jumped 55 points to 430; business studies rose by 35 points to 410, while applied languages saw an increase of 40 points to 445.
There was also steady demand among leaving cert high achievers for its physiotherapy (560 points) and psychology (510 points) degree programmes.
Despite an overall national decline in popularity for arts courses, the UL arts joint honours degree rose by 35 points to 440.
Course director Dr David Fleming said the reason for its popularity was its “unique mix of subjects as students could study everything from maths and economics to media and psychology”.
The majority of engineering programmes at UL increased in points and now require a minimum of 400 points for entry.
UL Dean of Science and Engineering Professor Kieran Hodnett, said these were subjects that students would traditionally shy away from, due to the mathematical requirements and the increased focus on improving competence in mathematics improved their confidence in applying to those vital smart-economy subjects.
In Limerick Institute of Technology, points rose on 39 per cent of programmes, primarily in the area of science and technology.
For the first time in several years, there was increased interest in the college’s built environment courses.
Mona Khan, of the LIT President’s office, said: “For the first time in a while, there was an increase in applicants to some of our built environment courses such as quantity surveying. We’re not back to pre-recession numbers but there has definitely been an increase.”
LIT’s new fashion and knitwear design course, which will be run at the college’s new fashion Incubator, has started out on a strong footing with a high number of applicants.
Traditionally popular LIT courses such as software development, applied social care, creative multimedia and sports strength and conditioning also attracted a large number of applicants.
Mary Immaculate College’s primary teaching programmes remained among the most popular in the country, attracting over 2,500 applications.
The B.Ed in education and psychology programme, the only course of its kind in the country, increased in points once again and now stands at its highest level ever with 560 points.
Almost 25 per cent of applicants to the programme received 600 points with one obtaining the maximum 625 points.
