The University of Limerick (UL) has recorded a big increase in the number of applications from the Central Applications Office (CAO) with the highest number of first preferences ever, rising over 4 per cent on 2015 applications.
This very positive result shows further improvement on the increased levels of applications experienced last year in 2015 when UL first preferences increased by 13 per cent over 2014 figures.
Professor Paul McCutcheon, Vice President Academic and Registrar, UL welcomed the positive results: “UL’s programmes continue to be highly sought after by students with excellent Leaving Cert results. Over half of our existing programmes saw an increase in First Preference Applications with students continuing to place UL number one on their CAO form.”
Arts Programmes
Interest is up in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. UL’s politics programmes have seen an increase in applications and first preferences with Politics and International Relations up by 40 per cent in overall applications and a doubling in the number of first preference applications for UL’s Politics and Public Administration degree programme. The new BA in Criminal Justice programme commencing in September has proven very popular with over 560 applications and 88 first preference applications.
Business Programmes
UL’s business programmes are remaining popular with an increase in applications for the general Business Studies programme and a significant increase of 65 per cent in first preference applications for International Business.
Health Programmes
Against a national decrease in demand for medicine programmes UL’s Graduate Entry Medicine programme registered an increase in first preference applications of 3 per cent. Physiotherapy is up by 3 per cent and overall application numbers are up for all of UL’s nursing programmes reflecting the national trend.
STEM Programmes
First preference applications were all up for Aeronautical Engineering (27 per cent), Construction Management and Engineering (51 per cent), Civil Engineering (26 per cent) and the general Engineering Choice programme saw an increase of 10 per cent in first preference applications. Application to UL’s B.Sc. in Energy went up by 20 per cent, Maths and Physics is up by 18 per cent and Product Design and Technology saw an increase in first preference applications of 17 per cent per cent
Mathematical Sciences saw an increase of 40 per cent in first preferences and 38 per cent more people chose UL’s Pharmaceutical and Industrial Chemistry programme as their CAO first choice.
First Preference applications to UL’s IT programmes have increased with Multimedia and Computer Game Design up by 14 per cent and Digital Media Design up by 22 per cent.
