POINTS FOR virtually all popular higher-level degree courses are unchanged in the second round of CAO offers published this morning.
The trend will disappoint thousands of students hoping to win places on the most popular courses. The courses to see a substantial drop in points are those in electrical engineering and architecture in several universities. Architecture is down five points to 500 at UCD. Landscape architecture is down from 370 to 355.
Points for some nursing degrees have also dropped marginally in some colleges. But there is broadly little change in many hugely popular choices like teaching and general arts and business degrees.
Points for the largest undergraduate course in the State – arts at UCD – are unchanged at 360. Arts is also unchanged in the other universities.
In all, over 42,000 students have accepted places in the CAO first round. Very few students are opting to defer places this year because of fears about the introduction of fees and/or student loans.
Despite the increased demand for science courses this year, points for two prestige courses in theoretical physics and mathematical science at UCD have failed to generate huge demand. The courses which required 465 and 425 points respectively in round one are now available to all qualified applicants.
Some engineering courses have shown a drop in points. Common entry to computer, electronic and communications engineering is down from 410 to 365 points at NUI Maynooth. At UCD, electronic engineering is down from 350 to 330. At NUI Galway, electronic and electrical engineering is down from 440 to 410. At UL, points for journalism and new media have fallen by five points to 405.
Points for a huge range of property-related courses declined sharply this year as students deserted these courses. The property crash has also cut demand for courses in law because of the fall-off in conveyancing work.
