Trinity has continued an upward trend in first preference applications this year, with 8,278 students placing Trinity at the top of their Central Applications Office (CAO) choice form. A total of 18,624 students applied to Trinity, which is a fifth of all CAO applicants, with 3,403 places being offered to study at the university.
Points for Business and Law degrees have risen yet again this year, with Business, Economics and Social Studies (BESS), Trinity’s largest course, rising to 520 points. Medicine at Trinity remained popular at 732 points. Points for Law and Management Science and Information System Studies (MSISS) have also increased from 535 to 542 and 565 to 578 points respectively.
Points for Psychology rose from 550 to 554, with Law and Business increasing from 585 to 589. Dental Science increased 4 points from 585 to 589.
Following a recent trend, points for Engineering and Science degrees have fallen. Engineering decreased from 500 to 470 points with Science dipping from 505 to 499 points. Human Genetics dropped from 570 to 543 with Nanoscience, Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials (NPCAM) falling 53 points from 595 to 542 points.
Meanwhile, Midwifery rose from 455 to 456 points, and Chemistry and Molecular Modelling increased from 495 to 509 points. Computer science dropped from 480 to 467 points and Theoretical Physics saw an increase of 11 points to 566. European Studies dropped 15 points to 520 with Earth Sciences also seeing a drop of 10 points to 480. Business Studies and Spanish saw an increase of 14 points to 529 and Engineering with Management decreased by 16 points to 499.
964 Northern Irish students applied to Trinity and 262 offers have been made. 191 students have been offered a place through the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) and 154 offers have been made through the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR).
Trinity’s Vice Provost and Chief Academic Officer Prof. Chris Morash congratulated all students entering third level: “As Vice-Provost at Trinity – and also as a parent this year of a Leaving Cert student – at a very personal level I recognise and applaud the heroic effort that goes into achieving these results, not just for the students, but for their families as well. You are now standing in a place where you can look ahead to the person you will become. A third level education is not just about assimilating facts, it is about challenging yourself, both in and beyond the classroom.”
A new grading system was introduced this year in order to minimise the occurrence of random selection in courses. The reduction of grade bands from 14 to 8 was made to reduce pressure on students to achieve marginal gains in points.
Speaking about the new points system, Prof. Morash said: “We welcome the impetus behind the new points system, and finding a better match between second and third level. This year we have seen a bigger pool of eligible applicants coming through the system. I see this as a first step to reforming education in Ireland, and look forward to continuing to find more effective ways for students to enter third level institutions in Ireland.”