Strong demand for Trinity degrees in CAO applications

Posted on: 22 August 2016

Popularity in Trinity degrees continues to rise with 7,965 students opting for Trinity College Dublin as their CAO first preference this year. A total of 18,551 students, a fifth of all CAO applications, from all over Ireland applied to the university.  Up to 3,307 places are being offered to students to study at Trinity.   This includes students who have been offered places through access routes, as well as the admissions programme, the Feasibility Study. 

New developments this year include a new business degree offered by the Trinity Business School. Overall, points for Trinity’s range of degrees in the Arts, Humanities, Engineering, Science, Social and Health Sciences are in line with national trends.  

Vice-Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Professor Chris Morash said: “Congratulations to all students who have received a CAO offer today. It is such an achievement and a real testament to all your hard work.  You are embarking on an exciting journey of exploration.  Along the way, we hope to provide you with the best of teaching and support to help you fulfill your full potential.”

In Engineering, Mathematics and Science there were increases of ten points in Engineering and Management (515*) (*random selection applies) , and in  Management, Science  and Information Systems Studies (565). There were increases of five points in Engineering (500*) and of fifteen points in Earth Sciences (490). There were decreases of five points in Science (505*), Mathematics (565) and of ten points in Computer Science (480*), Theoretical Physics (555*) and Chemistry with Molecular Modelling (495*). There were no changes in Nanoscience, Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials (595) and similarly in Computer Science with a Language (465).

In Health Sciences, Medicine points are down slightly from 733 to 730*. Other courses are showing increases of five points such as Occupational Therapy (520), Pharmacy (560), General Nursing (425*).Children’s and General Nursing remains unchanged (505) as does Midwifery (455). There are decreases of five points in Dental Science (585*), Physiotherapy (535*) while Radiation Therapy is down ten points to (515*).

In  Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences  points for the new Business programme  are  535*.There are increases of five points  in Computer Science and Business  (505*), Law  and  Business (585), Philosophy, Political Science, Economics  and  Sociology (555*). There are increases of ten points in English Studies (515) and fifteen points in History (500), while History and Political Science has seen an increase of twenty-five points (535). Law has decreased by five points (535*).   Law and German (545), Law and Politics (575) remain unchanged while Law and French has decreased by ten points (575). European Studies has also decreased by ten points (535*).

Business, Economics and Social Studies (BESS) remains unchanged (510). Business and language programmes are showing both increases and decreases with Business and French decreasing by fifteen points (530), Business and German by five points (495*), while Business and Russian has increased by ten points (460).

In Two Subject Moderatorship (TSM) degrees,  there has been a decrease of ten points in Psychology (570),  and  a decrease by fifteen points in English (515), while there has been an increase of thirty points in Film studies (485*). There has been an introduction of a new subject, Classical languages (445). Points for languages in general are showing very little change.

A total of 167 places were offered to students from disadvantaged socio economic backgrounds through the access programme, Higher Education Access Route(HEAR).

A total of 178 places were offered to students with disabilities under Disability Access Route (DARE).

Twenty-five  places were offered as part of the admissions programme, the Feasibility Study that aims to provide a fairer mechanism to admit students.   It looks at the Relative Performance Rank (RPR) of the student compared to others in the class, as well as Leaving Certificate results and a personal statement.  There is also a separate scheme rolled out in Northern Ireland.