Trinity’s 2024 CAO offers hit record high

Trinity College Dublin has made a record 3,897 offers (up from 3,786 in 2023) in the first round of the 2024 CAO process, after expanding its intake in some areas.

Two thirds (61.7%) of offers are for students’ first-preference courses. Data from the Central Applications Office showed that 10,013 students made first preference applications to Trinity this year, up from 9,960 in 2023. In all, 28.7% of all CAO Level 8 applicants applied to Trinity.

There has been a modest fall-off in points, with an average drop of nine points across Level 8 Single Honours courses, and an average fall of six points for Joint Honours courses.

• Six courses required the use of random selection to allocate places, which compares with five last year.
  
• Just one Single Honours Level 8 course, Dental Science, is being offered at the maximum points level of 625 (with random selection).
• Eight Single Honours courses require students to have 600 points or more.

Trinity’s Vice-Provost Orla Sheils said: “While we are delighted to welcome a new tranche of students to Trinity, it is unfortunate that, because of the late release of Leaving Certificate results, our incoming students are placed under even more pressure to start a new phase of adult life while trying to navigate scant opportunities for accommodation.

“This leaves students grappling with harsh choices- to selectively miss some lectures or face a harrowing lengthy commute. Those students who secure accommodation are frequently faced with unaffordable rents, forcing them to work longer hours. Each of these factors impacts negatively on what should be a positive student experience. Our students’ union has been to the forefront in highlighting this crisis and they are to be commended on their work to find suitable accommodation for their student colleagues.

“The lateness of the Leaving Certificate results has also impacted students, who, trying to avoid the crisis of accommodation here, might want to study abroad. At this late stage in proceedings many of the choice options abroad have long since been taken up.

“The continued use of grade inflation to the results has many unintended consequences. In Trinity we are pleased to have been able to offer the largest number of student places ever – due to expansion in intake in certain areas. However, grade inflation seriously disadvantages those students from Northern Ireland and abroad who are left competing in an uneven playing field, given their results have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

“Continued grade inflation also makes it more challenging for some students to adapt to third level study, especially in courses with a high points quota. The increased number of students who achieve or exceed the required points for popular courses also introduces a lottery system for allocation of places. This is a cruel arbiter when students have worked so hard.”

Media Contact:

Catherine O’Mahony | Media Relations | catherine.omahony@tcd.ie