CAO entry points for agricultural science course up 40% in five years
Citing an increase in the minimum CAO points from 430 to 445 in the recent first-round offers, Dr Pierce said: “This dramatic increase is a direct reflection of the increasing demand from students. In 2007, just 281 students listed agricultural science as their first preference course. The figure this year was 613, an increase of almost 120%.”
She said the continuing increase in the points needed for the degree programme in dairy business since the programme was launched in 2009 reflects the confidence among students and their parents in the future of the dairy sector.
“The points for this programme increased by 25 to 430 this year and are now 100 higher than when the course was first offered in 2009,” said Dr Pierce.
She said the average points achieved by students entering the agricultural science degree course in September are set to be higher than the 445 min-imum. While the minimum CAO points required for agricultural science in UCD last year was 430, the average achieved by students entering the courses was 465.
Dr Pierce said fluency in a second language has also been identified by employers as an important factor in the employment opportunities for graduates. Students can now take a language as one of their elective modules during the four-year programme.
