Students receiving their first-round offers from the Central Applications Office (CAO) tomorrow should give consideration to all their options before making a final decision, according to advice from experts.

Third-level dropout rates are as high in some universities as institutes of technology when account is taken of differences in their student intake and other factors.

The Department of Education looks set to become embroiled in a political row over a Government policy that might allow a single institute of technology become a technological university.