The Leaving Cert points have been tallied, the CAO offers made, and now the hunt is on for student accommodation.

UCD students' union has claimed the competition for higher education has now reached an “alarming level” as entry requirements for a course at the university exceeded 600 points for the first time ever.

Students say they are facing a growing accommodation crisis, with every college in the country increasing the cost of their on-campus living for the new academic term.

Students are being warned to be wary of rental accommodation scams ahead of the new college year.

Irish athletics chiefs and competitors last night played down the poor performances at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul.