Students on course for stiff competition for college places

THERE will be strong competition for college places next week after a sharp rise in the number of people who accepted first round offers.

To date, the Central Applications Office (CAO) has received 36,459 acceptances for degree, diploma and certificate places that were offered in the first round. More than 23,000 degree courses have been accepted already compared to just 20,000 this time last year.

Both the increase in the take-up of degree courses and slide in diploma/certificate courses may be attributable to the upgrading of some diploma/cert courses to degree level this year.