High demand for medical courses prompts revamp

MORE than 9,000 applications were made for just 600 places on medicine, dentistry and pharmacy courses in Irish universities last year.

The figures revealed in the Central Applications Office (CAO) 2002 directors’ report give an indication of why these courses command the highest Leaving Certificate points requirements.

The Government is now considering changes to the third level system that would allow students to take a common science degree, with the chance to go on to the more prestigious courses.