Most honours points down or unchanged

Almost half of level 8 courses are easier to get into this year, writes Education Correspondent Niall Murray.

THE points for about two-thirds of honours degree (level 8) courses are either down or unchanged from this time a year ago.

Almost half of all programmes at this level are easier to get into for those applying this year.

About one in three, however, saw the points requirements go up by five or more points. The average rise was about 15 points, although entry to about 80 honours degree (level 8) programmes demands at least 30 points more than in 2007.

The kind of programmes with the biggest jump in entry requirements include many engineering and business courses, suggesting no fall in demand for careers in those sectors.

This will be of some consolation to industry and government figures that have been concerned about the levels of interest particularly in engineering and technology, on which future economic development will depend.

Points are up for about 25 level 8 engineering courses and down for a similar number, with falls and rises in many electronic and electrical engineering programmes, varying widely between colleges.

Similarly, in level 8 science programmes, an almost equal number of courses are up and down in terms of Leaving Certificate results needed for entry.

This should be heartening to those concerned about the prospect of any fall-off in skilled graduates in these areas, although there will be hopes that higher-scoring school-leavers would apply for these courses in future years.

Arts and social science degrees remain the most popular among CAO applicants this year, selected by more than one-in-four of the 60,500-plus students seeking a level 8 place as their preferred courses.

Although the varying number of places on offer from year to year is a factor, the points for arts degrees at the universities indicate demand came from students with a similar range of Leaving Certificate grades as in previous years.

At University College Cork and National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), arts degrees are down by five and 10 points to 335 and 355, respectively. A new range of subject-specific arts programmes offered at NUIG could also be a factor in the slight drop there.

Conversely, at University of Limerick and NUI Maynooth, honours arts degrees are up five and 10 points, respectively, to 440 and 355 this year.

Applicants to the main primary teacher training courses need between 460 and 475 points this year, up slightly on last year when entry could have been gained with at least 450 to 465 points.

Entry to bachelor of education programmes at St Patrick’s College in Drumcondra and Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, are up five and 10 points, respectively. Similarly, there are slight rises in the points requirements for places at Coláiste Mhuire Marino and Froebel College, while the points for the primary teaching programme at Church of Ireland College are 20 points above last year’s entry level at 410.

For the final time, school-leavers hoping to get into the country’s medical schools need almost top marks again this year from their Leaving Certificate results.

With a maximum 600 points on offer for CAO consideration, the ‘easiest’ medicine programmes to gain entry to this year are at NUIG and the Royal College of Surgeons, both offering places to any student with 570 points or more, similar to last year. Points for UCC medicine and UCD medicine were 575, down five and up five, respectively, while Trinity College Dublin’s medicine degree course remains the toughest, again demanding 585 points. All Leaving Cert students seeking entry to these courses from next year on, will be eligible with 490 points or more and if they complete a special aptitude test, to be taken for the first time next February.