Expected upturn in mature student applications fails to materialise

THE number of people applying for college places has not risen significantly despite an expected upturn in mature students seeking to improve their qualifications.

The Central Applications Office (CAO) received 62,139 applications to its website by Sunday night’s deadline, up from 56,105 at the same time a year ago.

However, around 3,000 postal applications have been received bringing the total to 65,000, similar to the total number seeking entry in 2008.

While official figures are not yet available on the breakdown of Leaving Certificate students, mature students, and candidates applying with other college qualifications; a spokesperson said there does not appear to be any major rise in the number of mature students who have submitted course lists to the CAO.

In recent years, mature students — applicants aged 23 or older — have made up around one-in-seven of those seeking third level places, with two-thirds being school leavers. The remainder are mostly people with further or higher education qualifications.

For mature applicants seeking entry to most arts courses at University College Cork and University College Dublin, a common assessment test is also being taken this year for the first time.

The organisers have extended the registration date for the Mature Students Admissions Pathway (MSAP) test to midnight this Thursday, February 5 and the two-hour test will be taken on Saturday, February 14 at centres in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Sligo. The test is designed to help admission officers assess candidates’ suitability by examining their language and reasoning abilities, for possible inclusion in around 30 degree courses at both universities.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe revealed last week that third level colleges could be asked to make places available for unemployed people to help them improve their qualifications. He is examining ways of increasing training and education opportunities for those who have lost their jobs or are seeking work, along with Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin and Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan.

Meanwhile, a scholarship fund to help disadvantaged students through third level is seeking applications by March 2 for the next academic year.

The Bank of Ireland Millennium Scholars Trust is worth up to €40,000 for each recipient, and has provided €12.5 million to almost 600 students in the past decade.