Demand for building courses plummets

STUDENT demand for construction-related courses has plummeted according to Central Applications Office figures.

Although the number of applications for all courses is up 6% on last year to 67,634, there was a 35% drop in numbers seeking entry to Level 8 built environment courses, which include surveying, valuation and building degrees. Applications for honours degrees in engineering and technology are down almost 10%, with just more than 5,000 people listing courses in that category as their first preference, while interest in architecture degrees was down almost a quarter on this time last year.

However, there was a 20% rise to almost 6,000 in the numbers listing Level 8 science degrees as their first preference.