Students forced into course re-think

DOZENS of college courses have been cancelled, forcing students to re-order their preferences ahead of the July 1 cutoff for finalised third-level choices.

Six of the cancellations have taken place in the past six weeks, after 44 others were notified to college applicants at the start of May. Just over half of the 50 courses concerned are level 8 (higher bachelor degrees), and most of the remainder are level 7 (ordinary bachelor degree).

The Central Applications Office (CAO) said the numbers of higher education courses no longer being offered at that stage were the same as a year ago. However, a number of colleges are already considering cutbacks because of budget cuts and the need to reduce their pay and other costs.