Science and engineering courses a lure for college hopefuls

COLLEGE hopefuls have turned towards general arts degrees and the science and engineering courses with the lure of good careers, according to the first statistics on this year’s record 71,843 applications.

While overall applications are up more than 6% on last year, the Central Applications Office (CAO) reports above-average interest in level 8 (honours bachelor) degrees in arts and social science, with 16,659 listing one of these courses as their first preference, up 10% on 2009.

The deadline was February 1, although late entrants may submit course choices by May 1.