Students hope to click with film and IT courses

IRELAND’S graduates of the future have used their fingers to click on computing, software and gaming courses in the hope of not having to vote with their feet and look overseas for work.

The country’s growing reputation in the film, animation technology and games industries seem to have had a big influence on Irish teenagers in their college applications if the entry requirements for dozens of degree programmes are anything to go by.

The biggest points rises in this year’s Round 1 CAO offers are for two degrees at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Dun Laoghaire — Animation and Modelmaking, Design and Digital Effects. Students selected for both courses need at least 130 points more than those getting in last year, including marks for portfolio work submitted earlier this year.