College applicants favouring science over arts degrees

College applicants are favouring science courses and steering away from the traditional favourites of arts degrees.

Although arts and social science honours (level 8) degrees remain the most popular, the latest CAO data shows that 6% fewer people are making them their first preference.

After the final deadline on Sunday for applicants to revise their choices, the most significant swing has been in the direction of level 8 science degrees. They account for the first preference of almost 9,500 of the 67,172 who have listed an honours degree on their applications, a jump of almost 20% from this time last year.

The total number of applications for these and for level 6 and 7 courses is 75,955 — 255 fewer than a year ago. The drop may come as a relief to colleges struggling to cope the recent rise in student numbers, as they work with fewer staff and reduced budgets.

Other level 8 subject areas to see a rise in demand include nursing (+4%), and business (+2%), but teaching, medicine, and art degrees have fallen in popularity by between 2% and 6%.

The Leaving Cert points needed for each course will be determined not just by demand but by the number of places available and the standard of results among applicants. However, comparisons with previous years may be skewed for many courses as state-funded colleges award 25 extra CAO points to Leaving Cert students who have a pass or higher grade in higher-level maths.

There have been indications of as much as a 25% rise in numbers opting for higher-level maths, but final figures will not be known until Leaving Cert results are issued on Aug 18. The CAO will make the first main round of offers the following week, though earlier rounds will see applicants from overseas and some mature students notified.

Growing interest in science degrees should add to confidence that the education system will be turning out better-qualified graduates in those disciplines, following the concerns of employers in recent years.

Meanwhile, more than 60 events are planned for the 10-day Science In The City festival starting in Dublin on Friday. Dublin hosts the Euroscience Open Forum this month, making it Europe’s science capital for the year. The events include photo and art exhibitions, treasure hunts, science buskers, film, public talks, and debates.

* dublinscience2012.ie