6,000 students fail to choose course

Cuts to career guidance in schools have been linked to a sharp rise in the number of college hopefuls failing to list any courses on their CAO applications.

Central Applications Office figures show the number of applicants who did not select any courses on their forms up to the main February 1 deadline has jumped from 4,783 to 6,015 out of a record 74,424 to register for college entry so far this year.

While applicants can add courses or change their order or preference up to July 1, Institute of Guidance Counsellors president Betty McLaughlin said the latest increase — up from 6% of students a year ago to 8% now — follows a worrying trend emerging since 2012.