It's back to the books for estate agents who are finding the time and inclination to focus on their academic credentials thanks to the slower market. The IAVI reports that there has been no slacking off in demand for its two professional courses run at DIT Bolton Street.

This September 57 people signed up for the part-time two-year residential and land agency programme and a further 65 embarked on the first year of the four-year degree in property studies. Both courses, only for people working in the industry, were oversubscribed this autumn.

A slower market, it seems, has this unusual knock-on effect on academic courses - agents have the time for extra curricular activities and, wary of companies reviewing staff requirements, realise the value of an academic qualification.

The IPAV, however, has reported a fall back in numbers for most of its programmes. Demand for professional courses is half that of last year, says chief executive Fintan McNamara. As a result, it has reduced its number of education centres around the country from five to three. Its Galway and Waterford centres did not take new students this autumn. Centres in Dublin, Cork and Athlone have about 50 students each.

Its fledging three-year bachelor degree of business in real estate, launched at Athlone IT in September, has 40 students. The full-time course is open to school leavers. Hopefully, the market will have bounced back before they make it into the big bad world.