CAO points for science technology and engineering courses have again dropped in the second round of CAO offers published this morning.
With supply far exceeding demand, third-level colleges are struggling to fill places in scores of courses. Places are still available in more than 120 courses at Level 6 and 7 - ordinary degree and certificate level.
In a major reversal of trends from even five years ago, there are scores of places available on level 8 higher degree courses.
The falling points for science- related courses will dismay Government and business, which have sought to boost standards in these areas.
Chemical science in UCC is down from 365 in the first round to 335 in the second. Common science at DCU goes from 350 to 340.
At DIT, science with nanotechnology is down from 355 to 305. Management Science and Information at Trinity is down from 435 to 420. Science at UCD is down from 325 to 320.
In another dramatic drop, Chinese with business is down from 315 to 190 at DIT.
Where there are no longer any applications for courses, the CAO is offering these to all qualified applicants who meet minimum entry requirements.
The list of vacant places includes, at higher degree level, UCC, which has places on two of its Commerce degrees - Commerce with German or Italian - as well as on its Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree.
CIT has places on five higher degree programmes in engineering and computing.
DCU has places on two of its engineering degrees plus their Languages for International Communication degree.
Dundalk IT has places on its Games Development and Applied Music degrees. UCD is offering places on its Biparous, Biosystems and Electronic Engineering or Electrical Engineering degrees, as well as in Theoretical Physics, Mathematical Science and Evening Arts.
The DIT offers two International Business degrees with Chinese and Italian, plus Science with Nanotechnology. GMIT is still offering Theological Studies and Business Practice. At NUI Galway, which saw a dramatic fall in points requirements across most of its courses this year, there are places available in six Science, IT and Engineering degrees. NUI Maynooth is offering places in four of its Engineering degrees.
Up to now, 36,877 students have accepted places offered through the CAO, an increase of 456 on 2005. The number accepting places at higher degree level has increased by almost 1,500 to 25,706.
For further details see special eight-page Second Round Offers supplement.
