THE number of people applying through the Central Applications Office (CAO) to enter third level education this autumn has dropped by about 3,500, the first fall in 19 years.
The drop could mean lower points for entry to some courses. However, the effect on the entry levels of courses which already have high points requirements, such as medicine and law, is expected to be minimal.
The opening of two new third level colleges, Dun Laoghaire RTC and the Tipperary Rural Business Development Institute, as well as the first significant increase in university places for three years, could also help to push points levels downwards.
The main reason for the fall in CAO applications is the introduction of the six year cycle two years ago. This created a one year blip" in the normal trend of increasing Leaving Cert numbers, as many students stayed in school for an extra year.
Many of them took the transition year after the Junior Cert; the number on this programme has grown from 8,500 in 1993 to 24,000 last year.
Many of them took the transition year after the Junior Cert; the number on this programme has grown from 8,500 in 1993 to 24,000 last year.
As a result, the numbers applying to sit the Leaving Cert this year have fallen to 61,059, from 68,449 in 1995.
The reduction in the number of CAO applicants is smaller because more mature students are applying to go to college. In addition, there are more applications from students who are already in college but hope that lower points levels this year might allow them to switch courses.
The total number of CAO applicants this year is 56,505, compared with 60,160 last year, a fall of 6 per cent. An additional 1,500 to 2,000 late applications are expected before May.
Applications - as opposed to applicants - for degree courses were down 8.4 per cent, slightly more than the fall of 7.1 per cent in applications for certificate and diploma courses.
Among the degree courses, the biggest fall off in first preference applications was in architecture, law and veterinary medicine, where there were drops of more than 15 per cent. Applications for radiography and occupational therapy fell by more than 26 per cent.
The demand for arts (down 3.2 per cent) and engineering/technology (down 4.9 per cent) proved more resilient. Applications for medicine fell by 6 per cent and for science by 11 per cent.
The demand for certificate and diploma courses in some areas actually grew. Applications for arts and social science courses rose by 9.5 per cent, while agriculture/ horticulture and engineering/ technology recorded increases of about 8 per cent.
