THERE HAS BEEN a significant drop in the number of students choosing to study nursing and teaching at third level.
That’s according to the preliminary application data published by the CAO this morning which shows the courses that are the favourites among first preference selections.
First preference applications for an honors degree in nursing have dropped by 9%. It comes as 30,000 nurses and midwives are on the brink of a work-to-rule. Pharmacy is also down 7%.
Applications to engineering and technology courses were down by 7% and there was also a drop in the numbers applying to study teaching, which was down 3% compared to last year.
Agriculture had a huge boost with an 18% increase in the number of applications for an honours degree. While Built Environment is up 17%.
A total of 76,086 applications were received by CAO 1 February. Some 9,707 applications were from applicants over 23 years of age – down 573 from 2016.
The data provided at this stage is interim data and is subject to change when Late Applications are taken into account and when the ‘Change of Mind’ facility closes on 1 July.
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