College applicants are flocking to third-level courses linked to the economic recovery, with a big jump in CAO applications to architecture, engineering, construction and business-related courses.
A record 76,000 people have applied to the CAO this year, with points increases likely across a range of popular courses.
Higher degrees
Among higher degree courses, the biggest increases in applications were recorded in architecture and engineering/ technology (+13 per cent), nursing (+11 per cent), business and construction-related courses (+8 per cent).
The biggest decreases were in areas such as agriculture (-23 per cent), veterinary medicine (-7per cent) and arts/social sciences (-2 per cent).
