Demand for Irish Courses at University level remains consistent
August 24, 2011
Demand for Irish language courses at universities across the country remains consistent, despite the economic slowdown.
There was little of no change in the number of points required for many courses listed in the first round of CAO offers announced yesterday which have Irish as a joint subject or where Irish is the primary language of instruction.
However some Irish language broadcasting courses and journalism courses did see a significant increase from last year.
Journalism and Media
Points for the Journalism and Irish course in Dublin City University jumped to 465 points this year, up 15 points on last year. Simimlarly in NUI Galway, there was an increase in the number of pointe required for the Arts (communications) Degree. Demand for the Irish language and Media degree in the University of Limerick also jumped by thirty points from last year’s figure of 370.
Education
There was s slight fall in points for education courses at the training colleges however St Patrick’s College Drumcondra bucked that trend where there was a slight increase in the number of points required by Gaeltacht applicants (440 points).
Arts
Similarly Arts courses noticed a slight decrease this year overall with courses such as Arts in University College Cork falling by five points to 345 with a similar decrease in UCD (440 points).
However there was an increase in the number of points required for NUI Galway’s Degree in Arts (Translation Studies) which jumped to 405 points.
Business and Commerce
There was a slight dip here also. The number of points required for entry to UCC for the Commerce and Irish degree fell from 450 points to 440 points. Applicants needed 330 points for DCU’s Irish and business course, a drop of 10 points from last year. 410 points would have seen applicants to WIT’s Irish language and business programme receive an offer in the first round.
Law
There was a slight dip in courses such as Law and Irish in University College Cork which this year required applicants to have 500 points to ensure a first round offer.
Other courses
However for those who may have been disappointed by offers made to them in yesterday’s first round, there are still other options open to them. DIT is offering direct entry on a new BA Course in Irish in the workplace. Further information available from the school of languages www.dit.ie/schooloflanguages.
©Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com 23 Lúnasa 2011
