CAO POINTS levels for many popular courses could increase this year as hard-pressed colleges struggle to meet the boom in demand from Leaving Cert and mature students.
Career experts say 2010 could see a reversal of a decade-long pattern, where points for most courses slumped dramatically.
Last year, many universities and institutes of technology increased the supply of student places on the basis that the proposed reintroduction of student charges would generate additional income.
However, the Government’s decision to abandon the proposed reintroduction of fees last October means colleges are unable to increase the number of available places.
Career experts say other factors are putting upward pressure on CAO point levels.
These include:
- the record number of mature students (more than 12,000) seeking college places this year because of the economic downturn;
- the surge in the number of Leaving Certificate students after years of decline, up by an estimated 2,000;
- new social welfare rules whereby those on jobseeker's allowances risk the loss of benefit unless they are in education or training;
- a directive from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) that staff numbers must be cut by 6 per cent in the two-year period from December 2008 to December 2010.
Under a new deal between the HEA and the Department of Finance, colleges for the first time are being given some flexibility in how the jobs embargo can be implemented.
However, the embargo, which has already been in place for months, is forcing some colleges to cut back on courses.
Last month, HEA chief executive Tom Boland raised the prospect of a possible cap on student numbers at third level. While colleges have ruled out a cap on numbers for this year, pressure on funding means they cannot expand the number of places to meet increased demand.
John McGinnity, assistant registrar at NUI Maynooth, last night stressed how colleges still wanted to facilitate as many students as possible, but he warned that this “will be hard to sustain given the increasing shortage of resources available”.
Career experts predict upward pressure on points for the most popular higher-level degree courses in arts, business and science.
However points will again fall for courses linked to the building industry. Student demand for some of these courses fell by 40 per cent last year.
Points could also also fall for courses in law and architecture, where many graduates are struggling to secure employment.
Another factor which may lead to increased competition for places in 2010 is the increase in the number of applicants who would in previous years have taken jobs; they are now seeking a college place instead.