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Increase in applications to study engineering at DCU
Increase in applications to study engineering at DCU

Increase in applications to study engineering at DCU

Growth of 7.8% on last year's figures

Dublin City University has received a surge in applications for its engineering degree courses according to CAO first preference data released today.

Reflecting the university’s strong pedigree in the area of STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), and the high levels of employability associated with these qualifications, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering is up 46% on last year, with Common Entry Engineering up 32%. Data Science is also up 46% year-on-year.

Significant increases have also been recorded in programmes across all five DCU faculties.

Science & Health

The interest in STEM is reflected in the faculty of Science and Health, where Science Education, an undergraduate course which enables students to specialise in any two subjects from Chemistry, Physics or Maths and teach up to Leaving Certificate level, is up 48%.

Demand for the faculty’s BSc in Environmental Science and Technology and Psychology courses, both up 85% and 38% respectively.

Institute of Education:

In DCU’s Institute of Education - Ireland’s only faculty of education - Languages, which have been highlighted as a key priority in DES policy in an effort to boost the numbers teaching languages at post-primary level, have proved a popular draw at DCU with 52 first preferences for the new Post-Primary Teacher Education Gaeilge and French, German or Spanish. Interest in the Bachelor of Religious Education and English is also strong with an increase of 61% on last year’s figures.

Humanities:

Offerings in Humanities and Social Sciences remain enduringly popular, with DCU’s popular BCL Law degree up 28% on last year, BA in Economics, Politics and Law up 15% and Joint Honours programmes up 9.5%.

Business School:

Applications to Global Business (Canada) increased by 62%; Global Business (Spanish) by 34% and Global Business (German) by 7% while Aviation Management is up 10%.

Commenting on this year’s first preference CAO figures, Professor Daire Keogh, DCU Deputy President said:

"DCU continues to develop a range of undergraduate programmes to address key skill gaps within the Irish economy, and inspire the learning goals of prospective students to Higher Education.

We are seeing strong growth in 1st preference applications to our STEM-based subjects, and high demand for new and innovative programme offerings.

From 2019 a range of subjects in Humanities will now include an opportunity for students to participate in a year-long work placement, further equipping them with skills to flourish in the workplace.

DCU programmes are developed and designed to provide our graduates with the education and skills to meet the demands of a buoyant economy, as well as addressing identified skills gaps.

DCU is the highest performing University for graduate employability in Dublin and our region.

We are delighted that our new Post-Primary Education and Modern Languages programme has received substantial interest from prospective students, addressing a key gap in language education within our Schools."