The CAO Change of Mind facility closed a week ago and the breakdown of applications has been revealed today by the CAO.
Over half (56%) of all applicants used the change of mind facility, a similar number when compared to last year.
Below we take a look at the main trends in the 2024 data released by CAO.
The total number of CAO applicants in 2024 is 83,169, which is a decrease of 632 applicants from last year.
There has been an decrease of 21 applicants from Non-EU Countries looking to study in Ireland. Northern Ireland applicants have decreased this year by 2%.
Notable trends in Level 8 Honours Degree course subjects
While Health is still the most popular course category with 71,652 applicants it is up by 4% on last year’s numbers. This year, 13,125 students put down a health-related course as their first preference, which is (6%) higher than in 2023.
Interesting to note here is that first preferences in Physiotherapy which were down by 10% in 2022 then increased by 2% in 2023 and now 2024 applications have increased by a huge 22%, first preferences in Medicine (3,114) is down by 5% while Nursing and Midwifery (4,384) is up by 5%, first preference in Pharmacy is up by 9%, Veterinary Medicine is up by 11%.
Business and Administration, which is the second most popular course category (69,729), saw a 3% increase in number of first preferences (10,622).
The subject areas with the largest increases in terms of the number of first preferences were Dentistry (+22%); Manufacturing and Processing (+13%) and Physiotherapy (+12%), Veterinary Medicine (+11), Transport Services (+11).
Notable subject areas recording decreases in first preference in the number of people applying this year include Agriculture (-19% fewer) and Environment for a second year (-16%).
Meanwhile, first preferences for Primary Education courses increased by 8% whereas there was a decrease this year of -10% for Secondary Education.
Notable trends for Level 6/7 Higher Certificate/Ordinary Degree course subjects
In relation to change from 2023, the biggest increase in first preferences is seen in Transport Services which have recorded a 19% increase in first preference figures this year. Large increases have also occurred in Social and Behavioural Sciences (+18).
Manufacturing and Processing saw the largest decrease of 74% along with Education with a decrease of 35%.
CAO Offer Season 2024 has already begun!
The most anticipated day in the CAO offer season will be 28th August at 2 pm when Leaving Certificate students will receive their offers in Round One.
Round A offers for mature, deferred and access applicants were made to over 5,385 applicants last week.
Round 0 offers will be available to view online from the 8th of August (for graduate entry medicine applicants, additional mature, deferred and Access applicants and applicants presenting QQI FET/FETAC (2002-2024) for consideration for entry to courses with a quota for QQI FET/FETAC applicants).
Finally, the Available Places facility will open on 29th of August (The day after Round One offers). This facility allows applicants to apply for those courses that have places unfilled after all offers have been made. Read more about Available Places here