Trinity attracts 26% of CAO applications in 2024

A total of 20,061 students applied to Level 8 courses at Trinity College, Dublin this year representing 26% of total number of applications submitted to CAO, according to preliminary data.  

9,312 students picked Trinity College Dublin as their first university choice. This represents a 1.5% decline from 2023 and comes as overall CAO applications dropped by 1.44% to 76,899. 

The figures do not represent the total number of expected CAO applicants for 2024, as a late application facility opened on 5 March and closes on 1 May at 5pm. There is also a free change of mind facility until 1 July. 

Trinity Vice-Provost Orla Sheils said:    

"We are delighted to see so many applicants select Trinity as their preferred place to study, especially in a changing landscape when there are so many opportunities available to them as they leave secondary school. We are proud to have maintained our share of the total number of applications to the CAO. 

We're very much looking forward to welcoming our new student cohort in September and would encourage as many as possible to drop in to our Spring Open Day, on Saturday March 23rd. It's an opportunity to really get a taste of campus life." 

Notable changes in first preferences across the faculties are as follows: 

• TR003 History (+20%),  
• TR009 Music Education (+39%, following a 27% increase in 2023),  
• TR016 Deaf Studies (+42%),  
• Ancient and Medieval History and Culture (+89%) 
• TR061 Chemistry (+43%),  
• TR038 Engineering with Management (+21%),  
• TR039 Computer Science and a Language (+27%). 
• TR052 Dental Science (+29%)  
• TR911 Children’s Nursing (+82%) 
• Joint Honours Law has increased by 11% 
• Joint Honours Political Science has increased by 8% 
• Joint Honours Social Policy increased by 16% 

• TR051 Medicine down by 5% for the second year in a row.