One in 4 students choose Trinity as top points ease

Posted on: 30 August 2023

One in four CAO applicants (22,354 or 26.5%) have applied to Trinity College Dublin, which attracted a total of 10,862 first-preference applications this year, new figures for 2023 show. 

The University will make 3,784 offers to students in Round One today. Two thirds (63%) of Level 8 offers will be the student’s first preference. 

Cut-off points for Trinity’s Level 8 Single Honours courses have dropped on average by 12 points, while cut-offs for Joint Honours courses rose on average by 26 points. The number of courses requiring candidates to have achieved 600 points or more fell to eight from nine in both 2022 and 2021. 

Markedly fewer courses were offered by random selection this year: four single honours programmes versus nine in 2022. 

Vice Provost Orla Sheils said: “I am delighted we were able to reduce the number of courses offered by random selection this year as this option is particularly difficult for students. I also welcome the easing of points for certain courses and hope that we will see more of the same next year as the Covid-effect on the Leaving Cert begins to normalise. 

“In the case of Medicine, it’s evident that the provision of additional student places has had an impact. This shows what can be done to alleviate pressure on students, in the interests of our broader society, when government acts to support higher education. I congratulate all students on this important day, and we look forward to welcoming many of you to Trinity in a few weeks' time. 

“We look forward to the removal of the artificial upgrade on exam results for Leaving Cert students and to restoring the pre-pandemic equilibrium. While we never want to see students struggling with course material that is too hard, I would also note that many students who would not normally have attained sufficient marks to enter their chosen course are doing exceptionally well. 

“These are typically students who had their hearts set on a career path and who flourish when they find their ‘niche.’ Hopefully, as the Leaving Cert is reformed, some consideration will be given to students' appetite and vocational aptitude for particular study areas, so that we end up with a more equitable system of selection.” 

Key Round One points were as follows:  
        * Medicine (TR051) dropped from 745 points to 741 (including HPAT) due to an increase in available places. 

• Bucking the downward trend, applications for Music Education (TR051) were up 131%, leading to a surge of 103 points to 555. Law and German (TR019) rose ten to 564.
• Biggest points drop: Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures (TR040), dropped 79 points to 473. 

• Random selection: just four Level 8 single honours courses (Psychology TR006, Management Science and Information System studies TR034, Pharmacy TR072 and Business Economic and Social Studies TR081) were offered at random selection, down from nine in 2022 and 17 in 2021.  
• Maximum points: Two courses were at 625 points: TR052 Dental Science (no longer at random selection) and Management Science and Information System Studies (TR034 – random selection).  
• One joint honours combination, Economics and History (TR202) was at 625 points. 

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