The University of Limerick (UL) has experienced a strong increase in the number of CAO applications for its programmes, with over 60% of programmes registering increased applications and over 30 of UL’s 69 undergraduate degree programmes registering an increase in applications of 10% or more.

Commenting on the rise in CAO applicants for University of Limerick programmes, Professor Paul McCutcheon, Vice President Academic and Registrar, UL welcomed the positive results: “Against a national trend of decreasing CAO applications this year, UL’s programmes continue to be highly sought after by students with excellent Leaving Cert results.   Over 60% of our existing programmes have increased their overall CAO application levels.”

Arts Programmes
Interest is up in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences with some of the highest percentage increase in applicants being attributed to these programmes.   The area of New Media has proven popular with first preference applications for the Irish and New Media Programme up by 150% and over all applications increasing by 28%. Journalism and New Media also proved popular with overall applications up by 14%.  Applications for UL’s Applied Languages programme were up by 26%, and the number of first preferences for Law Plus increased by 38%.  First preference applications to the Politics and International Relations programme have registered a 23% increase on last year with first preferences for UL’s Voice and Dance degree up by 14%.

Business Programmes
Four out of UL’s five business programmes have registered large increases in applications.  An  increase of 21% was recorded in overall applications for Business and French UL's International Business degree programme is up 9%; Business and German is up 12% and first preference applications for Business Studies in general are up by 18%.  Business and Japanese proved not as popular this year with a decrease in applications of 19%.

Health Programmes
UL’s nursing programmes have proven very popular this year. Mental Health nursing registered an increase of 17% in applications General Nursing is up 11% and UL’s Mature Midwifery Programme has attracted 23% more applications than in 2012. Applications to UL’s Physiotherapy undergraduate programme are up 18% on 2012 applications.

STEM Programmes
Science programmes at UL have seen large increases with Pharmaceutical and Industrial Chemistry seeing an increase of 39% in overall applications and 79% in first preference applications.  UL’s general science degree Science Choice is up by 16% and Industrial Biochemistry has registered an increase of 57% in general applications.  Food and Health Science is up by 23% and Applied Physics up by 14%. 
With the exception of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering which is up by 49%, overall Engineering programmes have not seen as much variation in application numbers with some programmes marginally down on applications in comparison with 2012.  Architecture, however has shown an increase of 20% in applications on 2012 numbers. 

Applications to UL’s IT programmes have decreased slightly however Multimedia and Computer Game Design is up in applications by 11%.

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