Demand surges for third-level science and computer courses

STUDENT demand for science courses at third level has surged to record levels as school leavers target jobs in the booming information and communication technology sector.

In a striking trend, applications for computer science courses at NUI Maynooth and UCD are up 60 per cent and 44 per cent respectively. New Central Applications Office figures also confirm that students are deserting courses linked to the property sector, opting instead for areas such as agriculture and medicine, where job prospects are strong.

While Government and business will welcome the 18 per cent increase in applications for science courses, this will be tempered by the continuing sluggish demand from students for courses in the key areas of engineering and technology, which have increased only marginally. Career experts say this reflects a fall-off in demand for engineering courses linked to the property sector; those linked to the high-tech sector registered much more impressive growth.

Over the past five years, science has recorded a 64 per cent increase in students listing it as first preference. First preferences for courses in construction and the built environment fell 70 per cent over the same period.

Some traditional college options, such as teaching and omnibus degrees in arts/social sciences, are increasingly out of favour. After years of growth, teaching applications are down 6 per cent, reflecting concerns about job prospects and reduced pay.

Applications for arts and social science, which have been on a downward spiral for several years, have again fallen back – this time by 3 per cent. This trend comes amid continuing concern about high unemployment among arts graduates.

By contrast, students are targeting areas where job prospects are strong. Applications for agriculture are up 9 per cent following a 28 per cent increase in applications last year.

Other features of today’s figures include: higher-level applications in business (down 1 per cent); nursing (up 3 per cent); veterinary medicine (up 15 per cent); law (up 1 per cent); art and design (down 10 per cent) and medicine (up 4 per cent).

Demand in construction, civil engineering and architecture has slumped. Only 148 students in the State selected courses linked to construction and the built environment as their first choice. Applications for the construction sector are down 68 per cent over the past three years.

Demand for once coveted places in architecture is also weakening, down 19 per cent in the past year.

Today’s impressive increase in applications for science courses comes after a decade-long campaign by teachers and business leaders. There has been a marginal increase in the number of college applications at 71,648, just below the record in 2010.

Last night Tom Boland, chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, welcomed the significant increase in the number of students applying for science, technology, engineering and maths courses.