Increase in Points for the Majority of Trinity Courses

Posted on: 22 August 2011

Trinity Committed to Further Increasing Accessibility to University Education – Increases in CAO Offers to Students from Under-Represented Groups

Points for degrees at Trinity College Dublin have increased in 2011 in the majority of its courses reflecting the growth in the number of CAO applicants and the first preference popularity of TCD degrees. Approximately 2,884 places are being offered to prospective undergraduate students to study at Trinity this year.

Commenting on the increase, newly appointed Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast, said: “The demand for Trinity degrees continues to grow, demonstrating the awareness of students and their parents and teachers of the quality of higher education offered by the University.”

Congratulating all prospective undergraduate students today on receiving a CAO offer to study in Trinity and all other third level institutions, Dr Prendergast advised them that it was a great achievement and that they should make use of this opportunity to grow not just academically but personally as well.

“You are entering one of the world’s great universities, known for the quality of the education it offers and for the overall student experience.  Be demanding of yourself, and indeed of us.”The overall trends for TCD degree courses  show increases with Medicine continuing to dominate in the Faculty of Health  Sciences  with the points rising again this year, minimum entry level to TCD rising ten points, from 731 to 741 combined with HPAT which is now in its third year (* for detailed breakdown).

In keeping with Trinity College’s  mission to increase the  accessibility of a Trinity education to all those who are up for the challenge of becoming independent learners and critical thinkers, there is  a marked increase in offers to young adults  from under-represented socio economic groups, mature students and students with disabilities from 432 offers in 2010 to 558 this year.  Trinity’s target for 2011 is 18% of the overall intake of prospective undergraduate students would be from these non-traditional groups.  

Offers to young adults from disadvantaged socio economic groups (gaining entry through Higher Education Access Route and Trinity Access Programmes*) totalled 159 up from 118 last year.  While Mature students (gaining entry through HEAR, TAP, applying as Mature students and Mature Nursing entry routes) amount to 299 this year up from 255 last year.  This year 100 students under the Disability Access Route (DARE) have been offered a place, up  from 59 last year.

“Trinity is committed to creating a diverse student body in developing existing pre-entry activities and alternative entry routes for students from socio-economic backgrounds not traditionally represented in Irish universities, as well as for mature students and students with a disability. Building on its track record in increasing access when it increased its targeted  access rate to 15% almost ten years ago, it has now more than doubled with a  target of a 22% entrance rate for under- represented groups by 2013,” continued Dr Prendergast.

“The rates of completion and progression for all non-traditional groups is very encouraging and demonstrates their high level of motivation and ability, as well as the efficacy of the student and academic supports they receive when they come to Trinity. This data suggest the need to revisit the process of admitting students using contextual data alongside a purely points-based admissions. Trinity will take a lead in innovating in this area to ensure that the most able students are admitted to Trinity, and that our procedures are fair to all groups in society. We look forward to a robust examination of these issues and the points system at the forthcoming National Council for Curriculum and Assessment/ Higher Education Authority conference in September  exploring the transition from second level to third level.”

Breakdown of Points

*Faculty of Health Sciences

In addition to Medicine, points requirements are also up for Physiotherapy (+10) (530 to 540); Radiation Therapy (+10)(515 to 525).  Pharmacy and Occupational Therapy are both up by five points, Pharmacy (545 to 550); Occupational Therapy (495 to 500) while Dental Science is down 5 points (580 to 575).

Nursing courses have performed well with points increases in General Nursing ((+20 , 400 to 420); Psychiatric (+25 , 365 to 390); Intellectual Disability ((+20 , 360 to 385).  Points for the Midwifery and the Integrated Children’s   and General Nursing courses remain the same as 2010 (445 and 495 respectively).

Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Science

There is growing demand also for courses in the Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Science where points for courses have overall risen.

Nanoscience, Physics & Chemistry of Advanced Materials  (+65) to 475 points.   Chemistry with Molecular Modelling (+55 to 455); Theoretical Physics (+20 to 520). Courses up 15 points include Earth Sciences to 470; Human Genetics to 535; Medicinal Chemistry to 510. There is also continued demand for the general entry Science programme (up 15 points to 475).

Single Honor Mathematics is up 15 points to 500 while Two Subject Moderatorship (TSM) Mathematics is down 25 points to 525.

Computer Science and computer related courses are showing a healthy increase:  Computer Science (+30 to 385); Business and Computing (+45 to 420).

While Engineering is down 15 to 410, points for Engineering with Management remain unchanged at 390. 

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

The  high demand subjects in the  Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences continue to see increases: Business related courses are performing well with Business, Economic and Social Studies (BESS) remaining unchanged at 480 points while Business with Language courses mainly increased (French (+20 to 525); German(+10 to 450*); Russian(+30 to 440); Spanish (same 475).

Other courses that see an increase are: Psychology (+5 to 550); Philosophy, Political Science, Economics and Sociology (PPES)  (+15 to 545); History and Political Science (+15 to 525).

Points for most of the Law related courses remained much the same (Law down  slightly by 5 points to 510; Law and Business unchanged at 555; Law and Politics unchanged at 560 ) while Law combined with   languages has seen a decrease of 20 points (French to 550) and 15 points (German to 495).

Two Subject Moderatorship courses which have seen an increase are English (+10 to 535), Economics (+5 to 470), and Spanish  (+40 to 490).  Consistent with national trends in other third level institutions,   in general TSMs in the arts and humanities have seen a decrease.