First preference applications at Maynooth University surpass 4,000 for the first time

Tuesday, July 4, 2017 - 15:30

Irish Version

Highest ever level of first preference applicants with 9% year on year growth

Maynooth University announced today that it has received more than 4,000 first preference applications from the CAO for the first time. 4,037 students applied to the University this year, representing a nine percent increase on first preference applications from last year.

This is the highest percentage increase of all Irish universities between 2016 and 2017. With overall applications to the CAO remaining static, this represents a significant achievement and continues the strong upward trend for the University that has been driven by its new undergraduate curriculum. The new curriculum, launched in 2015, is designed in response to the needs of today’s students, offering increased flexibility in when they choose to specialise, first-year critical skills modules, and opportunities to study across disciplines that are unique among Irish universities.

The level of first preference applications the University received this year demonstrates the appeal of the new curriculum across every field. Total applications to Maynooth University courses have risen 12% since last year, with increased interest in courses across all major fields, including Arts, Law, Business, Biotechnology and Engineering.

Earlier this year, Maynooth University was recognised as one of the leading new universities in the world with Times Higher Education ranking it #49 in its latest Young University Rankings. The ranking is the highest position achieved by Maynooth, and is the highest position ever achieved by an Irish university. 

Commenting on the figures Professor Philip Nolan, President of Maynooth University, said:  Maynooth University has recently marked 20 years since its foundation, and this is another significant milestone in this anniversary year. Maynooth University has tremendous momentum as an institution, and our success allows us to continue to attract world-class researchers and highly motivated students to the University.” 

“In 2015, we presented a unique proposition to Irish students in the form of the new undergraduate curriculum, and the increased demand we have seen year on year from students since then has served as a resounding endorsement of this decision. Maynooth University has forged a reputation as an innovator in the Irish third level sector and students have responded to our offering with their first preference applications.” added Professor NoNN


Níos mó iarratasóirí céadrogha LOI ná riamh faighte, méadú 9% ón mbliain seo caite

D’fhógair Ollscoil Mhá Nuad inniu go bhfuair sí níos mó ná 4,000 iarratas céad rogha ón LOI (Lár-Oifig Iontrála) den chéad uair. Rinne 4,037 mac léinn iarratas chuig an Ollscoil i mbliana, figiúir a léiríonn go bhfuil ardú naoi faoin gcéad tagtha ar líon na n-iarratas céad rogha ón mbliain seo caite.
  
Sin an t-ardú is mó de réir céatadáin a tharla in aon ollscoil in Éirinn idir 2016 agus 2017. Tá an t-ardú seo le feiceáil ag am ina bhfuil na figiúirí maidir le hiarratais fhoriomlána chuig an LOI (Lár-Oifig Iontrála) ag fanacht seasta. Éacht suntasach atá anseo agus léiríonn sé go bhfuil an t-éileamh ar an Ollscoil ag ardú i gcónaí, ardú atá spreagtha ag an gcuraclam fochéime nua. Dearadh an curaclam nua, a seoladh sa bhliain 2015, le freastal ar na riachtanais atá ag mic léinn an lae inniu. Cuirtear tuilleadh solúbthachta ar fáil do mhic léinn maidir le cathain a chinnfidh siad speisialtóireacht a dhéanamh, modúil i scileanna criticiúla sa chéad bhliain, agus deiseanna chun staidéar a dhéanamh thar dhisciplíní éagsúla atá uathúil i measc ollscoileanna na hÉireann.

Léiríonn líon na n-iarratas céad rogha atá faighte ag an Ollscoil i mbliana an tóir atá ar an gcuraclam nua i ngach réimse. Tá ardú 12 faoin gcéad san iomlán tagtha ar líon na n-iarratas ar chúrsaí in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad ón mbliain seo caite, le hardú tagtha ar an spéis atá léirithe i gcúrsaí in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad i ngach príomhréimse, lena n-áirítear na hEalaíona, Dlí, Gnó, Biteicneolaíocht agus Innealtóireacht. 
Níos luaithe i mbliana, bhain Ollscoil Mhá Nuad aitheantas amach mar cheann de na hollscoileanna nua is fearr ar domhan agus an 49ú háit bainte amach aici sa rangú is déanaí atá déanta ag Times Higher Education (THE) ar ollscoileanna óga. Seo an rangú is airde atá bainte amach ag Má Nuad go dtí seo, agus is é an rangú is airde é atá bainte amach ag aon ollscoil in Éirinn riamh.

Ag labhairt dó faoi na figiúirí, dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, an tOllamh Pilib Ó Nualláin: “Rinne Ollscoil Mhá Nuad comóradh le déanaí ar 20 bliain a bunaithe, agus sprioc thábhachtach eile é seo atá bainte amach againn sa bhliain chomórtha seo. Tá Ollscoil Mhá Nuad ag dul chun cinn go seoigh mar institiúid, agus tugann an rath atá orainn an deis dúinn taighdeoirí den chéad scoth agus mic léinn atá an-spreagtha a mhealladh chuig an Ollscoil.

“Sa bhliain 2015, chuireamar tairiscint uathúil ar fáil do mhic léinn na hÉireann sa churaclam fochéime nua, agus tacaíonn an t-ardú atá tagtha ar éileamh ó mhic léinn bliain i ndiaidh bliana ó shin go mór leis an gcinneadh sin. Tá clú agus cáil bainte amach ag Ollscoil Mhá Nuad mar nuálaí san earnáil tríú leibhéal in Éirinn agus tá freagra tugtha ag mic léinn ar ár dtairiscint trína n-iarratas céad rogha a thabhairt dúinn,” arsa an tOllamh Ó Nualláin.