Maynooth University has experienced its highest ever level of demand, with more than 3,250 students first preference applications this year. The figure represents a 5% increase from last year. Maynooth University’s Bachelor of Arts is now the most popular course in the country, with first preference applications increasing by 16%.
With overall applications to the CAO growing by 2% year on year, this represents a significant first-in-sector achievement for the University, which launched its new undergraduate curriculum at the beginning of the 2015-16 academic year. The model adopted by Maynooth University is unique in the Irish university sector, offering greater flexibility, choice and breadth in degree programmes and expanding opportunities for students to study across disciplines. Maynooth University also made the decision to significantly reduce its number of entry routes—from more than 50 to approximately 30. These broader entry routes greatly simplify the CAO process for students, giving them more time to make the best decisions for their future.
The level of first preference applications the University received this year demonstrates the appeal of the new curriculum across every major field. The Maynooth Arts Degree has seen growth in applications of 16%, while Business and Science have seen significant increases in applications of 5% and 4% respectively. Individual courses with exceptional growth include: Science Education (+40%), Product Design (+11%) and Accounting (+10%).
Commenting on the figures, Professor Philip Nolan, President of Maynooth University, said: “This is a real milestone for Maynooth University. Last year, we presented a fresh proposition to Irish students in the form of the new curriculum, and today we have received a resounding endorsement for it. It is a tremendous vindication for the bold steps we took to offer students a unique opportunity to have greater flexibility and more control over their education. It is Maynooth University’s dedication to listening to students and delivering a different model of education that it tailored to their needs—and the needs of the job market they will encounter upon graduation—that has made us Ireland’s fastest growing university.”