Maynooth University grows share of CAO first preference applications

Friday, March 9, 2018 - 08:15

Irish Version
Maynooth  University has grown its share of CAO first preference applications with more than 3,360 students selecting Maynooth as their university of choice for the 2018-19 academic year. Maynooth’s growth comes at a time when overall CAO application figures have declined. This speaks to the success of Maynooth’s undergraduate curriculum which offers students a level of 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 latest CAO figures reveal increased interest in Maynooth University courses across all major fields, with a 33% increase in the number of first preference applications for Law, 27% for Science and Maths Education, and 22% for Primary Education.

Commenting on the figures Maynooth University President Philip Nolan said: “Maynooth University has marked 20 years since its foundation in 1997, and this is another significant milestone for the University. 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 into the future.” 

“We look forward to welcoming our new students for the 2018-19 academic year, and will continue to innovate and invest in our world-class research and educational opportunities to ensure that Maynooth continues to be the destination of choice for students across Ireland and beyond.”

Today, Maynooth University has more than 12,000 students, including almost 1,600 taught postgraduate and professional masters students and a growing cohort of over 400 research students. Maynooth University has recently marked 20 years since its foundation as an independent institution, and was recognised as one of the leading new universities in the world when Times Higher Education ranked it #49 in its 2017 Young University Rankings. The ranking is the highest position achieved by Maynooth, and is the highest position ever achieved by an Irish university. 

 Ardú tagtha ar líon na n-iarratas céad rogha atá faighte ag Ollscoil Mhá Nuad 

Tá ardú tagtha ar líon na n-iarratas cead rogha atá faighte ag Ollscoil Mhá Nuad agus an ollscoil roghnaithe ag breis agus 3,360 mac léinn don bhliain acadúil 2018 -2019. Tá an t-ardú seo feicthe ag Ollscoil Mhá Nuad ag am ina bhfuil laghdú tagtha ar na figiúirí maidir le hiarratais LOI (Lár-Oifig Iontrála) go ginearálta. Tá an t-ardú seo ag teacht leis an rath atá ar churaclam fochéime nua Ollscoil Mhá Nuad. Cuireann an eiseamláir nua 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 staidéar a dhéanamh thar dhisciplíní éagsúla atá uathúil i measc ollscoileanna na hÉireann.

Léiríonn na figiúirí LOI is déanaí go bhfuil ardú tagtha ar an spéis atá léirithe i gcúrsaí Ollscoil Mhá Nuad i ngach príomhréimse. Tá ardú 33 faoin gcéad tagtha ar líon na n-iarratas céad rogha atá déanta ar Dhlí, ardú 27 faoin gcéad ar líon na n-iarratais céadrogha ar Oideachas Eolaíochta agus Matamaiticiúla agus ardú 22 faoin gcéad ar Oideachas Bunscoile.

Ag labhairt dó faoi na figiúirí, dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, an tOllamh Pilib Ó Nualláin: “Rinne Ollscoil Mhá Nuad comóradh 20 bliain ó bunaíodh í in 1997, agus sprioc thábhachtach eile é seo atá bainte amach againn. 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.”

 “Táimid ag tnúth le fáilte a chur roimh na mic léinn don bhliain acadúil 2018 -2019 agus leanfaimid orainn ag nuáil agus ag déanamh infheistíochta inár dtaighde den scoth agus i ndeiseanna oideachasúla lena chinntiú go mbeidh Ollscoil Mhá Nuad mar chéad rogha ag mic léinn ar fud na hÉireann agus níos faide i gcéin.”

Tá breis agus 12,000 mac léinn ag freastal ar Ollscoil Mhá Nuad faoi láthair lena n-áirítear 1,600 mac léinn a bhfuil iarchéim teagaisc ar bun acu nó ar mic léinn ghairmiúla iad, chomh maith le breis agus 400 mac léinn taighde, figiúir atá ag méadú. Rinne Ollscoil Mhá Nuad ceiliúradh 20 bliain a bunaithe mar institiúid neamhspleách le déanaí, agus níos luaithe sa bhliain, bhain an ollscoil aitheantas amach mar cheann de na hollscoileanna nua is fearr ar domhan agus an 49ú háit bainte amach aici i Rangú na nOllscoileanna Óga 2017, rangú a rinne an Times Higher Education. Seo an rangú is airde atá bainte amach ag Ollscoil Mhá Nuad go dtí seo, agus is é an rangú is airde é atá bainte amach ag aon ollscoil in Éirinn riamh.