Today students can still apply, through the CAO vacant places procedure, for first-year places on an unprecedented 25 degree programmes and 70 certificate/diploma courses. DIT is also offering four direct-entry courses, two at degree level.
All of these courses are advertising vacant places. Admittedly, at degree level, 22 of these courses are in the private third-level colleges and the 23rd is also a fee-paying programme - modular arts in UCD. At certificate/diploma level, 17 of the 70 courses are in private colleges.
In the free fees sector, there are vacant places on a polymer technology degree in Athlone IT and information and communications technology in TCDand 53 certificates and diplomas in a variety of institutes of technology and the new Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute.
These courses span business, science, engineering and computing. Many of them are in areas such as mechanical and electronic engineering and computing where there are excellent career prospects. If you did not get an offer from the CAO in Tuesday's post or if you did not get the offer you want, you should spend some time researching these courses.
For those still in doubt as to the value of the certificate/diploma/ degree ladder, the experience of a current master's student in Sligo IT may provide a useful indicator of what can be achieved.
Ute Gallagher, a mother of three, came to Ireland six years ago. She had not done the Abitur, the equivalent of the Leaving Certificate, and was intrigued by an article in the Sligo Champion which reported on the success of people returning to education to do the Leaving Certificate.
She duly took four subjects in the Leaving Cert (including German, she admits wryly) and applied to Sligo IT as a mature applicant.
She secured a place on the languages and marketing programme. If you look at today's vacancies, two courses in Sligo IT (business studies in languages and marketing with French or German) are advertising places. "It was difficult being surrounded by about 2,000 17 and 18 year olds . . . I was more like their mother. The people here at the college were great, the downside was financial and child-minding," she said.
Success in the certificate encouraged Ute to continue her studies to diploma, which she found more difficult. But, undaunted, she did well enough in her diploma to continue to degree and is now, appropriately, researching a master's in adult education. "No, I don't think I'll do my PhD. I would like to teach here in the college - German and maybe management."
CAO listing
The CAO has supplied the following list of vacant places (all places are available through the vacant places procedure and applicants must fulfil the minimum educational requirements including any special subject requirements).
These places are open to you whether you have already applied to the CAO or not. If you have applied already, there is no further fee and no need to complete a further application document. Simply inform the CAO of the desired course(s) quoting the application number.
If you have not applied previously, you must contact the CAO for an application form (tel: 091 509800) and a fee of £18 applies. American College, Dublin Business School, Griffith, LSB and Portobello are private colleges and there are tuition fees.
Degrees
Athlone IT: AL032 polymer technology
American College: CP110 liberal arts; CP120 international business; CP130 international tourism; CP141 behavioural science (psychology); CP142 behavioural science (applied social studies)
Dublin Business School: CP521 accountancy and finance; CP512 business studies: CP531 business studies (marketing)
Griffith College: CP400 business studies; CP401 accounting and finance
LSB College: CP311 anthropology; CP321 arts: CP322 arts (psychology); CP342 business (marketing); CP343 business (organisational behaviour); CP361 tourism (language); CP362 tourism (marketing)
Portobello College: CP251 accounting and finance; CP252 business information management; CP253 business studies; CP254 marketing; CP255 human resource management
UCD: DN022 arts (evening modular course)
TCD:TR037 information and communications technoloy Diplomas/certificate
Athlone IT: AL002 business studies (Cavan); AL004 office information systems (Cavan); AL005 office information systems (Greendale); AL009 plastics engineering; AL010 mechanical engineering; AL014 mineral engineering; AL016 science (applied biology); AL017 science (applied chemistry); AL019 professional accountancy; AL013 accounting technician; AL024 mechatronics
Carlow IT: CW093 business (Wexford); CW095 office information systems (Wexford); CW048 business (Kilkenny); CW096 office information systems (Kilkenny)
American College: CP100 humanities
Dublin Business School: CP522 business studies (accounting); CP542 business studies (computer applications); CP533 business studies (marketing)
Griffith College: CP415 legal studies; CP416 business studies; CP440 computing; CP490 interior architecture
LSB College: CP320 arts in cultural studies; CP340 business studies; CP350 computing/information technology; CP352 business (office information systems)
Portobello College: CP202 computing; CP203 business studies; CP204 business studies (accounting and financial services); CP205 business studies (computer applications); CP206 business studies (marketing)
Dundalk IT: DK001 electronics (product development); DK002 electronics; DK008 civil engineering; DK009 construction studies; DK010 manufacturing engineering; DK011 mechanical engineering; DK012 biology: DK050 food science; DK051 chemistry; DK053 environmental science: DK203 computing (software development - German); DK252 applied cultural studies (German)
Limerick IT: LC026 computer-aided engineering (new course)
Letterkenny IT: LY002 accounting technician; LY005 corais eolais oifige; LY011 mechanical engineering; LY013 applied biology; LY014 applied chemistry; LY017 food science
Sligo IT: SG103 business studies in languages and marketing/German; SG104 business studies in languages and marketing/Spanish; SG132 business studies in European business with German; SG133 business studies in European business with Spanish; SG301 engineering in civil engineering; SG303 engineering in mechanical engineering; SG304 engineering in computer-aided precision engineering; SG305 engineering in electronics engineering; SG306 engineering in automation; SG401 science; SG431 science in analytical chemistry; SG435 health science with physiology
TRBDI: TN001 business studies (Thurles); TN002 sustainable rural development (Thurles); TN101 business studies (Clonmel)
Tralee IT: TL670 engineering (mechanical); TL700 engineering (manufacturing); TL440 science (applied chemistry); TL460 science (photonics)
Direct applications: DIT is accepting applications for two new degrees (computer science, computer engineering) and two certificate/diploma courses (technology (integrated maintenance) and manutronics (automation). Contact the DIT Admissions Office, Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin.
TCD
Students who have applied for places in clinical speech and language may be somewhat dismayed to find that the cut-off for interview is 495 points. Some 60 students are being called to interview and there are only 26 places. No preparation is needed for the interview which is concerned with identifying speech impediments or language deficiencies (although these will not necessarily disqualify applicants). Places were to be offered in round two of the CAO offers process. Round two will be posted on September 6th.
Repeat Leaving Certificate: Rathmines Senior College, Dublin, is enrolling students for repeat Leaving Cert today from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Bring your Leaving Cert results, one passport photo, your pupil number and the course fee of £140.
The college will also be accepting applications for any vacant places in September.
The National College of Ireland reports some confusion about the fact that no offers were made on the degree European business studies and languages (area based partnership). The reason was that none of the area based partnership applicants met the entry requirements.
The no offers situation refers only to the area based partnership applicants (course code NC012). European business studies and language (NC002) is not cancelled.