Enticing bright students from outside Dublin with offers of "safe, convenient and affordable" accommodation has become DCU's latest tactic in competing with TCD and UCD.
From August, Leaving Cert students who achieve 500 points or more in the Leaving Cert and choose DCU as their first preference will be allocated rooms in a campus residence.
DCU is also looking at developing corporate sponsorship for university expenses as a way of tempting academic high-flyers to list DCU as their first choice.
Affordable accommodation is in such demand in Dublin that DCU expects a high application rate for its 480 new residence places, which will cost students €3,000 to €4,000 each per academic year.
Many parents will want to encourage their students to live on campus, particularly if they come from outside Dublin, believes DCU's vice-president, Mr Albert Pratt.
He rejected the suggestion that DCU's location of Ballymun may be perceived as less safe. "Our location is not a negative. Being near the city centre is actually positive," he said.
Mr Pratt also dismissed the notion that DCU was trying to entice students to choose science and computer courses in favour of other subjects.
CAO points for these subjects have dropped in response to a downshift in the science and technology sectors. In fact, the accommodation will be offered to students achieving 500 CAO points or more in any subject, including journalism and business.
However, the president of DCU, Prof Ferdinand von Prondzynski, has been vocal in urging students to consider "financially rewarding" careers in science and technology, despite the recent spate of job losses in high-tech industries.
Due for completion in 2004, the College Park apartments have 450 rooms and will be opened on a phased basis from next September.
Currently the university has 548 residences for undergraduates and 103 for postgraduate students. These places are offered on a lottery system. The new scheme will specifically reward applicants for academic excellence.
The new College Park apartments consist of 450 units, divided into units of four or five en-suite bedrooms finished to a very high standard. There will be communal living, kitchen and dining areas, to encourage sociability amongst students. The accommodation will be run by Campus Residences Ltd.