Agricultural Science (surprise)

While the points for agriculture and agricultural science courses continued to rise in many colleges this year, they haven’t risen as significantly as recent years and, for some of the courses, points have plateaued or dropped. This sees the beginning of a slight reversal of recent trends. However, it’s important to note that this year, for the first time, Waterford IT (WIT) offered a Level 8 Agricultural Science degree through the CAO (rather than via direct entry for Level 7 graduates) and the points for that course are 430, which is extremely high for an agricultural course in its first year.

WIT has a growing reputation for agricultural education due to the Level 7 Agriculture and Agricultural Science degrees, which have become increasingly popular, particularly in the past five years. Waterford’s increasing popularity may in part be due to the ever-increasing points required for agriculture in UCD, which is putting the Dublin college’s programmes out of the reach of some students.

It is also worth noting that despite the clear popularity of WIT’s new Level 8 programme, it hasn’t taken from the existing Level 7 programmes, except to curb the growth in their points – for this year anyway. Level 7 Agricultural Science in Waterford remained at 410 this year while the Level 7 Agriculture programme increased by five points to 385.

The Agricultural Science degree in UCD is up 10 points to 465, and the Dairy Business course has continued its climb by five points to 445, which is lower than may have been expected given the positive publicity the dairy sector has received in the past year.

The Level 6 Agriculture programme in Cork IT (CIT) has seen a significant rise (by 15 points to 350) but the similar programme in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) is down 15 points to 330.

Applied Agriculture in Letterkenny IT (LyIT) has dropped by 20 points to 170, but a decrease in points generally seems to be the trend for all agri-food related courses in the Donegal college.

The agriculture courses in Galway-Mayo IT (GMIT) are generally non-movers this year. The Level 7 Agriculture and Environmental Management course stayed the same as last year at 300 points, while the Rural Enterprise and Agri-Business Level 7 course dropped five points to 280.

The Level 6 Agricultural Mechanisation course in Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) increased by five points but the Level 6 Agricultural Engineering course in IT Tralee dropped by a significant 20 points. Level 7 Agricultural Science in Tralee also dropped by five points.

Veterinary and dietetics (no surprise)

Veterinary is as popular as ever, requiring 580 points, which is five points more than last year, but this is slightly less than the year before (2012) when 580* was required. Another typically popular course, Dietetics in DIT, increased by 10 points to 555.

Home Economics (no surprise)

Three of the four home economics courses in St Angela’s College in Sligo rose in points this year with Home Ec with Biology rising by 35 points to 515*. Home Economics with Irish Teaching, on the other hand, dropped by 10 points to 445*.

Horticulture (surprise)

Horticulture, for the most part, is up – and up dramatically, particularly in UCD, where Horticulture and Agri-Environmental Sciences has risen by 70 points to 395.

Horticulture increased by five points in IT Blanchardstown.

Level 7 Horticulture in Cork IT has also seen a dramatic increase, rising by 75 points from 105 last year to 180 this year.

It is worth noting that DCU has cancelled its Level 8 BSc in Horticulture and this may explain an influx of interest in the other colleges. Two other horticulture-related courses dropped in points while another remained the same as last year.

Equine (surprise)

While for the most part equine courses were down last year, and this year Animal Science (Equine) in UCD is down by 20 points, Equine Science in UL is up by 25 points to 340. Equine Business in NUI Maynooth remained the same but Equine Science in UL (Level 6) is down 15 points to 300.

Forestry (surprise)

Level 8 Forestry in UCD is down by 10 points to 375 and Level 7 Forestry in WIT is down 20 points to 275. This is the opposite to last year, which saw both courses rise.

Veterinary Nursing (surprise)

Veterinary Nursing is always popular but this year shows greater popularity than ever. The course is up by a very significant 35 points in DkIT while Athlone IT is up by 30 points, and UCD, the only college providing a Level 8 course, is up five points to 465. Veterinary Nursing in LyIT is down five points but this seems to be the trend for every course in this area in that college.

Food Science (surprise)

Almost all the food science and nutrition courses have increased in points, and some significantly. In University of Limerick, Food Science is up a significant 40 points. Food Innovation in DIT rose by 35 points to 365 and Food Science in UCD has increased by 20 points.

Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship in UCC and Nutritional Sciences there haven’t seen much change, but the Food Science course at UCC is up 10 points and International Development and Food Policy is up by 25 points. Food Science with Management is up 20 points to 280 in DIT while Food Science with Business has increased by 10 points in WIT to 265.

LyIT is the only college where points in this area have dropped with the Donegal college’s Food Science and Nutrition programme down by 20 points.