The continuing popularity of NUI Galway was reflected by CAO offers issued today, with the vast majority of courses maintaining or increasing points from 2013.

Across all five colleges, points have risen. Medicine, Biomedical Science, Arts (Psychology), Occupational Therapy, Biopharmaceutical Chemistry and Speech and Language Therapy all requiring greater than 500 points for entry with Mathematical Science and Commerce (International) with French in the high 400s.

Courses on the rise

Prospective students have shown particular interest in Commerce, especially those with an international language, reflecting awareness of the need for language mobility in a global jobs market. Commerce (International) with German and Commerce (International) with Spanish both rose by ten points, to 460 and 470 points respectively.

Meanwhile NUI Galway’s new degree programme, Commerce with Irish, opened with 420 points in its first year, while the more traditional Commerce (Accounting) programme also rose 10 points to 470. Business Information Systems increased by 20 points, while Corporate Law and Civil Law also saw significant increases for the second consecutive year.

Changes to the HPAT exam have resulted in a reduction in points nationally for entry onto medical programmes. This trend is reflected in a points decrease for medicine to 721, including HPAT*. Nursing remains at 450 points, while Midwifery rose 5 points to 455. 

In Arts, the degree programme Arts (Mathematics and Education), which delivers two qualifications in one, rose 40 points to 405. Other Arts degrees enjoying points increases this year include Arts with Irish Studies up 10 points, Arts (Public and Social Policy) up 35 points, and Arts with Latin American Studies up 25 points and the Irish-language degree, Na Dána (Cumarsáid) which rose 60 points to 360.

In Engineering, Mechanical Engineering rose 25 points to 425, while Biomedical Engineering rose 15 points to 420, and Civil Engineering rose 15 points to 415. Project and Construction Management also saw in increase in points.

Science courses, equally, show increased demand. Recognising NUI Galway’s national and international leadership in biomedical science programmes, Biomedical Science remained the course with the second highest points for the University, at 540. Biopharmaceutical Chemistry increased 5 points to 510 while Biotechnology maintained 465 points. In the field of Science, Physics also rose 20 points to 420.

NUI Galway’s Admission Officer, Stephen O’Dea, said: ‘For the second year running, NUI Galway’s courses in Commerce and Law have seen a steady increase in their points indicating a continued growth in interest in these areas. International Commerce programmes remain popular and this year, our new course, Commerce with Gaeilge, has performed particularly well (420 points), offering students a unique pathway into business and teaching.

Science courses are also on an upward trend. NUI Galway’s strength and reputation in Biosciences is also reflected with Biomedical Science (540) continuing to perform well and Biopharmaceutical Chemistry increasing to 510 points. Physics also increased by 20 points this year to 420. Engineering courses continue to perform well with NUI Galway’s market focused Biomedical Engineering increasing to 420 points.

The BA Connect suite of courses provides an attractive learning experience for students as recognised by an increase in the points for Irish Studies, with Film Studies and Children’s Studies maintaining their points level year on year. Psychology also finished at a high 525 points. Occupational Therapy and Speech & Language Therapy maintain their popularity with students, both courses requiring more than 500 points."

He concluded, “Incoming students will be well placed to benefit from NUI Galway’s significant capital investment programme in embracing innovation, entrepreneurship and research.”

With NUI Galway anticipating an intake of over 3,200 new students in September, a hotline is in place for students, parents and teachers. The First Year Student Hotline number is 091 493999 or visit http://www.nuigalway.ie/new-students/. A team of specially-trained students will service the hotline Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, and also on 23 August, 10am to 1pm.

-ENDS-

An-tóir ar OÉ Gaillimh de réir thairiscintí an CAO

Is léir ó thairiscintí an CAO inniu go bhfuil tóir i gcónaí ar OÉ Gaillimh. D’fhan na pointí do go leor cúrsaí mar a chéile nó, go deimhin, d’ardaigh siad ó 2013.

Tháinig ardú ar na pointí sna cúig choláiste. Teastaíonn os cionn 500 pointe chun Leigheas, Eolaíocht Bhithleighis, Na Dána (Síceolaíocht), Teiripe Shaothair, Ceimic Bhithchógaisíochta agus Teiripe Urlabhra agus Theanga a dhéanamh agus teastaíonn os cionn 400 go láidir chun Eolaíocht Mhatamaiticiúil agus Tráchtáil (Idirnáisiúnta) a dhéanamh le Fraincis.

Pointí ag ardú

Tá suim ar leith curtha ag na mic léinn sa Tráchtáil, go háirithe na cúrsaí a bhfuil teanga idirnáisiúnta i gceist leo, rud a léiríonn go dtuigeann siad an riachtanas a bhaineann le teangacha sa mhargadh domhanda. Chuaigh Tráchtáil (Idirnáisiúnta) le Gearmáinis agus Tráchtáil (Idirnáisiúnta) le Spáinnis suas deich bpointe, go 460 agus 470 pointe faoi seach.

Tá Tráchtáil le Gaeilge á tairiscint den chéad uair i mbliana agus teastaíonn 420 pointe chun é a dhéanamh agus d’ardaigh an clár traidisiúnta Tráchtála (Cuntasaíocht) 10 bpointe chomh maith go 470. Chuaigh Córais Faisnéise Gnó suas 20 pointe, agus tháinig ardú suntasach ar Dhlí Corparáideach agus ar Dhlí Sibhialta chomh maith don dara bliain as a chéile.

Leis na hathruithe ar an scrúdú HPAT tá laghdú tagtha ar líon na bpointí a theastaíonn chun clár leighis a dhéanamh ar fud na tíre. Tá sé seo le sonrú sa laghdú atá tagtha ar na pointí chun leigheas a dhéanamh go 721, HPAT* san áireamh. Tá Altranas fanta ag 450 pointe, agus chuaigh Cnáimhseachas suas 5 phointe go 455. 

Sna Dána, d’ardaigh an clár céime sna Dána (Matamaitic agus Oideachas), a chuireann dhá cháilíocht ar fáil in aon chlár amháin, 40 pointe go 405. I measc na gcéimeanna eile sna Dána ar ardaigh na pointí dóibh i mbliana tá na Dána le Léann Éireannach a chuaigh suas 10 bpointe, na Dána (Beartas Poiblí agus Sóisialta) a chuaigh suas 35 pointe, agus na Dána le Staidéar ar Mheiriceá Laidineach a chuaigh suas 25 pointe agus an chéim trí Ghaeilge, na Dána (Cumarsáid) a chuaigh suas 60 pointe go 360.

San Innealtóireacht, chuaigh Innealtóireacht Mheicniúil suas 25 pointe go 425, agus chuaigh Innealtóireacht Bhithleighis suas 15 phointe go 420, agus chuaigh Innealtóireacht Shibhialta suas 15 phointe go 415. Tháinig ardú ar na pointí do Bhainistíocht Tionscadail agus Foirgníochta chomh maith.

Tá méadú tagtha chomh maith ar an éileamh ar chúrsaí Eolaíochta. Mar aitheantas ar cheannródaíocht OÉ Gaillimh sna cláir Eolaíochta Bithleighis, is é an cúrsa san Eolaíocht Bhithleighis an cúrsa leis na dara pointí is airde san Ollscoil, ag 540 pointe. Chuaigh na pointí in airde 5 phointe do Cheimic Bhithchógaisíochta go 510 agus d’fhan an Bhiteicneolaíocht ag 465 pointe. Maidir leis an Eolaíocht, d’ardaigh na pointí d’Fhisic 20 pointe go 420.

Dúirt Oifigeach Iontrála OÉ Gaillimh, Stephen O’Dea: ‘Don dara bliain as a chéile, tá ardú seasta tagtha ar líon na bpointí a theastaíonn do chúrsaí OÉ Gaillimh sa Tráchtáil agus sa Dlí rud a léiríonn go bhfuil tóir i gcónaí ar na réimsí sin. Tá an-tóir ar an Tráchtáil Idirnáisiúnta agus i mbliana, d’éirigh thar barr leis an gcúrsa nua, Tráchtáil leGaeilge (420 pointe), clár a thabharfaidh deis ar leith do mhic léinn aghaidh a thabhairt ar ghairmeacha le gnó agus le teagasc.

Tá níos mó tóir anois ar chúrsaí Eolaíochta freisin. Tá láidreacht agus cáil OÉ Gaillimh sna hEolaíochtaí Bitheacha le sonrú sa tóir atá i gcónaí ar an Eolaíocht Bhithleighis (540) agus méadú go 510 pointe tagtha ar an gCeimic Bhithchógaisíochta. Chuaigh na pointí d’Fhisic suas 20 pointe i mbliana chomh maith go 420. D’éirigh go maith leis na cúrsaí Innealtóireachta agus d’ardaigh Innealtóireacht Bhithleighis, atá dírithe ag OÉ Gaillimh ar an margadh, go 420 pointe.

Tá an-tóir ag mic léinn ar an taithí foghlama a chuireann cúrsaí an BA Connect ar fáil, rud atá le sonrú ón ardú sna pointí don Léann Éireannach, agus Staidéar Scannán agus Staidéar Leanaí ag fanacht mar a chéile bliain i ndiaidh bliana. Tá na pointí don tSíceolaíocht ard i mbliana chomh maith ag 525 pointe. Tá tóir i gcónaí ag mic léinn ar Theiripe Shaothair agus ar Theiripe Urlabhra agus Theanga, agus os cionn 500 pointe ag teastáil don dá chúrsa seo.

Dúirt sé freisin, “Bainfidh mic léinn tairbhe as an gclár suntasach infheistíochta caipitil in OÉ Gaillimh a chuireann ar a gcumas aghaidh a thabhairt ar nuálaíocht, ar fhiontraíocht agus ar thaighde.”

Tá OÉ Gaillimh ag súil le níos mó ná 3,200 mac léinn nua i Meán Fómhair, agus tá beolíne socraithe anois do mhic léinn, do thuismitheoirí agus do mhúinteoirí. Is é uimhir na Beolíne do Mhic Léinn na Chéad Bhliana 091 493999 nó téigh chuig http://www.nuigalway.ie/new-students/. Beidh foireann de mhic léinn oilte i mbun na beolíne ó Luan go hAoine, 9am go 6pm, agus beidh siad ar dualgas an 24 Lúnasa freisin, 10am go 1pm.

-CRÍOCH-