New figures from the CAO show an increasing demand for courses in construction, business, law and nursing.
A record 76 thousand people applied for third level courses this year, according to the Central Applications Office.
CONTINUE READING BELOW
That's 2 per cent up on last year.
Applications for Architecture were up 14 per cent, and demand for nursing courses rose by nearly 11 per cent.
The figures show that Maynooth University's Bachelor of Arts was the most popular course in the country, with first preference applications up by 16 per cent.
Education Editor with the Irish Independent Katherine Donnelly, says the college's new course formats has boosted the overall numbers applying to study there.
