GMIT increases its honours degree (Level 8) offers by 30%

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) has made 30% more offers at honours degree level this year (2014) compared to last, this year’s CAO figures show.

Reflecting CAO trends in 2013, demand is still strong for Science related programmes, as well as Agriculture, Mechanical Engineering, Construction and Nursing programmes.

Points for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medical Science increased by 25, from 410 to 435. It is one of only three such programmes offered in the State recognised by the Academy of Medical Laboratory Science, enabling graduates to practice as medical students in hospitals.

Points also increased for the B. Eng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, from 315 to 330 points. This continues to be one of the high demand programmes in the Galway campus.

Construction related programmes also show an increase in demand, reflecting positive projections for the construction industry.

Points increased for the Bachelor of Science in General Nursing in the Mayo campus, from 405 to 420, while at Mountbellew there has been a 12% increase in demand for agriculture related programmes.

At the Centre for Creative Arts and Media (formerly known as Cluain Mhuire), demand continues for the popular Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Film and Documentary (320).

GMIT Registrar Michael Hannon says points decreased for a number of science based programmes: “Catering to a spike in demand from Leaving Cert students for honours programmes in GMIT, we reduced CAO points on some of our level 8 offerings such as the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Applied Freshwater and Marine Biology, the B.Sc (Hons) in Applied Biology and Biopharmaceutical Science and our general entry Science degree.”

“We are finding that Level 8 honours degrees are proving to be very popular with Leaving Certificate students when making CAO choices in recent years, and we have responded to that demand.”

“With regard to the transitions debate, we find that students are making up their own minds and when offered a good variety of Level 8 choices they take them. It is important therefore that Institutes of Technology have sufficient numbers of Level 8s to facilitate those choices.”

“GMIT is at the same time aligned with the national strategy to support Leaving Cert students’ transition to third level by providing an excellent First Year Experience (FYE) programme.”

Students who did not apply to the CAO (approximately 10,000) still have the option of applying for courses through the ‘Vacant Places’ route on www.cao.ie. GMIT, like many other third-level institutions, has a number of courses available here. This option is open to prospective students from Tuesday 19 August.