CAO Round 1 2020: UCD increases first year places by 7% in effort to adjust for Leaving Cert grades and increased demand for degree places

Posted 11 September, 2020

University College Dublin has increased its first year places for CAO applicants by 7% this year bringing the number of places up to 4,462.

The 292 new places are made up of 115 through the Human Capital Initiative and 177 new places specifically added to help adjust for the impact of using calculated grades arising from this year’s Leaving Certificate results.

The 292 new places are allocated as follows:

This year UCD experienced a significant increase (7%) in first preference demand and by the change of mind deadline on 1 July, received over 9,000 first preferences – many in the high point degrees.

First preferences increased from 2019 levels in two thirds of all courses.

The largest increases in terms of numbers were DN650 Commerce, DN720 Psychology, DN300 Veterinary Medicine (undergrad entry), DN420 Physiotherapy, DN201 Computer Science, and DN600 Law. Across these six programmes the increase in first preference applications ranged from 100 to 45.

Such increases generally filter through to points when the first round offers are made.

Speaking about this year’s first years, the Deputy President and Registrar of UCD (opens in a new window)Professor Mark Rogers said: “We understand the anxiety faced by school leavers this year as they had to come to cope with the impact of COVID-19 and come to terms with the replacement of the Leaving Certificate with the calculated grades mechanism. I appreciate the difficulties faced by Minister Foley and the Department of Education and their decisions were as fair as possible in this unique circumstance.

"I was concerned about the long term detriment that may be caused should we not be in a position to admit first years this September so I thank the secondary teachers along with the Department officials for their efforts to get the students to this stage.

"We know that our own academic year will be disrupted by COVID-19 but we are planning to provide a blended and flexible academic curriculum to ensure they receive the best possible education.”

Round 1 points are up in 35 degrees, and significantly up in a number of cases. The biggest increase is in DN452 Midwifery up 80 points to 489.

In other areas of high demand there are an increased number of places and the points rise is more modest: DN650 Commerce places were increased by 14 to 234 and the points increase was 23, DN150 Engineering places increased by 54 to 319 and points were up 20, DN200 Science places increased by 20 to 422 and points were up 12 and DN201 Computer Science places increased by 10 to 115 and points were up 22.

As with the national trend, places have been increased and points are down in Arts and Humanities which should be positive for all applicants who have chosen courses in these subject areas.

Two degrees are now over 600 points: DN670 Economics & Finance now at 613 and DN230 Actuarial & Financial Studies now at 601.

The number of students to be admitted to both degrees has been increased to 55 and 50.

Students have until 15:00 on 16 September to accept their offer.

Round 2 offers will be made on 23 September and the academic trimester for first years begins on 28 September, with orientation on 22 September.

By Eilis O'Brien, UCD University Relations