Some 1,400 accept first year places in AIT
The number of people accepting on a place at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) has increased by 11% on last year. In overall terms, some 1,400 people have accepted a round one offer through the CAO to study at AIT, a 9.3% increase on the 2011 figure. This is divided amongst the four academic schools at AIT as follows: Business - 260, Humanities - 403, Engineering - 289 and Science - 446. Two-thirds of AIT's acceptances - 944 - are at Levels 6/7, while 454 people have accepted a place on a Level 8 honours degree. AIT President, Professor Ciarán " Catháin, welcomed the numbers saying: "AIT's courses are clearly in line with national priorities and the students who have accepted places on them are the lifeblood of our knowledge society. We very much look forward to welcoming our new first years in September and in helping them to reach their potential." At the close of round one offers through the CAO on Monday, some 446 people had accepted a place on a science course due to start this September in Athlone. That's up from 264 acceptances in 2011. This number is divided almost equally between Level 8 honours degrees (228 acceptances) and Level 6/7 higher certificate and ordinary degree programmes (218). The growth in science is fuelled by six new degrees in areas such as audiology, sports therapy, nutrition, biotechnology, forensic toxicology and pharmaceutical science. The demand for individual science programmes has also increased in several cases. It is still possible for people to apply to two courses at AIT through the available/vacant places mechanism of the CAO. The courses are in social media marketing and accounting technician. Further information is available online through the CAO's website and also at www.ait.ie/vacantplaces. Nationally, 37,645 places were accepted in the first round of offers made by the CAO last week, up 474 on 2011. Some 18,500 of this year's 76,000 applicants have not yet received an offer, although round two offers will issue from the CAO this Thursday.