The University Times

Edmund Heaphy | Deputy Editor

The points required for entry to medicine in Trinity have dropped for the first time since the introduction of the HPAT, while the points required for several of Trinity’s science courses have risen dramatically.

The decrease of 15 points for medicine in Trinity – bringing it down to 733 – mirrors a nationwide trend. Meanwhile, a general trend across the sciences sees Theoretical Physics in Trinity increase by 50 points to 550; Chemistry with Molecular Modelling by 35 points to 505; Nanoscience, Physics & Chemistry of Advanced Materials by 10 points to 595 and the general-entry Science course go from 510 to 515. Engineering courses also see marginal increases.

ADVERTISEMENT

The decrease in points across the country for medicine has been attributed to changes this year to the way the various sections of the HPAT is structured. The logical reasoning and interpersonal understanding sections were weighted more heavily compared to the non-verbal reasoning section. The increase in points for science and engineering courses can be partly attributed to the government’s focus in encouraging uptake in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.

Having demonstrated a predominately upward trend for the best part of five years, points for two-subject moderatorship (TSM) combinations have generally fallen. Many of the most competitive subjects have decreased sharply, with History down 25 points to 505, Mathematics down 25 points to 550 and Psychology down ten points to 570.

Several of the European languages are also down significantly with French down 60 points to 420, German down 20 points to 435 and Spanish down fifteen points to 475. Economics and English Literature are both also down marginally. Both Philosophy and Sociology, however, are up five points. Russian, Greek, and particularly Latin – which has risen to 555 – remain popular.

Points for Law-related courses have remained within the same ballpark, with only a five-point decrease for Law and Business and a five-point rise for Law and Political Science, one of Trinity’s highest-point courses.

CAO offers, which included around 3,300 offers for study in Trinity, went online from 6 am this morning. Applicants have until next Monday to decide on their first-round offer.

Single-honour Degree Courses

Key:★Not all applicants at this level were offered places.★★Applicants are assessed on a music test and interview and on their leaving certificate examination results.★★★Applicants are assessed on a questionnaire and interview and on their leaving certificate examination results.#Applicants are assessed on the HPAT Ireland test and on their leaving certificate examination results.##Applicants must also have returned a questionnaire.

TSM Courses

Key:★Not all applicants at this level were offered places.