Business studies, and health-related courses are among the most popular first choices for this year’s Leaving Certificate students, according to the CAO.
Of the 76,899 applications received by the February 1st closing date, 8,850 were for business and admin - 3,454 were for medicine and 3,750 were for nursing.
Dentistry has attracted the highest increase on 2023, as applications jumped by 21 percent..
Interest in environmental courses has fallen by 17 percent compared to last year.