As well as trying to 'ride' out the recession in college, many students are trying to get a 'free year' before fees or loans are introduced from 2010 onwards.

THE number of students signing up for college has already reached an all-time high - even before the second round of CAO offers comes out tomorrow.

By the end of round one, a total of 42,917 applicants had accepted course offers, which is more than the total number of acceptances at the end of the offer season last year - 42,120.

As well as trying to ‘ride’ out the recession in college, many students are trying to get a ‘free year’ before fees or loans are introduced from 2010 onwards.

"The increase in net acceptances will probably mean fewer offers in round two," NUI Maynooth assistant registrar John McGinnity said last night.

He said more people now saw the value and advantage of a third-level qualification.

Mr McGinnity also disclosed that the number of students seeking to defer a place for a year to allow them travel abroad or work was down. In the case of NUI Maynooth, it was down from 6pc to 3pc.

At the end of round one last year, there were 40,016 net acceptances - almost 3,000 fewer than this year. The acceptances are up among school leavers and mature applicants.

Irish Independent careers expert Mary O’Donnell said the change was due to the recession. "Greater numbers applied to the CAO, and greater numbers are accepting places because there are fewer jobs available" she said.

Opportunity

"In a situation of declining opportunity elsewhere, it is positive to see percentages of acceptances holding up at 58pc, and, in absolute figures, improving," she added.

Despite the increased acceptance rate, there are still vacancies on more than 150 courses, down somewhat on last year. The majority of the vacant places are on national certificate/ordinary degree courses, especially in business-related areas.

Meanwhile, the management of University College, Dublin, (UCD) is introducing fees for its medical health service, which was previously free.

Students were told via email they will have to pay €10 for a nurse visit and €25 to see a doctor from September 7.

The university says it can no longer provide a free service.

Counselling services will remain free of charge and students will be able to use their medical cards.

John Walshe, Education Editor