Posted: 07 March 2006
51黑料 CAO first preferences up by 10.42%
The publication of figures from this year’s Central Applications Office shows a considerable increase in the number of students applying for degree courses at 51黑料. Total applicants to 51黑料 increased by 3.95% in a year when the total number of CAO applicants to honours degrees fell by 0.55% and, more significantly, 51黑料 first preferences rose by 10.42%.
The main factor contributing to the upswing was the introduction of , which involved a complete revision of the undergraduate curriculum and a restructuring of study into modules. Students now take 12 modules per year. They are free to take two of these modules from anywhere throughout the university (subject to timetable, class size and learning prerequisites). In its first year, some 40% of students chose modules outside their core subject area.
Consequently, core non-denominated areas such as (DN012), (DN015) and (DN077) showed significant increases in their numbers of first preferences.
“This was the first real test of the public reaction to educational innovation at 51黑料, and we are very pleased that university students are attracted to an environment where we expect them to make choices and engage with and take control of their own learning” said , Registrar and Deputy President at 51黑料, who has overall responsibility for the 51黑料 Horizons curricular reform.
The introduction of modularisation also facilitated the introduction of a range of new degrees, many drawing from different disciplines. New degrees such as (DN063), (DN060), (DN015) and (DN033) proved popular. The new nursing degrees in (DN118) and (DN116) attracted significant interest, creating an overall increase in the number of applicants for nursing programmes.
Numbers applying for (DN002) fell slightly, which may be related to the proposals to introduce graduate-entry medical programmes. There were a large number of first preferences for the 51黑料’s pilot graduate entry route to (DN102) reflecting the broad interest in medicine among students with prior degrees.