First round CAO offers are out and over 52,000 students are expected to receive college offers this week. As expected, science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) third-level programmes were in high demand this year and there was an increase in their entry points requirements. The students who will receive their CAO offers today prioritised STEM subjects when they chose their Leaving Cert subjects in fifth year and listed their preferred CAO choices in June of this year. This meant that there was a significant increase in points for entry across all institutions for STEM programmes, reflecting the health of Ireland’s improving economy. The increase in demand for STEM places reinforces the strength of Ireland as a location for investment for high tech multinational corporations. Students who begin college life next month will be hopeful that the level of investment is maintained and grows, leading to employment opportunities for them in their area of choice after graduation. The report of the STEM Education Review Group, which was submitted to Education & Skills Minister Jan O’Sullivan recently, is believed to contain recommendations, to ensure access to quality teaching and infrastructure, to drive and consolidate students’ interest and take-up of these subjects. Engineering Engineering in UCD is up 15 to 510 and in Trinity is up 25 to 495*. Engineering in NUIG is up 50 to 450, and in UL it is up 20 to 425. Common entry engineering in DCU is up 15 to 390 and in CIT is up 40 to 390. Biomedical engineering in UL is up 35 to 450, up 65 to 485 in NUIG, up 10 to 400 in DCU, and in CIT it is up 25 to 435. Civil engineering in UL is up 25 to 475, in NUIG it’s up 35 to 450 and in GMIT up 40 to 245. Science Common entry to science and analytical science in DCU is up 10 points to 470 and 20 points to 460 respectively. Biological and chemical sciences and biological, earth and environmental science in UCC are up 25 and 15 points respectively to 470 and 435. Science in NUIG is up 10 to 410. Science in NUIM is up five to 405, while in UL it is up 35 to 400. In DIT it’s up 25 to 460. Maths Maths in Trinity is up 30 to 570 and in UL it is up 45 to 435. Actuarial financial and mathematical sciences in DCU (common entry to maths) is up 20 to 500. Computer science Computer science in Trinity is up 25 to 490, in UCD it is up five to 475, in UCC it is up 10 to 440. Construction management Points are up, reflecting growing confidence in construction. Construction management in LIT is up 25 to 250, in GMIT it is up 25 to 250 and in DIT it is up 15 to 315.