Information released by the Central Applications Office (CAO) on Monday has shown strong demand for new programmes at NUI, Galway.

However, points on average were down this year at NUIG, with Engineering down 45 points to 400 points. Civil Law was down ten points to 480 points, while Science remained the same at 280 points. Arts went down ten points to 345 points, Commerce International with French was down 35 points to 440 points, Commerce was down from 390 points to 365 and Nursing dropped from 405 to 390 points.

Katrina Mennie, Craughwell, a student at St.Brigid's Vocational School Loughrea, who had the distinction of achieving 6A1's and 2A2's in higher level papers in the 2008 Leaving Certificate Examination.

The CAO figures showed strong interest in the university's BA CONNECT Programmes, from the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies. Among them are Ireland's first undergraduate degree in Podiatry and the country's first degree in Sports and Exercise Engineering.

BA CONNECT consists of seven new four-year degrees programmes provided in children's studies, creative writing, film studies, human rights, Irish studies, theatre and performance and women's studies. All are designed to increase the employability of graduates by developing distinctive skills and creating connections with the larger world beyond the university.

The new three-year BA Commerce Degree with Accounting, offered by the College of Business, Public Policy and Law, has proven to be attractive to applicants. This new degree is in line with the university's strategy of offering niche programmes, while ensuring that students also have undenominated options, which allow specialisation later.

Also proving popular are new Irish language programmes, including the BA Gaeilge agus Léann an Aistriúcháin (Irish and Translation Studies), and BA Riarachán Gnó (Business Administration).

Programmes with highest demand at NUI, Galway are Medicine, Speech and Language Therapy, and Arts (Psychology).

Commenting on the CAO results, Michael Kavanagh from the Registrar and Deputy-President's Office, said, "The university is particularly pleased with the success of its new programmes and for the continued strong demand for its traditional offerings."

CAO points requirements for two honours level Engineering programmes in GMIT have changed in line with the national trend, but points for some ordinary level engineering programmes have increased. Points for the B.Sc (Honours) in Construction Management fell from 365 to 330 and for the B.Sc (Hons) in Property Studies from 385 to 340.

However, points for the B.Sc (Ordinary) in Construction Economics and Quantity Surveying increased by 30 to 380, and for the B.Eng in Computer and Electronic Engineering by 30 to 255.

Civil Engineering remained at 390 points. The B.Sc (Hons) in Design and Technology Education at GMIT Letterfrack went up by five points to 395.