The sharp increase in applications for veterinary medicine courses coincides with the first intakes to two new veterinary medicine colleges, at South East Technological University and Atlantic Technological University, from September. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty ImagesThe number of CAO applicants hoping to study veterinary medicine almost tripled this year, while applications for pharmacy, medicine and physiotherapy all saw considerable rises as additional courses and places come on stream. The figures show a near tripling in the number of applicants listing veterinary medicine courses in their applications, rising by 198 per cent from 902 in 2025 to 2,692 this year. This coincides with the first intakes to two new veterinary medicine colleges, at South East Technological University and Atlantic Technological University, from September. Health-related degrees received the highest number of “total mentions” at 91,571, an increase of 22 per cent from last year.

Source: The Irish Times March 10, 2026 20:18 UTC