Cao rise in the West: ATU Sligo applications climb as more students choose to study closer to home
The latest cao and CAO figures outline a clear regional shift: more school leavers are choosing third-level study closer to home, and ATU Sligo is central to that change. New data shows application patterns moving in favour of the West and North‑West, with notable growth in county-level demand and specific subject areas.
Why are Cao applications rising in the West and North‑West?
Across the main ATU catchment counties of Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway, applications rose from 11, 408 to 11, 866, a 4% increase. Sligo applications increased by 8. 13% and Donegal by 8. 92%, both above the national average; Mayo grew by 4. 37% and Galway by 2. 11%. National CAO data also shows sectoral shifts: mentions for veterinary courses rose by 96%, pharmacy by 69% and physiotherapy by 26%.
Dr Billy Bennett, Registrar and Chief Academic Officer, said: “The CAO data highlights continued growth in higher‑education participation in the West and North‑West, with more learners opting to remain in their region while accessing a broad range of study options. Across our region, the proportion of students progressing locally has increased significantly over a short period indicating a meaningful shift in student decision‑making. We are also seeing increased applications from Northern Ireland, supported by focused school outreach and research into how students make choices about where to study. These findings point to ongoing changes in both regional and cross‑border applicant behaviour. ”
How are students and counties responding to this shift?
Post‑primary progression within the region shows striking movement: in Donegal the proportion of students progressing to higher education within the region rose from 47% in 2022 to 60% in 2024. The pattern suggests a strengthening of regional higher‑education participation year on year. The cao numbers from Northern Ireland and Britain also reflect cross‑border interest—CAO applications from Northern Ireland rose by 6. 68% and British applicants by almost 9. 5%.
ATU’s own applicant data mirrors these wider trends: mentions of ATU programmes from Northern Ireland addresses increased by 36% between 2024 and 2026, and first‑preference applications rose by 74% in the same period. Jacinta Ryan, Admissions Manager, said: “Over the last 3 years, between 75% and 80% of students accepting a place at ATU are being offered their first‑preference programme. This consistently high level of alignment between student choice and course allocation further reinforces ATU’s standing as a university of choice, ensuring that the majority of applicants commence their studies in their preferred discipline. ”
What are institutions and CAO doing in response?
The CAO as an organisation has itself evolved: established in 1976, it has enabled more than 1. 5 million students to take up places in third‑level colleges since then. In its first intake in 1977 CAO received 14, 845 applications for 69 courses in five universities. The application form went online in 2000 and the system continued to expand participation, including mature and EU applicants and supplementary admissions schemes.
Current CAO application volumes underline a continuing upward trend: by February 1st, CAO received 88, 817 applications, up from 83, 424 the previous year—an increase of 5, 393, or 6 per cent. At the institutional level, ATU has undertaken targeted engagement work in Northern Ireland, including research on student decision‑making and dedicated support from a Schools Engagement Officer, measures that the university links to the observed rise in applications.
The combined effect of an adaptable admissions system and focused local outreach appears to be reshaping student flows. Growing interest in health and applied science programmes, stronger local progression rates and increased cross‑border engagement all point to structural change in regional higher‑education patterns.
Back at regional level, the numbers that opened this report—11, 408 rising to 11, 866 in ATU’s catchment—are more than statistics. They mark choices by young people that will shape local labour markets, family lives and campus communities in the years ahead. The CAO’s long history and the recent uptick in applications together suggest this moment may be another milestone in how students access and choose third‑level education.
