Applications for occupational therapy courses in Ireland increase

More students have been applying for places on healthcare courses in Ireland, such as occupational therapy, it has been revealed.

College applications across the board have risen by almost 3,000, due to the economic climate and difficulty finding jobs, statistics released by the Central Applications Office show.

Demand for courses such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and social care has risen by more than 25 per cent.

The points requirements to gain a place on many of the healthcare courses are expected to increase, which means that students will need to achieve better exam results if they want to study at college.

With increased demand for various healthcare courses, there could be greater competition for occupational therapy jobs in future as more students decide to study the discipline.

The British Association of Occupational Therapists has announced that it will offer a new graduate guide to those who have recently qualified as occupational therapists when they register with the organisation.