Continuing students are returning to college on Monday 21st of September, with new first year students undertaking a virtual orientation session the same week before commencing classes on Monday 28th of September. As the numbers on campus must be limited due to the social distancing health and safety requirements, a blended teaching and learning approach is necessary. Online and onsite classes will be timetabled across the week Monday to Friday 9-6pm inclusive. The institute's priority is the health and safety of all of our students and staff, while offering students an engaging quality teaching and learning experience.

Round One offers issued to CAO applicants on Friday September 10th. Students had until Wednesday September 16th at 3.00pm to accept these offers.

Across Ireland, there were a total of 77,831 applications to the CAO this year, with 59,313 applicants presenting Leaving Certificate results from this year and 8,424 mature applicants (which is defined as over 23-years of age). In Kerry, the total number of applications of Kerry-based students to CAO was 2,354.

Commenting on the Round One offers made by IT Tralee, President Dr Brendan O’Donnell said, ‘Overall the points for the Round One show that courses with strong employment prospects garnered a lot of interest among students. CAO applicants in 2020 have faced an unprecedented year and calculated grades have seen an increase of points in a number of areas with others remaining relatively static.’

In terms of emerging trends, courses within the health sector experienced rises across the country. This trend is reflected at IT Tralee where round one points for General Nursing rose to 441 points, up from 407 in 2019 and Mental Health Nursing rose to 389, up from 378. Business programmes at the Institute also saw an increase in applications for a third year in a row, this acknowledges the strong transferable skills that are associated with these programmes.

Studies in the area of humanities such as Early Childhood Care and Education and Social Care continue to remain popular at the IT Tralee, while programmes in areas such as wildlife biology and pharmaceutical sciences at ITT have followed national trends with points very much remaining in line with last year and for the third year in a row. There is particular interest in the Higher Certificate in Pharmacy Technician, which offers 1 semester of work placement in each year, with the added attraction of a new 3rd year add-on BSc in Pharmacy Management also available this year.

CAO points in programmes in Computing, Animation, TV Radio & New Media, Civil Engineering, Health & Leisure and Early Childhood Care remained largely consistent at IT Tralee from 2019.

Aileen Kennedy, Acting Vice President Academic Affairs and Registrar encouraged students who are still considering their options to look at the ‘CAO Available Places’ facility, which is open until Friday 25th of September at 5pm. Students using this facility should also contact admissions@ittralee.ie for advice on their application. ‘Available places are places that remain unfilled in particular courses after all offers have been made. IT Tralee are offering four programmes through available places: TL620 Higher Certificate in Culinary Arts; TL651 Higher Certificate in Science in Environmental and Biological Studies; TL773 BSc in Coaching and Sports Performance and TL745 BEng in Civil and Environmental Engineering and this can represent an opportunity for students who did not get their preferred course choice.’ stated Ms. Kennedy.