New CAO 2026 data shows growing demand for higher education in the West and North‑West of Ireland, with the main ATU catchment counties – Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, and Galway – seeing increases in applications. Fields such as Veterinary, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy are particularly popular, while cross-border applications from Northern Ireland also continue to rise. Dr Billy Bennett, Registrar and Chief Academic Officer, noted that more students are choosing to study locally, reflecting a meaningful shift in regional and cross-border higher-education trends.
Source: Atlantic Technological University
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