Over 20% increase in people applying to study nursing, CAO figures show There was a large increase in applications for medicine, too, with 4,031 first preferences. By Hayley Halpin Tuesday 9 Mar 2021, 8:39 AM Mar 9th 2021, 8:39 AM 11,018 Views 14 Comments Image: Shutterstock/New Africa Image: Shutterstock/New Africa MORE THAN 79,000 applications were received by the Central Applications Office (CAO) for third-level courses by its 1 February closing date. This marks an increase of 6,203 applicants on the previous year. Of the 79,176 applications, 8,727 came from applicants over the age of 23, up 20% on 2020. There was a significant increase in people wishing to study nursing and midwifery, with 5,951 first preference applications, compared with 4,909 first preference applications in 2020. This marks an increase of 21%.