The number of CAO courses requiring 500 or more points has jumped by more than one-quarter.
Around 50,000 offers have been made available online in this year's first round, following last week's Leaving Certificate results.
Growth in demand for places has been mirrored in areas of the economy that have been on the rise - like business and engineering - as students look to target careers after third-level.
In the University of Limerick, 73% of courses saw a jump in the number of points required to study them.
Professor Paul McCutcheon, vice-president of UL says a number of sectors performed particularly well.
It comes as some universities are reportedly leaving places empty on courses for fear the number of CAO points required for entry would be reduced otherwise
The head of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Tom Boland, told Newstalk Breakfast changes are being made to the system.
Prospective students now have a week to accept the places offered this morning, and join the some 210,000 people already in higher education.
President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) Kevin Donoghue has this advice for anyone who did not get their first choice course.
