Student applications to the University of Dundee are up by over 10 per cent compared with this time last year according to the latest figures from UCAS.
Popular new degree programmes in innovative product design, sports biomedicine and interactive media design have all contributed to Dundee University's increase in applications of 10.4% year on year.
Director of Student Recruitment Services Gordon Craig said: "These imaginative new courses crossing traditional subject boundaries to combine expertise in disciplines such as design and engineering or sports and physiology have struck a chord with up and coming students who can immediately see their relevance in tomorrow's world."
The courses have boosted applications in areas such as science and engineering which nationally face major recruitment problems. Applications to science degrees at the University of Dundee are up 15% and to engineering degrees up 60.7%.
The largest percentage increases in applications are from the local area (up 37.8%) and from the rest of Scotland (up 26%). Applications from Northern Ireland are up 16.7%.
Gordon Craig: "The geographical spread of applications closely reflects the areas reached by our Serious Fun advertising campaign and by our outreach work in schools and colleges."
But Mr Craig stressed that the figures, while positive, should be taken with some caution: "These are not final figures. Although the UCAS deadline has now passed, applications will continue to come through the system for some weeks and months yet. It is possible these early figures could be due to some quirk of timing - but of course we hope not."
Students interested in studying science and engineering are today (Tues 12th) visiting the university for the first in a series of post application visit days when they will be taken on guided student tours enabling them to see at first hand laboratories, lecture theatres, students union and other ingredients which make the rich mix of student life.