Turning those points into euros: what do the best paid graduates do in college?

Want to earn £120,000 a year or £32,000? Opting for a particular course, or institution, because of the financial rewards it may bring is not a route many would advise school leavers receiving their CAO offers today to take. Nonetheless, figures from Emolument.com, which crowdsources market data, show the wide disparity in salary expectations certain careers - and colleges - can offer.

As a guide - and note it's just a guide, salary figures will depend not just on the college you opt for or the course you study, but also your own aptitudes as well as the company you work for - the data offers a useful insight. But remember, as construction and architect graduates experienced so vociferously during the bust, career prospects do change and a course which may offer a stellar career path when you enter it, may look a lot different by the time you graduate.

This article was published in Irish Times, 22nd August 2016