Some universities are leaving places empty on courses for fear of reducing points.

The Sunday Business Post reports a working group has found that colleges will keep some seats vacant on a high-points courses, instead of lowering requirements to fill capacity.

It's understood those engaging in the practice are afraid students' choices are being made based on the high point profile of the programmes.

"One of the issues they cam e across is that in certain high-points courses, that if there's places available and there's a danger of the course dropping below a certain threshold, there have been instances of places being left unfilled," said Michael Brennan, Political Correspondent with the newspaper.

He said such actions could happen, for instance, if the points requirement was crossing a particular line, such as from 500 to 495 points.