This article presents and discusses some results obtained from the analysis of data collected by the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre (PDEAC), which was established in 1999 to administer the selection of student teachers for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) at the education departments of the four NUI (National University of Ireland) colleges centrally. Its main findings are that the number of applications for the PGDE has increased since 1999, that the student teacher cohort remains homogeneous with regard to nationality, that three-quarters of the student teacher body are made up of female students, that the number of mature applicants and entrants to the PGDE programmes has significantly increased, and that the numbers of graduates from Institutes of Technology and of students with business degrees entering teacher training have increased between 1999 and 2005. NUI remains the main provider of applicants to PGDE. The percentage of applicants with honours level primary degrees has increased, and prior teaching experience has become a crucial factor for acceptance. (Contains 4 tables, 3 figures, and 14 notes.)