SMU has received 1,108 applications for the 45 places in the new Politics, Law and Economics (PLE) degree course, which means about 25 students are vying for every place. The demand for the new course has also led to a rise in the total number of applications - 14,000 in all this year, a 6 per cent rise over last year. SMU Provost Professor Lily Kong said she was delighted with the response. She noted that it is clear that students, parents and employers recognise the value that the PLE combination of disciplines can bring in preparing graduates who can handle multifaceted careers, adding that SMU hopes to groom a new generation of leaders and thinkers for Singapore. Students who had applied for the course said it is an unusual combination since it includes the study of law with economics and politics - and prestigious as it is being offered to only a select group of high-calibre students. Many were also drawn by the fact that the course would prepare them for a wide range of jobs, including in journalism, foreign affairs, public service, consulting and research. SMU officials said close to 5,000 of the 14,000 applicants have been shortlisted so far. They will be further assessed via interviews.