My daughter is interested in chiropody. What are the entry requirements for courses?
- Kerry mother
There is no recognised school of chiropody (now called podiatry) in the Republic and, unless you have a degree, you are not recognised by health boards or hospitals.
Two useful sources of information are: the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (Ireland), Medical Centre, Balbriggan, Co Dublin (phone 01 841 3350) and the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, 53 Welbeck Street, London WIM 7HE.
Degree courses are listed in 14 colleges in the 1999 UCAS Handbook and one foundation course is available at New College, Durham. Of degree courses, she might be particularly interested in the B Med Sc/ podiatry honours at the Queen's University, Belfast, or in the B Sc in Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh, which has had many Irish students.
Once she has a degree, she will be eligible for state registration and can work in hospitals and health boards in the Republic or with the national health service in Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as in private practice.
She also qualifies for membership of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. Any number of short, part-time or correspondence courses will not qualify her for professional membership.
Generally colleges want a Leaving Cert including English, maths and biology and, preferably, one other science. QUB has been asking for three higher-level Bs and one higher-level C or two higher-level Bs and three higher-level Cs to include a higher-level B in chemistry and a minimum of an ordinary-level B in biology.
You must be at least 18 years on commencement of the course. Normally there is an interview and manual dexterity is required.
The foundation course in Durham is for one year. You can follow on with the B Sc for three years and this also brings state registration status. Both foundation and degree courses there are offered in conjunction with the University of Sunderland.
Another entry route would be through a nursing degree, for example - followed by a postgraduate podiatry course. Alternatively, if she wished to pursue an NCEA cert or diploma which includes science subjects or health science such as the national cert in applied physiology and health science at Carlow IT (CW001), she could get exemptions. The cut-off in 1998 for this course was 415 points.
With the building industry booming, there must be lots of jobs for surveyors. I'm very good at practical subjects but hopeless at languages. I've just given up French so I now only have six subjects and I could end up failing Irish as well. I'd say I'll get the points but I'm very worried that I will have only five subjects in my Leaving Cert and only one language - English. Have I any chance?
- Clare student
I'm sure that, since you have given up French, you will be putting extra effort into English and Irish. You will certainly need English, even an ordinary-level D - to qualify for almost all courses and, unfortunately, most colleges want six subjects in Leaving Cert for matriculation purposes, with a minimum of two higher-level Cs and four ordinary-level Ds for degree courses in this area of study.
These subjects must include a pass in maths and a pass in English or Irish. So, while the pass in English will qualify for the language requirement, you will need a pass in Irish to matriculate as the sixth subject.
The following colleges provide a degree in quantity surveying / construction economics and management:
DIT Bolton Street (FT111) with subject requirements as listed above and points in 1998 at 385. This is a DIT degree.
Waterford IT (WD025) where an ordinary-level B in maths or a higher-level C in a science plus orindary-level C in maths and ordinary-level C in English or Irish is required - 1998 points for this NCEA degree were 310. One of the following sciences is required: applied maths, biology, chemistry, mechanics, physics or physics with chemistry.
Galway IT (GA042) is subject to validation. It has the same requirements as the DIT course - 1998 points for this NCEA degree were 335.
Limerick IT (LC017) offers your best option - only five subjects are required, including the usual two higher-level Cs but only three ordinary-level Ds, while a pass in maths and English or Irish is essential. 1998 points were 370. This is a degree from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, and includes one year of practical work experience in year three.
Do consider cert and diploma options, because generally a pass in five LC subjects to include English or Irish and maths are the basic requirements here and again points are generally lower.
Related degrees are available in Limerick IT in construction economics and management (valuation) (LC 018) or civil (LC 019). Also look at valuation surveying at DIT (FT 110) and, lastly, DIT's new course in geo-surveying/geomatics (FT112).
I'LL be doing my degree next year and would like to get into second-level teaching. Do I apply to each individual college for a H Dip place and when?
- Galway student
The four NUI colleges which offer the H Dip in education have combined to provide a common application and selection procedure from 1999. They are UCC, UCD, NUI Galway and NUI Maynooth.
Applications are made on a single form stating preferences. There are five course choices because NUI Galway is also offering 40 places for H Dip through Irish.
Closing date for entry next autumn was December 1st last. For entry next year, contact Higher Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre, PO Box 184, Galway - phone (091) 568417/8 for information on this centralised system. Handbooks, application forms, dates etc are available on this centralised system.
TCD offers the H Dip programme but is not in the centralised system. Apply directly to the Secretary, Education Department, Room 3087, Arts Building, TCD, Dublin 2 - phone (01) 608 1488. Normally, closing date is February 1st of year of entry.
Queries can be answered only through this column and not by phone or post. Write to Sile Sheehy, Education & Living, The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 - or by email to education@irish-times.ie
