Your education questions answered by Brian Mooney.
My daughter is interested in applying to study in Britain in 2003, but we're finding it difficult to access information. Can you advise me how to go about it? She is interested in medical-related courses like nursing or physiotherapy
It is still possible to apply to Britain for most subjects, although October 15th was the closing date for applications to medicine, veterinary science and dentistry, as well as to Oxford or Cambridge. All other applications for degree courses, including nursing and physiotherapy, should reach UCAS, which is the British equivalent of the CAO, by January 15th, except for some art and design courses, which have later closing dates.
Your daughter may wish to consider applying for a diploma course in nursing and the method of application differs somewhat for this. You can only apply for a diploma in nursing if you have already achieved the minimum requirements, which, in Irish terms, would be a pass Leaving Cert.
Degree courses in Britain are subsidised on a fees basis for EU students. This means that a student from the Republic Of Ireland applying to Wales, England or Northern Ireland would pay - at current rates - a maximum of £1,100 and may pay less if the income is sufficiently low. In Scotland, EU students pay no fees during the course of study, but may be asked to contribute a certain amount on graduation and commencement of employment. The National Health Service (NHS) funds courses such as physiotherapy and nursing and EU students do not normally pay any fees. In all cases students must apply to the appropriate authority to be assessed.
The British Council in Dublin provided the above information. A range of information sheets can be downloaded from their website at www.britishcouncil.org/ireland or telephone (01) 676 4088. UCAS forms can be posted on request.
I am finding it extremely difficult to find out on what courses colleges are intending to offer places to applicants over 23 years of age. Is there any source of information for mature students?
Unlike the CAO system for standard applicants, there is no uniform application system for mature students. When a candidate has selected a course, they should contact the admissions office of the college in question well in advance of the closing date.
On page five of the CAO handbook there is a list of 16 colleges that will accept applications directly from the candidate. NUI Maynooth and Pontifical, plus Trinity College Dublin, require candidates to submit applications directly to the college as well as through the CAO. All other colleges require applicants to apply through the CAO only.
Mature applicants are judged on a range of criteria, including all academic qualifications, certified or otherwise, employment history plus any voluntary work, hobbies and interests. Finally - and perhaps most importantly - an explanation of the relevance of their life/educational experience to their application plus a statement of their educational goals and objectives.
Once an application is made it is up to each department in each college to decide if they wish to offer places to mature candidates and how many places to offer.
Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. You can e-mail him your questions to bmooney@irish-times.ie
