Competition is extremely tough in the medical field

Yesterday I dealt specifically with entry into Medicine and Veterinary. Today I will deal with other medical-based programmes available to students. I am afraid to state that the points requirements are not much better than in Medicine or Veterinary.

The number of applicants for each course is not in fact high, but in general the quality of their examination results is. So most applicants are going to be disappointed.

Pharmacy

Pharmacists work in hospitals and in retail pharmacy shops, dispensing medicines and making up prescriptions. They also work in the rapidly-expanding pharmaceutical industry in the production and development of new drugs.

Until recently, Trinity College was the only provider of Pharmacy degrees in the Republic. But in 2003 two other colleges offered courses: the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and NUI Cork. This increase in provision should have been good news for students. Simply put, there are now 152 places available, and this should have reduced points, if only slightly. The RCSI last year offered 38 places and should do so again this year. Students scoring 550 points or above in 2004 secured places, plus some holding 545 through random selection. Trinity, which offers 70 places, had seen a small reduction in points following the introduction of the extra places, but their points requirement shot up again to 560, with a number on 555 securing places through random selection.

UCC last year had the highest points requirement, offering places only to those applicants holding over 560 points, although again a number holding 560 points secured places through random selection.

Dentistry

Two colleges are offering courses in Dentistry, with 68 places on offer. UCC offers a degree (CK702) while Trinity College offers a degree course (TR052). The number of students choosing this as a first preference is usually quite healthy. In 2004, 229 applied, slightly down from 234 the previous year. The increase in numbers saw the points rise from 550 in UCC to 555, and from 555 in Trinity to 570. Random selection operated in both colleges, with not all students on those points securing places.

The degree courses of both colleges last five years and the amount of work involved can be exhausting. Both universities have dental hospitals attached and students get a chance, under strict supervision, to treat patients. After graduating, students join the Irish Dental Association and either work in a practice or for a health board. Earnings are usually very good.

Private practice is generally regarded as providing the best income, but setting yourself up can be costly, and dentists warn that maintaining a practice and meeting overheads reduces overall earnings considerably.

For those interested in Dentistry outside the high points range, Trinity offers a Diploma in Dental Hygiene, which admitted students on 440 points in 2004, and Dental Technology, which required 360, and also a Certificate in Dental Nursing, which required 395 points.

Optometry

There is only one Optometry course in the State, which qualifies students as ophthalmic opticians, and that is at DIT. It only takes 24 students each year and the minimum points score of successful applicants in 2004 was 510. But, with the numbers graduating being so low, there is at least the chance to earn a decent income. The DIT course gives students plenty of options, and language lessons are included. Apart from broad subjects like biology and chemistry, the course also focuses on business studies and law. The course prepares students to be optometrists or ophthalmic opticians. This means they can dispense treatments and also examine eyes. However, a clear distinction must be drawn between their role and that of a consultant working in the ophthalmic area. Work is not always plentiful to begin with.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists work with those whose performance and participation in everyday living has been disrupted by disability, physical injury or illness, developmental problems, psychological problems and social and environmental impediments. Occupational therapists aim to help people improve their day-to-day quality of life by involving them in structured activity or occupations. In 2003, the existing course in Trinity was supplemented by two new courses in NUIs Cork and Galway. This threefold increase in places led to the points dropping from 495 to 490 in 2003, only to rise again to 505 in 2004 in Trinity and Cork and to 495 on random selection in Galway.

Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapists identify people who have disorders of the voice, speech and language, and develop programmes of treatment for them. New courses in NUIs Galway and Cork, in addition to the existing Trinity course, saw points drop from 525 to 510-515 in 2003. As with Occupational Therapy and Pharmacy, the points rose again in 2004, with Trinity requiring 525, Cork 520 and Galway 515, with some securing places on 510 through random selection.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists use physical means such as exercise, mobilisation, manipulation and massage to promote healing from pain caused by injury or disability. Physiotherapy is offered in four colleges. UCD and RCSI admitted students in 2004 on 540 points, with some securing places on 535 through random selection. TCD was five points higher on 545, again with some students getting a place on 540 through random selection. UL had by far the highest points requirement at 590 for random selection.

Radiography

Radiography is divided into two areas of work: diagnostic, which involves the use of various forms of imaging, including x-ray, MRI scans and ultra-sound, to produce images of the body; and therapeutic, where treatment is given over a protracted period for diseases such as cancer.

In 2004, TCD offered places to those holding 505 points and above, while UCD admitted students on 500 points.

Other courses

The DIT offers three interesting programmes: Environmental Health, where points requirements were 305 in 2004; Clinical Measurement, where points of 285 were required; and Biomedical Science, a new programme which admitted students at 415 points in 2004. NUI Galway also offers this programme. Entry points were 470 in 2004.

WIT offers two degrees - Health Promotion and Exercise & Health Studies - at points in and around 300. Finally, UCC offered a new degree in 2004, in Public Health and Health Promotion, which offered places to those holding 415 points.

College Choice resumes next Monday