Fact File

Useful addresses:

An Bord Altranais, 31/32 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2 (tel: (01) 676 0226) Nursing Careers Centre (general and psychiatric nursing), PO Box 6703, Dublin 2 National Applications Centre (mental handicap nursing), PO Box 3017, Dublin 15 (tel: (01) 821 7266).

Three-year diploma

Clinical instruction: 86 weeks (35 hours per week) Theoretical instruction: 58 weeks (30 hours per week) Holidays: 12 weeks (4 weeks per year)

An Bord Altranais minimum entry requirements

At least 17 years of age on June 1st of the year of application Leaving Cert: minimum of grade C3 in two higher-level Leaving Cert subjects and a D3 in four ordinary-level papers in the following subjects - English or Irish (not foundation level Irish); maths (not foundation level); a lab science subject (biology, physics, chemistry, physics and chemistry [joint] or agricultural science); three other subjects (may include Irish or English or a lab science subject not included already, or other subjects; or have equivalent qualifications).

Applicants must also meet the minimum educational requirements specified by the third-level institution concerned (these requirements are set out in the booklet Nursing, A career for you, produced by the Nursing Careers Centre).

Mature applicants Applicants who are over 23 years of age on January 1st of the year of application may apply as a mature student. They must satisfy An Bord Altranais as to their suitability for entry to the programme by means of an assessment test and an interview. This year, some 12 per cent of places on the general and psychiatric programmes have been offered to mature students.

Money matters

Fees associated with the programme are paid by the health board or hospital to the third-level institution so students do not pay tuition fees. The health board or hospital also pays an annual non-means-tested grant (£3,250 this year) to nursing students. Uniforms, meals and textbooks (up to a total value of £200) are also supplied.