Not everyone can be the rugby team physio

Places on courses in paramedics are among the most sought-after by students. Physiotherapy is the most popular, with high demand for a limited number of places: points for 1999 were in excess of 535. Three colleges offer the opportunity to study physiotherapy, the Royal College of Surgeons, Trinity College and University College Dublin. This year 632 students put physiotherapy as their first preference and 60 were accepted.

Many look to British colleges in the hope of getting a place on their desired course. However the situation in Britain is no different from that in Ireland. In 1998 in Britain, 6,686 students applied to study physiotherapy and 1,725 were accepted. In that year 571 applied from Ireland and 10 were accepted.

Despite a 14 per cent shortage of physiotherapists in Britain, the number of places available to students is not increasing. The reason for this is inadequate funding and limited work placements, according to college lecturers and admissions officers.

"We have the resources to teach more students but there is a shortage of placements," says Paul Gray, schools liaison officer at the Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland.

But are all those who apply for courses such as physiotherapy and pharmacy genuinely interested in pursuing a career in these areas? It is thought that some applicants don't fully understand what the course is about and others are merely using them display their academic ability.

`IT IS not as gorgeously romantic as it is painted on television. You're not going to be looking after the Irish rugby team," said Professor Ken Childerhouse of Brunel University near London. Brunel offers courses in physiotherapy and occupational therapy, an area which is attracting more interest here and in Britain. The requirements for physiotherapy for Irish applicants is five B1s at higher level taken in one year, including maths, English and a biological science. There is also a three year BSc (Hons) continuation course in physiotherapy which qualifies graduates for membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists. For occupational therapy Irish students require at least three Bs and two Cs at higher level, one of which should be biology, psychology or sociology. An additional pass is required in English at intermediate level.

Lecturers and admissions officers in colleges across Britain are agreed on the importance of the personal statement section of the UCAS form in the application process. It is important that students show a knowledge and understanding of the career for which they wish to study.

"If an applicant for physiotherapy only talks about sport he or she doesn't understand what the profession is about. Helping old people to spit is not exactly glamorous," says Phil Bell of Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh.

Paul Gray (Caledonian University) shares the same view. "Physiotherapy involves a lot of work with children, old people, people with disabilities trying to improve psycho-motor activities in the brain. In your day you could be helping somebody to vomit." While not intending to discourage students from aspiring to these professions, colleges want students to be clear in their own minds what they want to do. Occupational therapy is the fastest growing healthcare profession in Britain. In Ireland occupational therapy is only offered by Trinity College. In 1998, 221 Irish students applied to UCAS to study occupational therapy and 21 were accepted. Courses in this area are offered in over 22 colleges in Britain.

Most of the health-related courses in Britain are funded by the Department of Health to benefit the British health service. Though Irish applications are treated the same as British ones, it has been advised that Irish students contact the Department of Health and admissions officers before they apply to speak about their interest in taking the course and in doing so, increase their prospect of entry.

Radiography is offered in UCD and this year applicants required in excess of 510 (an increase of 10 points since 1998).

Of the most popular healthcare courses, Irish applicants for radiography in Britain are the most successful but the demand is lower than that of physiotherapy, pharmacy and occupational therapy. In Britain 24 colleges offer courses in radiography. There were 212 Irish applicants in 1998 and 72 were accepted from a total of 1,857 applicants. Radiography is offered in two guises, diagnostic and therapeutic, and is available in approximately 24 colleges. The courses are at least three-year full-time programmes. Diagnostic radiography involves the use of X-rays and other electromagnetic radiation to produce photographic images of internal structures, assisting in the diagnosis of abnormalities and disease.

Irish applicants to the University of West England in Bristol are required to have a minimum of four higher level Grade C science/academic subjects. In some colleges honours maths is accepted as a science subject but students should check with the colleges they are applying to. In Kingston University in London, Irish students require three Bs and three Cs at higher level.

The degree in clinical speech offered by Trinity College is Ireland's only speech therapy course. There are 26 places on the course, two of which are for mature students. Students applying to Britain have a choice of 14 colleges. Courses in speech therapy often come under different names such as human communication and speech sciences. A degree in speech therapy prepares students to adapt to a range of language disorders in children and adults. Students from the Republic applying to the University of Ulster are required to have a result of at least one A and five Bs at higher level. The subjects suggested are English, maths, a science subject (geography is accepted as a science subject).

Pharmacy can only be studied in Trinity College. This year 393 students applied for the course and 70 were accepted. In 1998 5,075 students applied to UCAS to study pharmacy, 368 of those were Irish. Of the 368 that applied 102 were accepted. COURSES usually are of four years duration and in that time students study the analysis and synthesis of medicinal drugs, their properties and formulation and their affect on the human body.

Most colleges offering pharmacy require an A or B in higher-level maths and three science subjects.

Julie Moore of Mountbellew, Co Galway, hopes to study pharmacy when she completes the Leaving Certificate next year. However when she attended the higher options exhibition at the RDS in Dublin she was surprised to learn that the majority of British colleges would not consider taking Irish students unless they had three science subjects. Julie is not studying three science subjects and is automatically ruled out of most pharmacy courses in Britain.

"I never knew before that I needed more than two. I was told to pick what I was interested in. I am looking for an alternative route. I might do science for a year and reapply for pharmacy then."

For further information on applying to British Colleges, the UCAS websites can be accessed at www.ucas.co.uk or www.oncourse.co.uk