Q&A

Q: Why do subject requirements for medicine vary so much? Surely all medical graduates are qualified to practice at the end of their course so why the difference?

Aspiring medical student

A: You may well ask why! After graduating from the medical faculty of whichever college you enter, with an M B, B Ch, B.AO you can register provisionally as a medical practitioner with the Medical Council. You must then complete one year of satisfactory service in an approved hospital before full registration.

The matriculation requirements for TCD are: pass in six Leaving Cert subjects with a minimum of three HCs to include a pass in maths and another language (as you probably know, Irish is not essential for TCD but can be counted as the other language). However, the course requirements for medicine in TCD are ordinary-level C or higher-level D in maths if you don't have physics in Leaving Cert plus at least a higher-level B and a higher-level C in two of physics, chemistry, biology, agricultural science or physics/chemistry.

There is also the added restriction that physics/ chemistry may not be presented with physics or chemistry and agricultural science may not be presented with biology.

So, on to the three NUI colleges. Medicine is offered in UCC, UCD, NUI Galway. These three require a pass in six subjects in the Leaving Cert to include two higher-level Cs and four ordinary-level Ds and a pass in Irish, English, a third language, maths, one other subject and a laboratory science subject. This, as it happens, is the same as the TCD science subjects group - one combination which is not permitted is that physics and chemistry may not be presented with either of the subjects, physics or chemistry.

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is a recognised college of the NUI, but it differs from the other colleges in its entry requirements for medicine. Agricultural science is not accepted in the science grouping and also one higher-level B must be obtained from the group physics, chemistry, biology, physics/chemistry or maths.

It seems that each medical faculty imposes its own separate entry requirements to produce what seems to be in the end the same type of graduate - or are they?

Q: I have a B Sc degree in physics and chemistry and have now changed my mind as to what career I'd like. I'd love to change to a career in medicine. What is the attitude of colleges in the UCAS system to graduate entry?

Newry graduate

A: All medical schools accept graduates who have either a first class or a 2.1 honours degree, providing they have relevant A levels or their degree contains chemistry. The preference for A-level subjects are: A-level chemistry essential and then generally colleges prefer biology to physics. Places are usually restricted but on average colleges take about 10 per cent graduate entry a year.

All institutions interview applicants even though they apply varying criteria. Most colleges will interview many applicants but some interview only those to which they intend making offers.

Colleges generally like to interview mature applicants and graduates and obviously your personal statement is vital here. Qualities which are sought are commitment to medicine, good communication skills, well balanced attitude, extracurricular interests and, of course, academic ability.

About two-thirds of the colleges will consider applicants under 30 years of age. Applicants over 30 are very carefully considered even though there is no stated upper age limit.

Some colleges seem to be more open to graduates and 10 per cent of the intake at universities such as Bristol and Dundee is reserved for them.

Numbers vary at some of the University of London colleges as follows: Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (20-25 graduates); Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine (10-15 graduates); St Georges' Hospital Medical School 10 per cent; United Medical and Dental School of St Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals (10 per cent) and University College London Medical School (10 per cent). The University of Nottingham takes 10-15 and the University of Southampton takes 25 mature / graduate students annually.

Cambridge restricts entry to two colleges with one place in each and Oxford University Medical School encourages graduates and has a small number of very competitive scholarships available.

Q: What do I need to work as an ambulance driver/helper? Will I need a very good Leaving Cert? Where does training take place?

North Dublin student

A: To get any job now in this area, you will have to apply through the health boards in the first instance. Vacancies are advertised in the national press.

You could also apply to Dublin Corporation which has an ambulance service. There are also a few private ambulance companies.

Drivers, attendants and other personnel will train as emergency medical technicians over two years. During this time, they will also get on-the-job experience.

This training takes place at the National Ambulance Training School which is now responsible for the provision of pre-hospital emergency care training for all members of the Health Board Ambulance Services. The school is located at St Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

It would be a good idea to join a voluntary ambulance organisation so that you will become familiar with the basic problems and skills required. You will need a pass in five subjects in Leaving Cert to include English, maths and a science subject.

You can get further information from the National Ambulance Training Board, St Mary's Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin 20 - phone (01) 671 5187.

Good news

A parent has written to say that contact lenses are available to help with colour blindness. The NCAD has also asked us to point out that defective colour vision need not necessarily be a problem for a career in ceramics. Two individuals who had a visual handicap have graduated in ceramics, both have established studios on leaving college and are still in business

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