Full-time undergraduate courses:

Insurance and European studies degree - 1998/99 cutoff points 405

Business studies (including risk management and insurance as a major option) - 1998/99 cut-off points 415

There are a huge range of courses in the business / accountancy/ finance/ commerce area. These are available at cert, diploma and degree level.

New third-level specialist option within the BComm PLC courses:

There is a variety of PLC courses in the business studies, office skills and teleservices area, which would make a good starting point for jobs in administrative positions in insurance. There is no central applications system for PLCs so you should contact your local VEC or PLC college for information. Whitehall Senior College, Dublin, offers a PLC in banking and insurance - it has an open afternoon on March 3rd from 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Part-time or distance education

There is a series of exams of the Chartered Insurance Institute. There are specific educational requirements to enter some of these. Certificate of proficiency - no educational or age requirements Certificate of insurance practice - if you are under 21 years of age you will need a minimum of four passes at Leaving Cert or the Certificate of Proficiency or Financial Planning Certificate. Associateship - for those under 25, three higher-level C1s in the Leaving Cert or two higher-level C1s and two ordinary-level D1s are needed. A national cert or diploma in business studies or public administration or a degre in any subject are also sufficient. A number of other qualifications are also accepted. Contact the Insurance Institute of Ireland for details.

Employment:

In 1997, 10,100 people were employed in the insurance sector. Of these, 5,500 were in life insurance.

Source: Irish Insurance Federation

Professional body:

The Insurance Institute of Ireland, Insurance House, 39, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. There are 3,500 members in the Republic.