All your education questions answered by Brian Mooney

My son is very keen to study medicine. He is currently doing a science degree in NUI Maynooth. He did not get the points needed to get entry to medicine through the CAO. Could he transfer to medicine after a few years of the science programme? Would he require a first-class honours classification in his degree, or will colleges accept less? Would he be able to gain entry more easily to UK colleges and if so how would he go about it? Finally, would he gain entry more easily elsewhere in Europe such as in Budapest, Hungary and if so what grades would they expect him to have? Would his medical qualifications from Budapest be recognised internationally

Medical and paramedical courses are still the most sought after, both through the CAO and the Ucas (UK) application systems. Currently, there are changes taking place in the number of places available, the methods of application, and alternative opportunities for students to access medical places.

The Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, has set about doubling the number of places available from 315, over a five-year period, by funding an additional 70 places each year. Discussions are also underway regarding the introduction of an aptitude test, to determine a candidate's suitability for a career in medicine, with all students scoring more than 450 Leaving Certificate points, being eligible to apply. No agreement has been reached on the implementation of this proposal, and no firm date has been agreed for its introduction.

In the current academic year, most of the medical schools in the UK have moved to a pre-selection aptitude test, which all students, including those in the Irish education system, had to sit at their own expense, prior to having their application considered. We have yet to see the effect of this new procedure on the pattern of offers from UK medical faculties. To date Irish applicants have found the task of securing a place on a UK course just as difficult as securing one in Ireland. On enquiry, the University of Newcastle advised me that they are currently examining 4,000 applicants for 350 places.

The Minister for Education recently announced that she is planning to support a number of four-year postgraduate programmes in medicine, open to all graduates of honours bachelor degrees, which will commence and accept first-year students in September 2007. The HEA has invited proposals from colleges wishing to provide this programme. An expert group is finalising its advice on a selection test and entry criteria. UCD and the Royal College of Surgeons are already offering this option in 2006.

Finally, regarding your question regarding Budapest, I spent three days recently visiting medical, veterinary and physiotherapy faculties in Budapest, and in another city, Szeged. There are over 80 Irish students attending the veterinary faculty in Semmelweis in Budapest, and I interviewed over 20 of them, who seemed very happy with their decision to study there.

I also interviewed two third-year medical students, who indicated that the standards of lecturing can vary from excellent to poor, but that the practise classes, which are much more important, have very high standards, and much of the theory is given in these smaller groups. Both students indicated that their overall impression to date was positive. For a student determined to become a doctor or a vet, who cannot secure a medical or paramedical place in Ireland or the UK, the Hungarian option is a viable one, and as an EU country it benefits from the reciprocal recognition of qualifications. Entry is based on oral examinations in chemistry and biology held in Ireland. Enquiries to Tim O'Leary, veterinary surgeon at 028-37180.

Brian Mooney is the former president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.

E-mail questions to bmooney@irish- times.ie