All your education questions answered by Brian Mooney.
I am trying to sort out my CAO choices for 2007 entry. My question concerns two UCD courses - engineering science (DN080) and bachelor of engineering (DN072). Can you please explain the difference between these courses? I am hoping to study civil engineering, but I am unsure which course would leave me with the best qualifications.
Both degrees, the BEng in civil engineering DN072 and the BSc/MSc in engineering science DN080, can lead to a qualification in civil engineering. Indeed, students study nine modules in common in first year, with a civil engineering module in graphics in design and communication as an option for the BSc/MSc group. The traditional four-year civil engineering degree covers structural, water resources, environmental, construction, transport, and geotechnical engineering and is one of the most versatile professional qualifications.
The BSc/MSc was introduced last year in response to a pan-European move to harmonise academic degree standards. In the next few years, the professional institute, IEI, will require this masters standard for chartered status in the profession. Like the omnibus entry, it gives students greater flexibility to specialise at a later stage in their degree and students also get the opportunity to work and study abroad. Note that there are fees involved at the masters stage of the degree.
I want to do arts in UCD, but feel I am going to hit the 320 mark, leaving me 30 points short of my target. However, my friend was offered a place in arts last year at UCD, even though he had only 300 points. Was this some sort of mistake or can this be possible?
The CAO never makes mistakes about issues of this nature. If you look at your CAO application form, you will see a box which you can tick if you have a diagnosed disability, such as dyslexia. Students who tick this box are required to provide the appropriate paperwork to verify the nature of their disability. Each individual college, listed on the student's application, receives a copy of the various reports, backing up the student's diagnosis. Based on this information, colleges may choose to offer places to students, on far lower point's scores, than those required from students who do not have any diagnosed disability. I am aware of a case of a student who was offered a medical place in 2005, on a points score in the mid-400s, following such a review of his documentation. Your friend falls into this category. If any reader wishes to explore whether they have the appropriate diagnosis, to warrant a notification to their applicant colleges, the CAO has an excellent explanatory document on its website at www.cao.ie.
Can you please help me identify children's nursing degree courses that are run in Dublin? Can you also indicate the number of points required to qualify?
There are four programmes in children's and general nursing (integrated) offered at level eight degree in Ireland, three of them in Dublin. The programme runs over four and a half years, leading to BSc plus RCN and RGN. There are 100 places on offer, between the four Higher Education Institutions, in association with three main Healthcare Agencies. Children's and general nursing courses on offer are DC218 in DCU, CK712 in UCC, DN116 in UCD and TR911 in Trinity College. Unfortunately, for you, the applications for places in children's and general nursing are the highest in the CAO system, with 28 applicants for every place. In contrast, there are only six applicants for every general nursing place. The points required to secure a place in children's and general nursing in 2006 ranged from 440 to 480. For details of each course and their individual points requirements, see www.nursingcareers.ie
Brian Mooney is the former president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.
E-mail questions to bmooney@irish- times.ie
