There are no formal qualifications to become a designer - Lainey Keogh was a medical lab technician who designed knitwear in her spare time. However, for most second-level students, a FAS, PLC or third-level qualification will provide a first step.

Designer Cuan Hanly, fashion and textile representative for the Institute of Designers, says: "If you feel you have a talent, get the experience. And don't be afraid to get this experience in areas other than design." You can acquire contacts in different ways, such as styling or buying, and then return to design, he adds.

It's extremely rare for a graduate of a fashion design course to set up his or her own label immediately. Most graduates will spend five or six years, working for a designer, gaining experience, says Hanly.

His own experience is fairly typical. After graduating from the Grafton Academy, a private college in Dublin, he went to London to work with Paul Smith before he went out on his own. "There are definitely opportunities in the industry," he says. There are two routes into NCAD's fashion design degree - 80 per cent of students come through the college's first-year core programme and 20 per cent apply directly to fashion design in second year. The latter students must have completed one year of a recognised third-level course.

First-year core provides a taste of the various art and design disciplines. Frances McDonogh, head fashion and textiles at NCAD, says second year is essentially a time when students acquire the skills and become fluent at expressing themselves in design terms.

In addition, one-fifth of the course comprises art and complementary studies. Students are introduced to the college's CAD/ CAM system between second and third year and they are encouraged to use to develop and present their work.

In third year, students begin to work on theme projects, for instance, corporate wear. "Market research is a very important aspect of the projects," adds McDonogh. Students gain experience in working with a variety of fabrics from light precious materials to the heavier materials used in tailoring classes. "Between third and fourth year, we encourage students to take up a placement in industry," she says. In fourth year, students work in an independent way and, by the end of the year, they have designed six outfits which they present at a fashion show.

Graduates may find work at home or abroad. They are to be found in companies as diverse as Bally, the Gap, DKNY, Reebok and Timberland. Others have set up on their own - witness Deirdre Fitzgerald, Phillip Treacy, Marc O'Neill. Some students continue their studies at postgraduate level.

Limerick IT offers a three-year diploma followed by a one-year add-on degree. Patricia Keilthy, director of the college's fashion design course, explains that the first term is a condensed foundation course, while second term is an exploration of various options both fine art and design. In third term, students specialise. "Second year is a very intensive year - it's about creativity and getting the imagination working," says Keilthy. Students visit London and Paris (by bus, for under £200) in February. They do market research in a variety of stores and come back and make a presentation.

"In third year, I say to the students `You are the designer, what is your unique voice?' They must develop their design signature. They also have the skills to participate in national competitions." Again, in third year, students take the bus to Paris and London. The mission - to buy fabric to design three outfits.

Diploma graduates who scored a minimum of 55 per cent in their exams can proceed directly to the add-on degree. Those with less than 55 per cent are encouraged to take a year out and return later, says Keilthy. Fourth year includes a work placement and a thesis. By the end of fourth year, students have produced six outfits for the ramp and eight outfits in toile. More than 50 per cent of graduates go into the knitwear area and Limerick IT offers a postgraduate course in knit technology. Keilthy says graduates have either found employment or gone on to further study for the past two years. None were unemployed.