Many different disciplines in engineering available

College Choice: Every weekday, until the deadline at the end of teh month, careers expert Brian Mooney will guide you through…

College Choice:Every weekday, until the deadline at the end of teh month, careers expert Brian Mooney will guide you through the CAO process and outline the best possible options

Engineering programmes attract those who enjoy scientific and mathematical challenges. They tend to be logical thinkers and have an aptitude for problem solving. A recent salary survey revealed that graduate engineers earn approximately €29,000 during their first year of work, rising to €33,488 in their second year.

Types of engineering

There are 14 different disciplines of engineering in nine universities and 13 institutes of technology. They include: aeronautical, biomedical, biosystems, food and agriculture, building services, chemical, civil, computer and software, electrical/electronic, industrial and manufacturing and design, transport, mechanical and structural.

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A wide range of choices

Civil engineering projects - such as the Dublin Port Tunnel - contribute to the consistent popularity of civil engineering and have spawned related degrees such as structural engineering with architecture at UCD (DN078) and civil and environmental at Cork IT (CK602). UCD (DN072), NUI Galway (GY402) UL (LM085) and DIT (DT027) all offer denominated degrees in civil engineering. NUIG offers a BSc project and construction management (GY410).

Other interesting specialist options include aeronautical engineering in UL (LM077), biosystems engineering at UCD (DN076), mechatronics from DCU (DC193) or building services engineering in CIT (CR072). The product design degrees in DIT (DT001) and NUIM (marketing and innovation) (MH305) bridge the gap from engineering to innovation and user-centred design, and are particularly suitable for students who are interested in combining creativity with technology, business and marketing, while being lighter on the maths required for a level 8 programme (OD3 and OB3 entry requirements respectively).

Letterkenny (LY417) offers product design at ordinary degree level. Energy (CK603) at UCC prepares students for the global peaking of oil production with innovative and sustainable engineering solutions.

Exploring your options in omnibus or general programmes.

If you are perplexed by the wide number of options available, you can use the first year of your engineering degree to choose your area of specialisation. Omnibus programmes at UCD, TCD, NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway, UCC, UL, DIT and IT Blanchardstown offer the possibility to specialise from their second year. There is a lot to commend these routes; many students feel that it is only by getting to know the specific disciplines that they can be sure of the right option.

Bologna process.

UCD (DN080) is a move towards the European model of 3+2, in which the first three years are an undergraduate programme leading to a BSc with years four and five leading to a qualification as a master in engineering, which is envisaged as a future requirement to become a recognised professional engineer.

Work placements/internships.

Some programmes offer work placement/ internships, usually in third/fourth year. You can get acquainted with different types of engineering work and prospective employers as well as earning some income. Internship students work two days a week in industry and study three days: eg (DT081) computer and communications engineering at DIT.

Subject requirements

To study engineering at level 8 honours degree, you need at least a HC3 in maths and normally at least one science subject - some courses, for example electrical, electronic or computer engineering at DIT, do not require a science subject. For the student taking ordinary level maths, there are still many ways to become an engineer. Indeed, the institutes of technology have introduced many programmes which permit an ordinary level maths student to achieve a level 8 honours degree in only five years.

Progression routes into level 8 engineering degrees.

If you want to study engineering at levels 6 or 7 (certificate and ordinary degree), you will need at least a grade OD3 or HD3 in maths. Level 6 qualifications will lead to engineering technician status, with level 7 leading to engineering technologist. Graduates of these programmes can progress onwards to level 8 engineering qualification.

Level 8 is traditionally a four-year qualification route, while levels 6 and 7 are two and three years respectively. A one-year level 6 programme, preliminary engineering, leading to entry to DIT level 8 engineering programmes, is available from DIT, Coláiste Dhúlaigh and Ballyfermot College of Further Education.

Further information

See  www.steps.ieor Prof Gerry Byrne's Engineering as a Career from Engineers Ireland. See also the DIT web page www.engzone.ie

Tomorrow: building and construction