Just because a course doesnt have a high number of CAO points doesnt necessarily mean there are no jobs to be had at the end of it.

Just because a course doesn’t have a high number of CAO points doesn’t necessarily mean there are no jobs to be had at the end of it. That’s the message from the STEPS (Science, Technology and Engineering Programme for Schools) initiative to those currently considering whether or not to accept a college course offer.

“In fact, this is quite the opposite for engineering,” comments Ita McGuigan, STEPS project manager. The sharp fall in the points required for engineering courses and the increase of places on these courses mean engineering is now a career option for people who may not have had the points for it previously.

“There are jobs for every sector of engineering — especially the areas of healthcare and pharmaceuticals, which are growing every year, especially the biomedical area in the west and pharmaceuticals in the south,” she notes.

While the jobs are in these areas it doesn’t necessarily mean they are for biomedical or chemical engineers. “If you qualify with a degree in chemical or electronic engineering you can then specialise in biomedical or go into the pharmaceutical sector. If you qualify with a degree in medicine you’re restricted to medicine, while if you graduate with a chemical engineering degree you can work for NASA. It doesn’t restrict you to the pharmaceutical or chemical industry,” McGuigan adds.

Elaine Larkin