Transition Times: Don't overlook Leaving Certificate engineering if you're handy at science

Engineering is one of the lesser-known topics on the Leaving Certificate curriculum, but one in 10 students takes it every year. It used to be known as metalwork, but with the new title has come a broader focus. It has come to be regarded as a subject designed for would-be apprentices, and it is certainly useful for anyone with an eye on a career in the construction industry. It is often overlooked, however, by the large number of students planning to take primary degrees in engineering. Leaving Cert engineering offers potential engineers a very practical training.

"This is one of the few subjects on the Leaving Cert curriculum that gives students a chance to design," says Kenny Donagher of Summerhill College in Sligo. "The syllabus is 50 per cent theory and 50 per cent practical design. Students are asked to submit their own design project in May. Last year they were charged with designing an amphibious vehicle."

If films such as I, Robot catch your imagination, or you're a fan of Robot Wars, the television series in which teams compete to build the toughest remote-control vehicle, this course could be for you. Donagher says engineering is a great choice for students with an aptitude for science. "If you are taking physics and chemistry, engineering is a good third choice - and a great subject to get points in if you're handy at sciences."

The written component of the exam is no walk in the park, with tough theory questions on everything from iron-carbon equilibrium to polymer technology. For a student with a decent grounding in chemistry, however, the subject provides a good balance between theory and practice. The subject has been around for quite a while, and students are rarely surprised by the exam's contents.

In recent years many students have chosen to work on projects using computer-aided-design, or CAD, software, so the course is very useful for budding engineers.

One of the problems with engineering is that its reputation as a vocational subject has meant that many academically focused schools don't offer it. You need a workshop in the school to hold engineering classes, and many schools don't have that resource. If you are interested in taking engineering but your school doesn't offer it, talk to your careers-guidance counsellor about your options.