The good news is that there are lots of jobs for dietitians; the bad news is that it is difficult to get a place on the State's only undergraduate course.

The second-round points for the honours BSc in human nutrition and dietetics in DIT Kevin Street were 490 this year. There are usually some 25 first-year places available on the four-and-a-half year course. Applicants must have a minimum of a higher-level C3 in chemistry. The course is run jointly with TCD.

DIT course tutor Mary Moloney says: "The aims of the course are to provide an integrated undergraduate training in the science of nutrition and dietetics and to apply this training to the human being at and individual and community level. Graduates are also eligible to work in the food and pharmaceutical industries."

Job prospects have never been as good, she says. Twenty new posts have been created in the community area, she explains, while a significant number of jobs have also been created by the Department of Health to promote its Change of Heart campaign. There are also a number of extra posts in hospitals and industry, she adds.

In the past, many graduates had to go to Britain for their first job and return home after gaining some experience. While this is no longer the case, graduates of the DIT/TCD course are eligible to apply for state registration in Britain. There is also a reciprocity agreement with the American Dietetic Association, so the qualification is also recognised in the US.

Moloney conducted a survey of graduate destinations in 1996. This survey, which covered the preceding 10 years of graduates, found that 56 per cent were employed in the clinical and community areas (the traditional areas of employment), with 17 per cent in the academic area (teaching and postgraduate research), 16 per cent in the pharmaceutical and food industries and 11 per cent dispersed among various other areas. Nobody was unemployed.

Second-level students applying for the DIT course should be interested in science and they also need good communication skills. The course includes a work placement in clinical, community or industry settings as well as a period of practical catering administration and management.

Successful students are awarded with an honours BSc in human nutrition and dietetics from TCD as well as an honours diploma from the DIT.

There are 31 courses available through the central applications body in Britain, UCAS (website: www.ucas.com).

These include single honours degrees and degrees which allow students to take dietetics with another subject.

Students thinking of going to Britain should get the literature from the individual colleges. Don't just rely on a one-line course description in the UCAS handbook or website.

It is also possible to do a degree in human nutrition in UCC. Graduates of this course who wish to work in clinical dietetics can apply for an 18month postgraduate course in UU or a number of British universities. Each year, two or three graduates take up this option.

There are two course offered in institutes of technology in the health science and physiology areawhich may act as stepping stones to human nutrition degrees. Graduates of Carlow IT's certificate course have transferred to nutrition and dietetics courses, as well as a host of other healthcare courses, in Britain and the North. It is anticipated that graduates of Sligo IT's newer programme will also have this option.