Engineer your future in the construction industry

As the current property boom continues, there is constant demand for graduates of all disciplines within the construction sector. One option for students wishing to work in the construction industry is to apply for courses in civil engineering or architecture.

Up to 40 per cent of those in the construction industry have qualifications in engineering areas such as electrical, electronic, mechanical and computer engineering.

Architecture

There are five level 8 architectural degree courses, available through the CAO: (DN001) in UCD, (LM099) in the University of Limerick, (CK606) offered jointly by UCC & CIT, (WD144) at WIT and (DT101) in DIT Bolton Street.

Both the DIT and UL courses are restricted application courses, which must be listed by the 1st February deadline, with aptitude tests followed by interviews and portfolio presentation. A maximum 200 points are awarded, during this process. The National Building Agency (www.nba.ie) awards a scholarship for architecture to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In recent years, UCD has introduced (DN078), a five-year, structural engineering with architecture degree, which required 510 points last year.

Architectural technology

Architectural technologists prepare the paperwork used in construction as well as freehand and computer-aided designs.

DT105 in DIT is a three-year ordinary degree. GMIT offers two programmes, (GA472) and (GA873) in Castlebar. Other providers are Cork IT (CR090); Waterford IT (WD094); Carlow IT (CW 407) and (CW007) on the Wexford campus. All offer level 7 degree programmes.

Interior architecture

The ITs in Cork (CR053) and Sligo (SG336) offer interior design courses, which require 330 and 275 points respectively in 2005. In the DIT, course DT544 covers in interior or furniture design.

Civil and Structural Engineering

Civil engineers design, plan and build roads, airports, bridges, dams, harbours and highways. Level 8 degrees in civil engineering are offered in UCD (DN072), NUI Galway (GY402), UCC (CK602) with environmental, LIT (LC421), Sligo IT (SG342). DIT offers an ordinary and honours degree in civil and structural engineering. Level 7 civil engineering degrees are available from 11 of the State's ITs . Details on www.qualifax.ie

The structural engineer has skills varying from mathematical skills at the design stage, to practical skills when the structure is being constructed. Structural engineering at level 8 is available from CIT (CR109).

Building Surveying

Before an architect gets involved, the land has to be surveyed and the environmental implications of the proposed building, along with its compliance with planning regulations, weighed up. Two degree programmes at DIT train graduates for this work, which involves land surveying, geomatics (DT112) and planning and environmental management (DT106).

The level 8 programme in building surveying at Dundalk IT is the only degree in the subject. The course is highly regarded within the surveying profession, having recognition and exam exemptions from the Society of Chartered Surveyors.

Quantity surveying

A quantity surveyor will analyse the building design for the purpose of cost planning, detailed tendering, cost and control. DIT (DT111) and Limerick IT (LC471) offer four-year degrees in quantity surveying. Level 7 programmes are offered in GMIT (GA471), Sligo (SG339), Letterkenny (LY507) and CIT (CR052).

Construction Management

The next stage is the management of the building process. This involves the organisation of contracts for labour, materials, plant and negotiations with contractors.

DIT (DT117), Waterford IT (WD025), Limerick IT (LC491) and Galway-Mayo IT (GA480) offer level 8 degrees in construction management.

UL has a new bachelor of science in construction management and engineering (LM082). Level 7 programmes are available in Carlow, Cork and GMIT.

Valuation surveyor

Once the building is finished, the chartered/valuation surveyor gets involved. DIT offers (DT110), a four-year programme which offers valuation surveying, real estate, investment and management, property auctioneering and estate agency in Ireland and abroad.

Construction studies

For students interested in a broad education and technical training in the principles and techniques of construction, 10 ITs offer two-year certificate courses in construction studies. They are Athlone, Carlow, Cork, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Galway- Mayo, Sligo, Tralee, Limerick and Waterford.

Tomorrow: Post Leaving Cert courses.