Demand for postgraduate courses is reaching a record level, as students scramble for places.
The latest figures, for September last, show that more than 17,000 students have registered an interest in pursuing a postgraduate qualification. The figure was compiled by the Post Graduate Applications Centre (PAC) in Galway, an offshoot of the Central Applications Office. The PAC Office handles all postgraduate applications on behalf of the universities, except UCD and UL.
More than 30,000 students graduate from the seven Irish universities abd 14 Institutes of technology each year. With bleak employment prospects, many are looking to their postgraduate qualification to help unlock the job market. Demand for places now regularly exceees availability. There are more than 3,000 applicants for the Higher Diploma in Education currently awaiting a decision on their application. Many have already spent a number of years ib either part-time teaching or taking a Master`s programme. The Department of Education recently announced that H.Dip in Education is to be extended to two years from 2013, which will double the cost of securing this qualification. But there are also bright spots. The one-year conversion courses-in which students take the entire content of a three-or four-year undergraduate programme in a single academic year- is a food option.
Conversion courses in IT are especially popular, as employers struggle struggle to find suitably qualified graduates in manu specialist IT areas. Apart from employer driven programmes addressing specific skills shortages, there are hundreds of one-year taught Master`s programmes which should boost job prospects. PhD study is also booming. But funding-even that provided by Science Fundation Ireland for PhD work, Biotechnology, ICT and the Smart Economy- is under extereme pressure. Securing a postgraduate qualification is extremely expensive in Ireland, unlike many EU countries. Most qualified postgrads will have accumulated bank debts of at least €10,000.
The latest figures, for September last, show that more than 17,000 students have registered an interest in pursuing a postgraduate qualification. The figure was compiled by the Post Graduate Applications Centre (PAC) in Galway, an offshoot of the Central Applications Office. The PAC Office handles all postgraduate applications on behalf of the universities, except UCD and UL.
More than 30,000 students graduate from the seven Irish universities abd 14 Institutes of technology each year. With bleak employment prospects, many are looking to their postgraduate qualification to help unlock the job market. Demand for places now regularly exceees availability. There are more than 3,000 applicants for the Higher Diploma in Education currently awaiting a decision on their application. Many have already spent a number of years ib either part-time teaching or taking a Master`s programme. The Department of Education recently announced that H.Dip in Education is to be extended to two years from 2013, which will double the cost of securing this qualification. But there are also bright spots. The one-year conversion courses-in which students take the entire content of a three-or four-year undergraduate programme in a single academic year- is a food option.
Conversion courses in IT are especially popular, as employers struggle struggle to find suitably qualified graduates in manu specialist IT areas. Apart from employer driven programmes addressing specific skills shortages, there are hundreds of one-year taught Master`s programmes which should boost job prospects. PhD study is also booming. But funding-even that provided by Science Fundation Ireland for PhD work, Biotechnology, ICT and the Smart Economy- is under extereme pressure. Securing a postgraduate qualification is extremely expensive in Ireland, unlike many EU countries. Most qualified postgrads will have accumulated bank debts of at least €10,000.
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