The following Student Supports are offered;
• Career guidance on a one to one and group basis
• Use of well equipped computer rooms, internet access and networked printers
• Help with study skills, word processing, numeracy and literacy

Students who successfully complete their Level 5 or Level 6 Awards are able to progress to further study or training. Many of our students go directly into the world of work but increasing numbers progress to higher education opportunities.

entry requIrements
All the courses on offer are demanding and we participants are expected to have completed a Leaving Certificate (or Leaving Certificate Applied) level of education or equivalent.

Mature students are most welcome to apply.

Access to Higher education
As well as offering direct opportunities for employment, a FETAC Award provides an alternative route of access to higher education. The Higher Education Scheme enables holders of a FETAC level 5 or Level 6 Award on the National Qualifications Framework to progress to
designated Certificate and Diploma Courses on the CAO/CAS list.

For more info view St Louis College and Courses on Findacourse.ie >>

Further Education colleges offer Post Leaving Certificate courses (PLCs) and are run by a wide range of public/private colleges and institutions – leading to awards validated by the Irish government’s awards agency – Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC), as well as other awards validated by a range of Irish, UK and other international awarding bodies. The courses are full-time and last for one or two years. Post Leaving Certificate courses adopt an integrated approach, focusing on technical knowledge, core skills and work experience.  Most qualifications are either Level 5 or 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. The next steps being, Level 7 or 8, (degree/honours degree, respectively) which are available in Higher Education Institutes, and which you can progress to via the Further Education sector.

The distinguishing features of FE colleges are their accessibility and links to the community, employers, higher education, schools, youth groups and other services. Their focus is on courses that are reflective of the needs of the community and where they view current/future skills shortage. Most courses have modules like work experience and communications built into them, to ensure that course participants are prepared and ready for work. The educational environment and atmosphere is also unique in the sense that it is conducive to the optimum learning experience, with small class sizes, and staff that have often vast personal work experience in the area they teach or lecture in.

The Further Education sector and the demand for course places continues to grow. Students regularly opt to apply for a college place in Further Education alongside their CAO application. Application is made directly to the individual college and there is no limit to the number of courses you can apply for.

There are currently over 200 Further Education Providers in Ireland. The demand for places come from both secondary school leavers; who apply to enhance their employment prospects or to progress to higher education,  and adults returning to education who may not have completed their leaving certificate. There are any number of reasons why students choose Further Education Colleges; of course, the main reasons are that FE providers can offer you that stepping stone to further and higher education, via The Higher Education Links Scheme, where specific FE courses are linked to higher education courses or The Pilot Scheme, whereby FETAC applicants’ results are converted into a separate points scheme, and they may be eligible for offers of places on a wider variety of third level courses. In 2011 there were over 15,000 CAO applicants presenting with a FETAC award. A FE qualification is industry/service specific – therefore enabling you to target employment in areas where you are competent and qualified in.  It is important to remember that some FE colleges have their own agreed progression agreements with their local ITs. Some students presenting with certain Level 6 awards can go straight into a Level 7 (degree course) related course in an IT. UK colleges have also established links with Further Education Colleges in Ireland. If you are considering using the FE route to gain access to a Higher Education course, research what links are in place, if FETAC applicants are considered, and if there are reserved places on offer.

The general entry requirement is with a Leaving Certificate or equivalent or work/life experience – depending on the course being applied for. Most courses require an interview and some courses will look for a portfolio if relevant to the course being applied for. In terms of financial support – students are entitled to apply for the means tested maintenance grant.

There are an extensive range of course on offer, from Business, Art, Sport and Leisure, Child Care, Horticulture to IT, to name but a few. New courses are continually being devised and ran to reflect our changing economic environment and to address areas with skills shortages. FETAC have recently published new awards which are now available to registered providers to use. They include: Life and Workplace Coaching, Training and Development Information and Advice and Advocacy. This sector of education have become leaders in delivering courses in Childcare, community care, sport and leisure, tourism along with others. Employers know the educational attainments of employees they hire when they come through this standardised system of education.  Candidates must reach a certain standard of educational attainment in terms of modules completed in order to be accredited with their FETAC award.

There are numerous Further Education Colleges in every county in Ireland. Some run up to three courses whilst others could have up to 50.

Atlantic College in Galway has built an international reputation for being a supportive centre of learning, committed to providing accredited courses to the highest academic standards.  Atlantic College has extended its course programme to include a range of part-time and full-time courses in childcare and social studies, business, management and accounting, human resource management and training, psychology and computers and Information Technology. All Atlantic College courses are accredited by nationally and internationally recognised professional and examination bodies such as FETAC, CIPD and ACCA.

Kinsale College was established sixteen years ago to provide a range of Post Leaving Cert courses. Their courses provide exciting alternatives to normal educational experience, opening new opportunities for training and work. Successful graduates pursue careers in their chosen areas or use the FETAC qualification to continue education in other third level institutions. This college has drawn primarily from the cultural, social, historical and ecological context of the College location. Kinsale as a noted port town is reflected in the maritime dimension of the curriculum. Music, Art and Drama are available at the College to satisfy the artistic and aesthetic.  Technology and its significance in modern living are catered for through their multi-media course.

Portobello Institute, one of Ireland’s leading private training colleges prides itself on offering intensive post leaving certificate training to students of all ages. Established in 1981, the Institute has successfully established itself within the market place as an exceptional college choice with notable success rates. The college offers a number of full time, part time and distant learning courses covering Montessori & Special Needs, Creative Studies, Beauty Therapy, Sports Therapy & Health related studies, Business and Travel & Tourism – all of which encompass the necessary educational and life skills necessary to succeed in any of these areas.

Founded in 1983, Dorset College is committed to developing high quality courses to meet the challenges of an increasingly diverse student base and demanding workplace. Situated close to the city centre, the college has grown into a vibrant centre for learning, which caters for the needs of School Leavers, Graduates, International Students and Mature Adults. Their courses cater for candidates in the areas of Computing, Business Studies, Accounting & Finance, Information Technology, Law, Business Administration, English Language, Teacher Training, Psychology, Interior Design, Childcare, Montessori and Healthcare. They provide high quality globally recognised leading-edge educational programmes, delivered in a dynamic environment by a highly qualified Industry experienced team of professionals. All courses are accredited by leading Educational Examining Bodies. The approval of the College by numerous Accreditation Bodies such as HETAC, FETAC, ACCA, IATI, CIPD, ACELS and PMI is a further benchmark of quality. The College aims to bring all candidates accredited skills and training courses that have international industry recognition and which are relevant to the workplace and to the future where employment is assured for successful graduates.

Education Choice is focused on providing Skills Based Training that will help learners in the workplace. They provide skilled based training and they ensure that the learning experience is both interesting and enjoyable so that students are motivated to learn more and achieve success in their roles. They offer the following courses: CCTV Fetac Level 5 Certification, Door security, Train the Trainer, Supervisory Security Management, Conflict Management, Intruder Alarm Course and Guarding Skills.

All FE colleges have services, supports and facilities that one would expect from a third level provider – just on a smaller scale. Further Education providers are quite holistic in their approach to education – afterall their aim is to ensure candidates reach their full potential and are prepared in every way for the world of work or for higher education.

Whether you want to test out a career area before committing to a degree programme with a Higher Education Provider or perhaps you want to gain key transferable skills to enhance your job prospects – a Further Education College is your answer. There are many successful professionals in the work place today – that would not be where they are only for Further Education. These professionals got a second chance of fulfilling their career goals via the FE system when they couldn’t reach the minimum requirements or points for the CAO requirements. Yes, there are Physical Education teachers that have come through the FE system; there are nurses in hospitals that used FE colleges as a stepping stone to their Nursing Degree. There are also many students in Higher Education Institutes studying honours degree programme or for a masters, who have come from the classrooms of Further Education Colleges. What we like about Further Education is that it offers everybody a chance at third level without needing a points figure that looks like a bank balance. It also gives those who have shied away from education in the past a chance to be embraced by an educational environment that is welcoming and student friendly.

One million people in Ireland have achieved FETAC awards between 2001-2010. Mary McAleese said at a recent FETAC celebratory evening that ‘taking on a FETAC course was the beginning of the end of under-achievement, of problems with literacy and numeracy that had lingered from school-days and dogged some peoples’ lives. It was the beginning of self-confidence and pride as they found the courage to start again.’

Further Education providers are fulfilling their ultimate educational objectives. Surveys and statistics highlight this, as half of graduates go directly into employment, while the other half go into higher education in Ireland or abroad to work. As Mary McAleese reiterated – Further Education offers the chance to progress in education and training step by step and to build self-belief so that students take on higher and higher award levels, if they wish to do so.

The decision that you take to pursue a qualification and enhance your professional career opportunities will influence your future. Therefore the importance of making the right personal choice must be an informed one.

Click here to view more information and course listings for Dorset College on Findacourse.ie >>

The college strives continuously to introduce new and exciting courses to our portfolio in order to meet with the ever changing requirements of the economy. Portobello is an impressive college situated within the heart of Dublin. The building is made up of bright and spacious classrooms which help promote a calm environment for learning.

The college atmosphere is friendly, enjoyable and one of relaxed learning. All our tutors are highly qualified and skilled. The college only selects tutors who have a multitude of work experience which can be called upon by the students in the form of effective careers advice. The college’s standing is evident in the esteem of the Validating and Examining bodies who approve our premises, courses and our tutors.

The college has 5 faculties delivering a suite of exciting and interesting full and part time courses, namely;
1) Montessori and Special Needs
2) Creative Studies (make up artistry, fashion buying and merchandising, interior design)
3) Beauty Therapy
4) Sports Therapy & Health Related Fitness
5) Business & Travel and Tourism Courses.

See more details about Portobello Institute and courses run by Portobello institute on Findacourse.ie >>

Today many view the PLC route as their alternative stepping stone into Higher Education Institutes, should they wish to avail of this option, whilst others see it as ‘not going in the front door’ but ‘the back door’ of higher education providers. At the end of your studies in a higher education provider it doesn’t really matter what door you came in through but the qualification in your hand!

Who is the PLC route for? Many argue it is for those who are more practical than academic. Not necessarily so anymore! As year after year, many entrants into the PLC sector of education also have the offer of CAO courses. Some PLC students don’t want to commit to a 3 or 4 year course in a third level institution until they have actually experienced or studied a similar Level 5 or 6 certificate course. PLC courses assist students in making a more informed decision prior to further commitment.

See rest of article on Findacourse.ie >>

Ireland’s 16 VECs organise second-level, adult, community and second-chance education, Post Leaving Cert (PLC) programmes, prisoner education, traveller education and a variety of EU-funded training programmes. These courses are offered at a variety of locations, but particularly in local schools and PLC colleges.

Irelands VEC’s are segrated by county and by city. In 2011 the overall number was decreased from 33 to the present 16. These 16 are listed below

Headquarter locations:

In autumn 2011 a single Student Grant Scheme replaced the 4 main support schemes for students. They were:

• Higher Education Grants Scheme
• Vocational Education Committees’ Scholarship Scheme
• Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees
• Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students Attending Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

The Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post-Leaving Certificate Courses scheme has therefore been subsumed into the Student Grant Scheme. This element of the Student Grant Scheme is open to candidates who are entering approved Post-Leaving Certificate courses for the first time in the academic year in question.

Grants are available for full-time approved Post-Leaving Certificate courses of at least one year’s duration at approved Post-Leaving Certificate centres. The list of approved centres is available from your local VEC. It is also in Schedule 1, Part D of the Student Support Regulations 2011.

Maintenance grants

A maintenance grant is a contribution towards the student’s living costs. Students who started or are starting courses from the academic year 2010-2011 onward do not qualify for a maintenance grant if they are on a Back to Education Allowance or VTOS allowance.

Maintenance grants are available for approved courses below graduate level in Ireland and other EU states and for approved postgraduate courses in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Postgraduate students: No maintenance grants will be paid for new entrants on postgraduate courses from the 2012-13 academic year. Fee grants (described below) will continue to be paid for those postgraduate students who would previously have qualified for the special rate of grant (see ‘Special rates of grants for disadvantaged students’ below).

In addition, based on their means, a further 4,000 postgraduate students will get a €2,000 fee contribution grant. The income threshold for this payment (which will be lower than the standard grant threshold) has not yet been determined.

Fee grants

A fee grant can cover any of the following 3 elements:

• All or part of the student contribution
• Costs of essential field trips
• All or part of a student’s tuition fees (but not if covered by the Free Fees Scheme)

In general, if you qualify for a maintenance grant you will qualify for all elements of the fee grant. However, you will not get the tuition element of a fee grant if you already qualify for free tuition under the Free Fees Schemes.

You may qualify for a fee grant, but not a maintenance grant, if you are what is called a ‘tuition student’ under the Student Grant Scheme. A tuition student is someone who fulfils all the conditions for a student grant except for residence in the State, but who has been resident in an EEA state or Switzerland for 3 of the last 5 years.

The members of the EEA (the European Economic Area) are the 27 members of the EU, along with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

Students doing Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses do not get fee grants, but if you qualify for a maintenance grant you will be exempt from the PLC participant contribution.

Fee grants are available for approved courses below graduate level in Ireland and for approved postgraduate courses in Ireland and Northern Ireland. However, there are no fee grants for courses in other EU states.

See ‘Approved courses and institutions’ below for further detail.

Budget 2012: From the 2012-13 academic year, fee grants will only be paid for new postgraduate students if they would previously have qualified for the special rate of grant (see ‘Special rates of grants for disadvantaged students’ below). In addition, based on their means, a further 4,000 postgraduate students will get a €2,000 fee contribution grant.

How student grants are administered

The new single grant-awarding authority is Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). It will handle all new grant applications for 2012-2013 through studentfinance.ie.

Local authorities will deal with renewal grant applications in respect of:

• Universities
• Prescribed educational institutions in Ireland (such as colleges of education)
• Approved undergraduate courses in approved educational institutions in the EU
• Approved postgraduate courses in approved educational institutions in Northern Ireland

These grants were previously handled under the Higher Education Grants Scheme.

Vocational Education Committees (VECs) will deal with renewal grant applications for approved courses in the following institutions:

• Approved Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) centres
• Institutes of Technology

Student grants are reviewed each year. If you had a grant in one academic year and are continuing your studies on the course in the following year, the body that awarded the grant will be in contact with you in order to renew or re-assess your student grant for that next year.

For new applicants: your grant will be awarded when you confirm acceptance of your place (usually late August/early September). SUSI will pay it into your designated Irish bank account each month, subject to confirmation of attendance.

For continuing students: if you have a grant already and are progressing to the next year of the same course, you will still be paid by the existing awarding authority – your local authority or VEC.

Qualifying for a student grant

Maintenance grant

To qualify for a maintenance grant, you must fulfil the conditions of the scheme as regards:

• Nationality and immigration status
• Residence
• Means

You must also be attending an approved course in an approved institution – see ‘Approved courses and institutions’ below.

There are detailed conditions about the level of the course you are attending; whether you have attended a course at the same level already; and whether the course represents progression from your previous studies.

In general, you will not get a grant for repeating a year or attending a course at a level that does not represent progression from what you have done before. These conditions are specified in paragraphs 14 to 17 of the Student Grant Scheme 2011. However, ‘second chance students’ may be eligible for a grant. A ‘second chance student’ is someone who is aged over 23, did not successfully complete an earlier course and is returning to pursue an approved course after at least 5 years.

Fee grant

If you qualify for a maintenance grant, you will qualify for all relevant elements of a fee grant.

You may qualify for a fee grant, but not a maintenance grant, if you are what is called a ‘tuition student’ under the Student Grant Scheme.

A tuition student is someone who fulfils all the conditions for a student grant except for residence in the State, but who has been resident in an EEA state or Switzerland for 3 of the last 5 years. The members of the EEA (the European Economic Area) are the 27 members of the EU, along with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

Nationality and immigration status

In order to get a student grant you must:

• Be a national of an EU member state or an EEA member state or Switzerlandor
• Be a family member of one of the above, with permission to remain in the State as a family member of such person under the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 and 2008 and EU Treaty rights provisionsor
• Have refugee statusor
• Have been granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State (foreign nationals granted leave to remain under the Irish Born Child scheme – IBC/05 are not eligible)or
• Be eligible for subsidiary protection or have been granted leave to remain under the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006or

• Have permission to remain following a determination not to make a deportation orderor

• Have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to, or civil partnership with, an Irish national living here or be the dependent child of a person with such permission

Residence

Since the academic year 2010-2011, you must have been legally resident in the State for 3 of the previous 5 years to qualify for a maintenance grant. However, if you are studying elsewhere in the EU for a recognised qualification, and you were resident in the State for 3 of the 5 years before starting that course, you satisfy this requirement. Find more details of this requirement on studentfinance.ie.

If you fulfil all the criteria for a maintenance grant except for the residence condition in the State, you may still qualify for a fee grant as a ‘tuition student’.

A tuition student is someone who fulfils all the conditions for a student grant except for residence in the State, but who has been resident in an EEA state or Switzerland for 3 of the last 5 years.The members of the EEA (the European Economic Area) are the 27 members of the EU, along with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

Your parents or guardians, or you yourself if you are an independent mature candidate (see below) must have been ordinarily resident in the administrative area of the local authority from 1 October prior to applying for the grant.

Means test

If you were ordinarily resident with your parents from October 1 of the year before the year of entry to the course, you are considered dependent on your parents and your income (if any) is assessed together with your parents’ income(s). An allowance is made for your earnings outside of term-time – up to €3,809 currently.

Independent mature candidates are candidates aged over 23 who live separately from their parents from 1 October of the year before the year of entry to the course. If you are an independent student, you are assessed on your own income (and that of your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, if applicable).

The means test for a student grant in 2011-2012 was based on your family’s income for the previous full tax year (2010). However, if you or your family have had a change of circumstances (which is likely to be permanent) since 31 December 2010, your changed circumstances may be taken into account.

Some social welfare payments are excluded from ‘reckonable income’ for the purposes of student grants – see more details on reckonable income on studentfinance.ie. Paragraphs 18 to 24 of the Student Grant Scheme 2011 cover reckonable income. Paragraph 21(4) lists the payments that are excluded.

Budget 2012: The value of certain capital assets will be taken into account in the means test for student grants from 2013.

Income limits for maintenance grant and full fee grant

The family income limits for eligibility for a maintenance grant in 2011-2012 are set out below. These limits also qualify you in respect of the fee grant (if you are otherwise eligible).

Income limits for partial fee grant

The family income limits for eligibility for a partial fee grant in 2011-2012 are set out below.

Other family members in college

The reckonable income limits may be increased as follows for each additional family member who is pursuing a full-time course (as specified in the Student Grant Scheme 2011 and Student Support Regulations 2011 of at least one year’s duration:

• In full maintenance and partial fee grant categories by €4,980 where there are 2 such family members, €9,960 where there are 3 such family members and so on, by increments of €4,980
• In part maintenance 75%, 50% and 25% categories by €4,815 where there are 2 such family members, €9,630 where there are 3 such family members and so on, by increments of €4,815

If you are an independent applicant, the family member taken into account is your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. If you are dependent on your parents, the family members taken into account are your parent(s) and their other dependent children.

Special rates of grants for disadvantaged students

Disadvantaged students who meet a number of conditions can qualify for a special rate of maintenance grant.

Applicants must have qualified for the standard maintenance grant for the academic year 2011-2012 and total reckonable income in the tax year January to December 2010 must not be more than €22,703, net of Qualified Child Increases and standard exclusions.

For students, including mature students, who are assessed on parent(s)/guardian’s income, their parent(s)/guardian must, on 31 December 2010, have been:

• Claiming long-term social welfare payments, or
• Claiming Family Income Supplement or
• Participating in designated programmes (for example, a FÁS training programme).

These payments and programmes are listed in Schedule 2 of the Student Grant Scheme 2011.

For students who are assessed on their own income, on 31 December 2010 the student must have been getting one of these social welfare payments or participating in a designated programme.

Budget 2012: New postgraduate students whose means would formerly have qualified them for the special rate of student grant will now only get a fee grant. They will not get a maintenance grant. Existing grant-holders will not be affected.

Higher Education Equity of Access

Department of Education and Skills
Portlaoise Road
Tullamore
Co. Offaly
Ireland

Tel:+353 (0)57 9325317
Fax:+353 (0)57 9325435
Homepage: http://www.education.ie/

Information provided by Citizensinformation.ie

Last year there was a strong increase in the numbers applying to Post-Leaving Cert courses with an estimated two applicants for every place.
However, this year the situation has worsened with three students competing for every placement, according to data gathered from 11 colleges.
The colleges of further education offer 30,000 places on their PLC courses but they would like to offer more.

The TUI wants the Government to lift restrictions placed on PLC numbers, which it says make no economic sense.
All the colleges surveyed have huge numbers of applicants; the highest – Ballyfermot College in Dublin – has more than four applicants for every place.
The TUI says young people are being denied the opportunity to further their education and many will now have no option but to claim unemployment benefit.

This qualification benchmark provides employers with objective validation of skills, knowledge and capabilities acquired and assure Atlantic College graduates of the quality of delivery and value for each of the courses. Classes are limited to 25 to ensure personal support and tutoring and positive learning outcomes. Atlantic College students get individual careers coaching, personal mentoring, training in use of technology to support their studies and career development workshops, the cost of which is included in the course fee.

Unique Features of Atlantic College

• Competitive rates
• Discounted fees for unwaged
• Free city-centre self-study facilities
• Individual careers coaching – cost included
• Return-to Education Workshops – computers, writing skills, study skills etc included in course fee

FAS Funding Applicants in receipt of a social welfare allowance may receive funding from FAS for some short-term courses at Atlantic College

For more details view details of Atlantic College on Findacourse.ie

Kinsale College PLC

This course leads to a FETAC level 5 award and a CACHE certificate after year one. Both of these awards are internationally recognised for those wishing to persue a career in childcare, be it working with the child in a day care nusery/creche, preschool or with a child with a specific need. The course is also designed for those wishing to go on to further study in the area of childcare.

Students spend three days per week in college-based training and the remainding two days on work experience. The work experience is monitored so that the student recieves on-going constructive feedback.

Successful graduates from this course may continue to second year and complete a FETAC level 6 award, Supervision of Children, and a CACHE diploma.
Graduates from the course will be able to avail of the direct link to the level 8 honours degree course in UCC, thus allowing the qualifying graduate access to year 2 of this programme. The graduate from this course will be qualified to work independently with children.

For more information view following link » Kinsale College of Further Education Childcare Course