Accepting a CAO place is now just one option of many, from further education to studying abroad

It may come as a surprise to some parents and students, but I often recommend that students who have secured an offer from the Central Applications Office (CAO) of one of their course choices should reflect on all their options rather than automatically accepting that course.

For students who don’t receive a satisfactory CAO offer, the argument is even more compelling. Many Leaving Cert students are still uncertain where their academic interests lie and often proceed to third-level out of the fear of being left behind or losing contact with their peer group.

The good news is that further education and training (FET) offers different approaches such as post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses for school-leavers.

These courses can act as a stepping stone into further learning and higher education, a way to try out a new area of learning, as well as being a way to progress directly into a huge variety of careers.

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FET aims to provide education pathways for everyone. It offers every individual, regardless of any previous level of education, a pathway to take them as far as they want to go.

There are many advantages to choosing the FET route, including the opportunity to earn and learn in smaller class sizes and no tuition fees for PLCs.

Another key advantage of FET is location: programmes are delivered through 16 education and training boards nationally with FET provision available in every county in Ireland.

For many aspiring learners, a year’s reflection while taking a level-five or level-six PLC programme in an area of genuine interest in their local FE college could be a wise choice

All further education (FE) colleges throughout the country are still taking enrolments and students can go on to any college website to apply online.

Classes start in early to mid-September, so there is time to find a course. Courses lead to a level 5 of 6 QQI qualification or equivalent.

Some colleges will hold open days, so check out your local colleges’ websites. Assessment and certification for FE courses are based on both work during the year and exams at the end.

Many FE courses are now specifically designed as preparation courses for entry into third-level programmes, in IT, law, business, science, architecture, art and design, etc.

Following completion of their year in FE, many students progress back into a CAO course through reserved places, bypassing the CAO points requirements.

For many aspiring learners, a year’s reflection while taking a level-five or level-six PLC programme in an area of genuine interest in their local FE college could be a wise choice.

If the course engages their interest fully, they can then confidently proceed to apply for a course in that area at third-level, using either their current year CAO points or the level-five award, which is one route many students can take to secure places in programmes where they do not have enough CAO points to secure entry.

Details of all PLC/FE courses are available on qualifax.ie or thisisfet.ie.

Private colleges

The private higher education sector in Ireland is well established, with a wide range of courses currently enrolling, either through the “available places” option on the CAO website or by direct application.

Griffith College offers 197 full- and part-time courses up to master’s level at its campuses in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.

These include programmes in business, law, computing, engineering, media, as well as many programmes in the creative sector. It also is an education partner on an apprenticeship for advanced healthcare assistants, and has a range of creative programmes in film, television, photography, design, interiors, communications and fashion.

Dublin Business School has a range of level-eight degrees that may be attractive to those disappointed by the rise in CAO points. These programmes include a BSc (Hons) in computing, a BA (Hons) in psychology which is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland, and a BA (Hons) in business, accounting and finance.

Dublin Business School also offers free tuition on four of its programmes through the CAO as part of additional places under the Government Human Capital Initiative (HCI): BSc (Hons) computing (DB500), BSc (Hons) computing – data analytics and big data (DB502), BA (Hons) business – information systems (DB524) and BA (Hons) business – cloud computing (DB526). Under HCI, there are no tuition fees for those four programmes, and students will have to pay only a €1,500 registration fee.

Study through English in Europe

In most European universities, you have a right of entry with the minimum entry requirements, but constant and intensive commitment to the programme is essential if you want to make it into second year. Studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity but I would hesitate if I had yet to celebrate my 18th birthday.

A wide selection of all of the programmes taught through English across both research and applied science universities in Europe, including the limited number that still have availability for September 2023, are listed on eunicas.ie with application deadlines and fees.

Although the application deadlines have passed for many continental European degrees, a small number of courses can still be applied for this month. It is worth noting that a limited number of programmes, particularly in the Netherlands, have a second alternative starting point in February.

Repeat the Leaving

Students who are unhappy with the grades they secured this year have the option of sitting the Leaving Cert again. Repeating was once a popular option for students who wanted to have another go but as there are more options available for school-leavers now, and many can get their CAO course through a level-five PLC, the numbers that choose to repeat are now low, numbering only a few hundred nationally. The number of schools offering this option has also decreased considerably as a result.

Apprenticeships

There are now 69 types of apprenticeship available in Ireland across 16 industry sectors. Alongside the well-established craft apprenticeships in areas such as construction, engineering and motor, the range of options is increasing with new apprenticeships available in areas including CGI (computer-generated imagery), healthcare, recruitment, finance, ICT, logistics, hospitality and sales.

The number entering apprenticeships is on the rise, with more than 26,000 people currently in apprenticeships across the country. Included in these figures is a welcome increase in the number of women

Qualifications range from level six on the National Framework of Qualifications up to a level-10 doctorate.

The number entering apprenticeships is on the rise, with more than 26,000 people currently in apprenticeships across the country. Included in these figures is a welcome increase in the number of women taking up apprenticeships.

To begin an apprenticeship, an applicant must be employed by an approved employer. Eligibility criteria vary depending on which apprenticeship you choose, but for many the applicant must be at least 16 years of age and have a minimum of grade D in any five subjects in the Junior Certificate or equivalent.

However, higher educational qualifications and other requirements may be sought by employers. Many employers are now advertising their vacancies on the recently developed jobs portal on apprenticeship.ie.

Apprentices pay a pro-rata registration fee if their off-the-job training takes place within a higher education institute. The registration fee will generally equate to the amount of time the apprentice spends in the institute. The payment of the pro-rata registration fee is made by the apprentice directly to the higher education institute.

For apprenticeships developed before 2016, mainly in the construction and motor sectors, the employer pays the apprentice while he or she is being trained on the job. A training allowance is paid by the local Education and Training Board while the apprentice is attending the off-the-job training.

For those developed in 2016 and after, the employer pays the apprentice for the duration of the apprenticeship.

A new grant for employers of apprentices on the programmes introduced since 2016 offers a grant of €2,000 per apprentice per year. In all cases, the rate of pay is agreed between the employer and the apprentice.

New apprenticeship programmes developed in the past number of years include a supply chain specialist apprenticeship delivered through the University of Limerick, where students work and learn online with one day on campus every three weeks, for which they are paid. They receive a level-eight degree following the completion of their programme.

Traineeships

For students interested in a more direct route to employment, a traineeship is worth considering. It combines learning in an education and training setting and in the workplace, and provides learners with job-specific training and workplace coaching with an employer, at levels four to six on the National Framework of Qualifications.

Traineeships also give students the opportunity to gain valuable experience in real work and industry environments, providing cutting-edge industry skills. Traineeships are six to 20 months in duration and are delivered through local education and training boards. There are traineeship programmes available around the country across a range of industry areas including aviation, bakery, IT, animation, hospitality and digital marketing.

New degree programmes outside the points system

In July, Minister Simon Harris announced a historic change in third-level education with the launch of 23 Tertiary Education Programmes, which will offer students the opportunity to earn a university level degree outside of the points system.

The programmes are co-designed and co-delivered by Further and Higher Education providers. Students will be able to enrol in one of 23 degree courses across healthcare, enterprise, ICT and creative sectors in a further education institution in an Education and Training Board before progressing to a higher education institution to complete their fully accredited degree.

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For example, Cork ETB (CETB), Kerry ETB (KETB), and Munster Technological University (MTU) are offering five such programmes starting this autumn including bachelor of business, bachelor of science, and a bachelor of arts in popular music. The first two years will be delivered in either Cork or Kerry Education and Training Board followed two years in Munster Technological University.

There will be no fee or student contribution applied for the duration of the tuition delivered through the further education institution. Fees will apply for the duration in the higher education institute

Students will receive accreditation on successful completion of each stage of the programme.

While entry to the programmes will not require points, there are entry requirements for each of the programmes that vary depending on the course, for example, creative portfolios.

There will be no fee or student contribution applied for the duration of the tuition delivered through the further education institution. Fees will apply for the duration in the higher education institute. Students are eligible to apply for Susi grants.

For more information on the programmes and to apply, visit nto.ie.