FET: a pathway to endless opportunities for students
Further education and training offers school-leavers a wide selection of career-focused choices
further education
How to use your time at Higher Options
Higher Options offers students the opportunity to attend talks or talk directly with representatives of third level institutions
I narrowly missed out on my first-choice CAO course. Is there another route to university?
There are still options to secure the course of your dreams – even if you didn’t get a CAO offer
Alternative pathways: more than 1,500 FET courses available for school-leavers
Further Education and Training courses are on offer across the country, providing alternative pathways to the traditional CAO route
CAO 2024: Have we reached peak CAO points?
Many universities have expanded the number of places available on first year courses
How to budget for further education
Effective financial planning is essential for students to develop a realistic budget
Should I consider a Post Leaving Cert course?
Post-Leaving Cert courses provide job-specific training that allows students to progress into the workforce, or provide a stepping stone to higher education
Nursing: one of the most rewarding professions
Nursing offers a career where you can directly impact people’s lives and make a tangible difference
From Kiltimagh to Uzbekistan: One Mayo man’s journey to a degree in agricultural science
Unsure about what path to take after the Leaving Cert Sean McGreal sat down with Westport College of Further Education
‘I chose Warsaw based on its large Irish student population’
Studying overseas: Gregory Hendricken Phelan (23) from the Carlow-Wicklow border is in his final year at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences
‘Early on, I knew that college was not for me’: The different routes to your career
‘I do get asked: do you feel that you missed out on the college experience? The answer: absolutely not,’ says one apprentice
Q&A: I narrowly missed out on my first-choice CAO course. Is there another route to university?
There are still options to secure the course of your dreams – even if you didn’t get an offer
Stem courses: Demand pushes up CAO points requirements but alternative access routes are available
Undertaking a related QQI or PLC course is an excellent option for students wishing to pursue Stem courses
Further education: Everything you need to know about traineeships
Q&A: How does a traineeship work and am I eligible to apply?
Q&A: How do I know if a further education and training course is the right choice for me?
Attitudes to further education have changed in recent years, and today’s students have more options than ever before
Everything you need to know about apprenticeships
Q&A: What areas are apprenticeships available in and would it be a right fit for me?
Further education: ‘If you weren’t sure about the path you were on, you knew by the end of the year’
Smart Choices: Heidi Higgins decided the best way into fashion would be via an art course at the Abbeyleix FET Centre
Further education resources: a glossary
New opportunities in a range of industries, supports for students with disadvantaged backgrounds and back to education allowances
Unlocking the door to career advancement
Continuous education and training essential for lifelong success in rapidly evolving society
How to explore a career change: assessing strengths and opportunities
Steps include conducting a self-assessment of strengths, skills and competencies, and researching additional training opportunities
Online learning for career advancement ‘crucial for Ireland’s workforce’
Online learning accommodates different learning styles and offers flexibility to students who can learn at their own pace.
What to ask on open day
Make sure you take full advantage of open days by asking as many questions as possible
Another route to further and higher education
Many courses have progression links to higher education programmes
PLCs, apprenticeships and traineeships go mainstream
Much has changed for post-secondary students over the past decade, with plenty of choices now available
Stem opportunities via another route
Science and engineering proving popular among those undertaking PLCs
‘I wanted to show other young parents that you can actually have it all’
Rebecca Ryan has completed a bookkeeping and payroll course and is now undertaking an apprenticeship
Opportunity knocks at the business end of further education
Applying for a further education course can be a first step towards a higher level qualification
Further Education resources: A glossary and full list
New apprenticeships in a range of industries, supports for students with disadvantaged backgrounds and back to education allowances
Developing new skills to open up new opportunities
Further education and training options are available for anyone who is over 16 who wants to learn new skills or enhance existing skills
‘The outcome certainly bore fruit’
Graduate profile: Bonga Dlamini O’Carroll completed the Accounting Technicians Ireland apprenticeship
Other institutions: All you need to know about open days
A diverse range of courses are on offer for prospective students
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