Education abroad: ‘Moving from Limerick to Dublin as it used to be is now like moving from Ireland to the Netherlands’
Most universities on the Continent pay little heed to points a student has accrued in the Leaving Cert
Smart Choices
Study abroad in the Netherlands and Italy: ‘It all started with a leap of faith’
Even if the international experiences don’t tempt you, the cheaper tuition fees and sunshine just might
It’s not too late to apply for one of the many tertiary degrees on offer in Ireland
A pathway for applicants of all ages and backgrounds to achieve the degree of their dreams
How can new students get the best from their college experience?
Societies are a great source of community which is important when coping with the big changes of being away from home
Why are so many students and parents oblivious to the opportunities in the Further Education system?
There’s a big rise in school leavers choosing Further Education and Training courses and apprenticeships as a first destination after the Leaving Cert
Should you be considering further education and training as an attractive pathway?
‘The message to learners is that it’s never too late to learn ... we should all rethink what success looks like’
A to Z: what you need to know about further education and training
From apprenticeships to national tertiary degrees and work experience, here’s a quick guide to the many available routes outside CAO
‘I took a non-traditional route through further education that helped me decide what I wanted’
Starting fast and traditionally is not for everyone; Lee O’Connor is one such late developer
‘I fell 11 points short of the course I wanted and went down the PLC route’
Amy Moore on going down the route of a PLC course
‘You have to like people’ – why should you study physiotherapy?
To qualify as a physiotherapist in Ireland, 1,000 hours of clinical placements need to be completed
What is an apprenticeship - and what are the benefits?
A student is not contracted to an employer and is not paid, whereas an apprentice is, but a student has more time to socialise and join clubs
‘A great option’: The rise of FET courses – and whether they’re right for you
More students are choosing alternative routes such as PLCs, apprenticeships and new tertiary degree programmes
Advice on life in college: ‘Always start writing that report earlier than you think you need to’
Recent TCD and UL graduates offer advice for incoming first years, as well as some professional tips and regrets
My daughter struggles with school but loves fixing things. Would an apprenticeship suit her?
CAO points are not a requirement for the thriving engineering sector which provides excellent career opportunities
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
CAO 2024: Here’s how to respond to an offer
Over 80,000 applicants have registered their aspiration for a place on one of more than a thousand courses on offer at Ireland’s third-level institutions.
Should I consider a traineeship?
This option can offer numerous benefits which can significantly affect your career development
How to budget for further education
Effective financial planning is essential for students to develop a realistic budget
Should I consider an apprenticeship?
This option can provide an opportunity to earn a wage while gaining valuable skills and qualifications
Kick-starting your career on completing further education
Taking advantage of ‘work-integrated learning opportunities’ allow you to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings
Should I consider a Post Leaving Certificate course?
Full-time programmes for those who have finished second level and adults returning to education
‘Each student has the ability to tailor their degree to their own interests’
Pádraig Corrigan (21) from Newry enrolled in the Leiden University College in the Hague.
Evolving career routes boost options for school-leavers
For a programme of study to be successful, it must be a good fit for the student’s strengths and aptitudes
Alternative pathways to education
An increasing number of opportunities are available for people to further their education outside of the CAO points race
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
EU citizens are entitled to study at any EU university under the same conditions as nationals
Entry requirements in many European universities are generally lower compared to Irish universities
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
Many apprentices are now on higher salaries than college graduates. Is snobbery around ‘earn and learn’ options fading?
Record numbers chose apprenticeships last year, with starting salaries for many now exceeding college graduates
‘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
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?
Engineering apprenticeship: ‘I went from nearly failing maths in school to getting top marks in college’
How I did it: Shannon Kearney did an apprenticeship in engineering and now works as a metrology engineer
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
Further education resources: a glossary
New opportunities in a range of industries, supports for students with disadvantaged backgrounds and back to education allowances
Is a post-Leaving Cert course for me?
PLCs are popular among school-leavers and those seeking to return to education, reskill or retrain
Erasmus: ‘It helped me find and become the person I am and want to be’
How studying abroad for a semester can benefit Irish students: ‘I made friends with international students from all over the world’
‘Gamechanger’ programme allows students to attain third-level degree outside CAO points race
Focus shifting from CAO points race and the pressure it puts on students to alternative routes to third-level education
Advice for students on how to find accommodation
There are steps students can take to show landlords they can be excellent tenants
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
Thinking about studying abroad? Here’s what you should consider
Conduct thorough research to familiarise yourself with universities, courses and preferred locations
‘We need more engineers’: How to start a career in engineering and technology if you didn’t get a college place
Apprenticeships, traineeships and PLCs mean Leaving Cert results are not the be-all and end-all
Smart Choices: A rapidly changing landscape boosts options for all learners
Never before have scientific and technological advances changed the nature of work so rapidly
RTÉ’s Sharon Tobin on her career journey: ‘I could not see myself in UCD. It just didn’t feel right for me’
The journalist on attending Ballyfermot College of Further Education and a typical day in the RTÉ newsroom
Leaving Cert: How irishtimes.com will cover the CAO Round One offers
Guidance Counsellors at the Irish Times Results Helpdesk will answer questions at irishtimes.com/education
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
Other opportunities beckon beyond the CAO - here’s some alternatives
There are alternatives to the traditional route to further your education
‘I got a place in Coláiste Dhúlaigh and did the course in pre-university science’
Bobby Cudden, who studied in DCU after his PLC course, says his view on the pre-college course changed: ‘It went from snobbery to realising it was a saving grace’
‘Further education gives you more time to prepare for college life’
Sean Keane completed a Level 5 course in animal care after narrowly missing out on his college choice. He is now a third-year student at UCD
Further education and PLCs: Popular areas of study
Apprenticeships comprise recognised schemes, offering solid training and accreditation
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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