Third-level education
Places at third level are allocated based on exam results (with some exceptions for mature students – more details below)
Applying for a place
The Leaving Cert
Universities, institutes of technology and colleges of education give places mainly based on the grades students get in the Leaving Certificate. Because of this it is important to get good grades in the Leaving Cert.
Central Applications Office (CAO)
The grades you receive in your Leaving Certificate exam are converted into points and used to allocate places in third level education. Applications for third-level courses are made through the CAO (central applications office), www.cao.ie. Your child’s school will explain this in more detail to your child before they do their Leaving Certificate.
Exams in another country
If you have undertaken exams in another country, you will need to contact your college of choice to check if your qualification is enough to secure a place on the course of your choice. If you meet the requirements you should then apply through the CAO.
Types of third level college
Third-level grant schemes
There is a grant scheme available to EU/EEA citizens, people with refugee status and some other categories of people with permission to remain in the state. Your income must be below a certain level to qualify.
Contact:
The Student Support Unit of the Department of Education is responsible for running third level grand
Phone: (057) 932 4381.
Email: [email protected]
Fees
Fees are required for most third level courses. There is a free fees scheme available if you have been living in an EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course and you must meet one of the following conditions:
Other conditions apply to the type of courses that are covered. Full details are available here:
http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp9377/course-fees/index.html
If you do not fit the above conditions you will be required to pay course fees. Fees for non-EU/EEA citizens are higher than for EU/EEA citizens. Contact the college of university directly for full details on fees.
Support for adults
There are also some Social Welfare grants for those returning to education. To find out more speak to someone at the Limerick Citizens Information Centre on 0761 07 5780 during office hours or visit www.welfare.ie
Support for adult learning
There are courses available for everyone
Adult education
To find out what courses are available contact your local VEC or a third-level college. You can get more information on available educational courses on the website www.qualifax.ie
In Limerick there are many organisations that provide all kinds of adult education options. You may wish to attend full-time, part-time or evening courses. To find out what might suit your life and your needs best please talk to someone at the Limerick Citizens Information Centre or visit any one of the libraries in the region where you will find out the information you need.
Part-time courses
Some colleges and universities offer their courses on a part-time and full-time basis. Contact the institute directly for information.
Jobs Clubs
Jobs Clubs have been set up throughout Limerick city and country. Anyone looking for employment may attend these Clubs free of charge. They provide help, guidance and support for anyone who is actively seeking work and focuses on CV preparation, cover letters and interview techniques. You will find out the location of your nearest Jobs Club by talking to someone at the Limerick Citizens Information Centre.
Evening Classes
There are a wide variety of classes available at VEC schools, colleges and centres throughout the county of Limerick. Contact Limerick County VEC on 061 442100 or email [email protected]. The address is Marshal House, Dooradoyle Road, County Limerick. You may also contact Limerick City VEC at the Athenaeum Building, 30 Upper Cecil Street, Limerick or phone them on 061 417688.
Recruitment agencies
Contact FAS. FAS is the Irish employment authority that promotes job opportunities and training courses for school leavers, post graduates and professionals. In Limerick city their office is located at Pery Court, Upper Mallow St, Limerick, Limerick (061) 207 980.
Third level grants
The student grant is the main source of financial help available from the Irish State for students in full-time Post Leaving Certificate Courses (PLCs) and full-time higher education undergraduate courses. Support is available to eligible students in most colleges in Ireland as well as eligible Irish students in many colleges in Northern Ireland, the UK and other EU States. Approved PLC centres and higher education colleges in Ireland are set out in Schedule 1 and 2 of the Student Grant Regulations 2013. In Northern Ireland, the UK and other EU States an approved college is one that provides higher education and training: the college must be maintained or assisted by recurrent public funds (i.e. a publicly funded institution).
For eligible students, the grant is there to help with the various costs of participating in further or higher education. Students on part-time courses, access or foundation courses (in higher education institutions) and short courses are not eligible to apply for a student grant.
Family and/or personal income is a key factor that will be assessed when you apply for a student grant but there are also some other conditions. Studentfinance.ie can help you to assess whether you are eligible and guide you in starting the process. In all cases, the official decision on eligibility is of course made by the grant-awarding bodies.
If you think you are eligible for the student grant, you should apply for it as soon as possible (online application for 2013-14 now open). You do not have to wait until you receive an offer of a place or enroll in college. Only when your application has been completed in full and submitted to the grant-awarding authority can your eligibility be determined.
Full details on the Student Grant scheme (2013), including associated legislation, are available on website:
English language classes
Check your local Citizens Information Centre (CIC) to see what local English language or adult training programmes are available.
VEC Education Centres Limerick:
Adult Education College Presentation
Court, Sexton St., Limerick.
(061) 419933
Limerick College of Further Education
Mulgrave Street, Limerick
(061) 414 344
Limerick School of Music
Mulgrave Street, Limerick
(061) 417348
Limerick Adult Education Service
O'Connell Avenue, Limerick
(061) 315358
St. Nessan's Community College
Moylish Park, Limerick
(061) 452422
Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh
Sir Harry's Mall, Limerick
(061) 404959
Places at third level are allocated based on exam results (with some exceptions for mature students – more details below)
Applying for a place
The Leaving Cert
Universities, institutes of technology and colleges of education give places mainly based on the grades students get in the Leaving Certificate. Because of this it is important to get good grades in the Leaving Cert.
Central Applications Office (CAO)
The grades you receive in your Leaving Certificate exam are converted into points and used to allocate places in third level education. Applications for third-level courses are made through the CAO (central applications office), www.cao.ie. Your child’s school will explain this in more detail to your child before they do their Leaving Certificate.
Exams in another country
If you have undertaken exams in another country, you will need to contact your college of choice to check if your qualification is enough to secure a place on the course of your choice. If you meet the requirements you should then apply through the CAO.
Types of third level college
- Universities: Degree programmes at bachelor, masters and doctorate level are offered in Ireland’s seven universities.
- Technological sector: Institutions in the technological sector focus on business, science, engineering, linguistics and music to certificate, diploma and degree levels.
- Colleges of education: There are five colleges of education which specialise in the training of primary school teachers.
Third-level grant schemes
There is a grant scheme available to EU/EEA citizens, people with refugee status and some other categories of people with permission to remain in the state. Your income must be below a certain level to qualify.
Contact:
The Student Support Unit of the Department of Education is responsible for running third level grand
Phone: (057) 932 4381.
Email: [email protected]
Fees
Fees are required for most third level courses. There is a free fees scheme available if you have been living in an EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course and you must meet one of the following conditions:
- Be a citizen of an EEA member state (see above) or Switzerland or
- Have official refugee status or
- Be a family member of a refugee and have been granted permission to live in the State or
- Be a family member of an EU national and have permission to live in the State, with a stamp “4EUFAM” on your residence card or
- Have been granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State or
- Have been granted permission to remain in the State by the Minister for Justice and Equality, following a determination by the Minister not to make a deportation order under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999.
Other conditions apply to the type of courses that are covered. Full details are available here:
http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp9377/course-fees/index.html
If you do not fit the above conditions you will be required to pay course fees. Fees for non-EU/EEA citizens are higher than for EU/EEA citizens. Contact the college of university directly for full details on fees.
Support for adults
There are also some Social Welfare grants for those returning to education. To find out more speak to someone at the Limerick Citizens Information Centre on 0761 07 5780 during office hours or visit www.welfare.ie
Support for adult learning
There are courses available for everyone
Adult education
To find out what courses are available contact your local VEC or a third-level college. You can get more information on available educational courses on the website www.qualifax.ie
In Limerick there are many organisations that provide all kinds of adult education options. You may wish to attend full-time, part-time or evening courses. To find out what might suit your life and your needs best please talk to someone at the Limerick Citizens Information Centre or visit any one of the libraries in the region where you will find out the information you need.
Part-time courses
Some colleges and universities offer their courses on a part-time and full-time basis. Contact the institute directly for information.
Jobs Clubs
Jobs Clubs have been set up throughout Limerick city and country. Anyone looking for employment may attend these Clubs free of charge. They provide help, guidance and support for anyone who is actively seeking work and focuses on CV preparation, cover letters and interview techniques. You will find out the location of your nearest Jobs Club by talking to someone at the Limerick Citizens Information Centre.
Evening Classes
There are a wide variety of classes available at VEC schools, colleges and centres throughout the county of Limerick. Contact Limerick County VEC on 061 442100 or email [email protected]. The address is Marshal House, Dooradoyle Road, County Limerick. You may also contact Limerick City VEC at the Athenaeum Building, 30 Upper Cecil Street, Limerick or phone them on 061 417688.
Recruitment agencies
Contact FAS. FAS is the Irish employment authority that promotes job opportunities and training courses for school leavers, post graduates and professionals. In Limerick city their office is located at Pery Court, Upper Mallow St, Limerick, Limerick (061) 207 980.
Third level grants
The student grant is the main source of financial help available from the Irish State for students in full-time Post Leaving Certificate Courses (PLCs) and full-time higher education undergraduate courses. Support is available to eligible students in most colleges in Ireland as well as eligible Irish students in many colleges in Northern Ireland, the UK and other EU States. Approved PLC centres and higher education colleges in Ireland are set out in Schedule 1 and 2 of the Student Grant Regulations 2013. In Northern Ireland, the UK and other EU States an approved college is one that provides higher education and training: the college must be maintained or assisted by recurrent public funds (i.e. a publicly funded institution).
For eligible students, the grant is there to help with the various costs of participating in further or higher education. Students on part-time courses, access or foundation courses (in higher education institutions) and short courses are not eligible to apply for a student grant.
Family and/or personal income is a key factor that will be assessed when you apply for a student grant but there are also some other conditions. Studentfinance.ie can help you to assess whether you are eligible and guide you in starting the process. In all cases, the official decision on eligibility is of course made by the grant-awarding bodies.
If you think you are eligible for the student grant, you should apply for it as soon as possible (online application for 2013-14 now open). You do not have to wait until you receive an offer of a place or enroll in college. Only when your application has been completed in full and submitted to the grant-awarding authority can your eligibility be determined.
Full details on the Student Grant scheme (2013), including associated legislation, are available on website:
English language classes
Check your local Citizens Information Centre (CIC) to see what local English language or adult training programmes are available.
VEC Education Centres Limerick:
Adult Education College Presentation
Court, Sexton St., Limerick.
(061) 419933
Limerick College of Further Education
Mulgrave Street, Limerick
(061) 414 344
Limerick School of Music
Mulgrave Street, Limerick
(061) 417348
Limerick Adult Education Service
O'Connell Avenue, Limerick
(061) 315358
St. Nessan's Community College
Moylish Park, Limerick
(061) 452422
Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh
Sir Harry's Mall, Limerick
(061) 404959