Adult Education Further Education and Training (FET) provides a variety of life-long education options for people over 16 years. Courses range from level 1 to 6 on the National Framework of Qualification (NFQ). FET courses and programmes include apprenticeships; Post Leaving Certificate; Community and Adult education; Literacy and numeracy services. FET courses are provided through Education and Training Boards (ETBs) around the country. You may qualify for funding under the Vocational Training and Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) here. If you wish to attend a University course you may qualify for funding through the SUSI grant scheme. For more information on how to locate your local Education Guidance Counsellor click here. Access Programme Some Universities/Colleges also run Access Programmes (normally for one year) as a gateway of getting admission on a course of study. At the end of the course, the University/College would expect you to score above a certain grade in order to place you on the degree programme. You would still need to apply through CAO though. Contact the University/College of your choice directly for more information. Mature Student Generally, you are considered to be a mature student if you are at least 23 years of age on January 1 of the year you enter your course. Third-level colleges reserve a small number of places specifically for mature students who want to participate in full-time day programmes. Applications The CAO provides a handbook that lists all the courses on offer and gives information on how to apply. You may also be considered if you fall under the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) or the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) which is a scheme that offers places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. There is no central application body for Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses. Students must apply directly to the individual colleges. Masters: Level 9 - Contact the University/College of your choice and check if you should apply to them directly or through the Postgraduate Application Centre. PhD: Level 10 - It is always advisable to identify a possible Supervisor and Department in a University/College of your choice and talk to them for guidance.
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