Back to Education

[bigsky]

Hi Miriam,
I am now considering returning to education. I am wondering what the options for grants and social welfare assistance are? I am currently in fulltime employment and would plan on working part time while studying. I am looking at undergraduate courses. I am 30 yrs old and have a BA already. I didnt receive a grant first time round.
Niall

[Miriam]

Hi Bigsky. If you have already got a degree, you would have to pay the full tuition fees for your second degree. Go to www.studentfinance.ie and check out all the different sections. If you cannot find the answer there, check with your local authority or VEC. What are you considering studying? Miriam

[suerog]

Hi Miriam

Can you please tell me if I will have to pay full tution fees? I am thinking of going back to do a Bsc in Science. I have diploma in IT from IT Tallaght from 2000 - I spent 3 years doing this and now this course is deemed a ordinary degree but when I qualified it was only a diploma.

Does this effect my fees?

Thanks!
Susan

[Minitonka]

Miriam has not been moderating this forum since the 7th April but if you contact your local VEC or local authority, they should be able to tell you.

[Iris Fagan]

Hi there,

I Am a full time mum of two small children, but i have been attending night courses in art(oil painting) and really enjoy it. I would like to return to 3rd level education to get a degree in Arts, and learn more than oil painting.
What is required of a mature studant now. and what is the best way to start.

kind regards

Iris

[snowy2008]

Hi

Im really stuck and hoping someone can help me, ive been in a job that i dont enjoy and not at all challenging for far too long (im 27) and im getting my act together. Ive decided i want to go back to college full time and do a degree, i loved english, and was very passionate about it in school and im aiming to become an secondary school teacher. i know this would involve giving up my job which wouldnt be hard doing as they are letting alot of people go. i know i can do it but realistically can i do it if im unemployed?

thanks
s

[Minitonka]

Iris Fagan wrote:
I Am a full time mum of two small children, but i have been attending night courses in art(oil painting) and really enjoy it. I would like to return to 3rd level education to get a degree in Arts, and learn more than oil painting.
What is required of a mature studant now. and what is the best way to start.

kind regards

Iris

Do you mean a degree in Art and Design or an Arts degree (BA) in something else? If it is the Art and Design related direction you would like to follow, then you would have to put a good portfolio together for the 2011 application. You would not have it done in time for this year. You could either attend a portfolio preparation course full-time with one of the VEC Colleges of Further Education, or there may be one available by night, depending on where you live. Have a look at the selection of art related courses that are on offer through the CAO (www.cao.ie) and also read the information section of the Handbook about making an application as a mature student. If you want to do a BA, go to the CAO's website and do a course search for "Arts", you can then go to the various university websites and see what subjects would be on offer. Some universities are now looking for mature students to sit an aptitude test (UCD and UCC). If you go to www.msap.acer.edu.au/ you will see that the closing date is fast approaching so if you would like to apply for a place in either UCD's or UCC's degrees in Arts, Celtic Studies, Social/Human Sciences, then you would have to sit this test first.

[Minitonka]

snowy2008 wrote:Hi

Im really stuck and hoping someone can help me, ive been in a job that i dont enjoy and not at all challenging for far too long (im 27) and im getting my act together. Ive decided i want to go back to college full time and do a degree, i loved english, and was very passionate about it in school and im aiming to become an secondary school teacher. i know this would involve giving up my job which wouldnt be hard doing as they are letting alot of people go. i know i can do it but realistically can i do it if im unemployed?

thanks
s

You could take UCD's part-time BA. If you go to https://myucd.ucd.ie/program.do?programID=89 you can read about it. You will probably have to sit the Mature Student Admissions Pathway aptitude test if you want to apply for 2010 entry. Go to www.msap.acer.edu.au/ and read all about it carefully. Contact the Mature Student's Officer in UCD to be sure you have all the information you need. You would also have to apply for the BA through the CAO system (www.cao.ie). Do not delay if you want to apply for 2010 entry. Doing it part-time way, you will have to pay tuition fees but you could still keep on your job. The other option is to do the BA through Oscail by Distance Learning but be careful when choosing the subjects you could use for teaching purposes. I know that History and English are available and CSPE (Civil, Social and Political Education) can be used provided that for the purpose of teaching CSPE an applicant must have taken Sociology with History / Psychology / Philosophy / Literature in their degree followed by the Higher Diploma in Education with CSPE as a chosen methodology OR the Higher Diploma in Education and a Post Graduate Diploma in CSPE. It looks a bit complicated so check it out with the Oscail people (www.oscail.ie).

[Jacob]

i completed a business degree from ul numerous years ago. i achieved a pass degree (level from the university. up until recently i've decided i want to complete additional studies but i am finding it difficult to get accepted to some Masters courses etc due to only having a pass degree.
is it possible to complete some other short course or modules that will upgrade my pass degree to honors?

A distance learning short course would be most attractive

Thanks
J