PCI College

street

Hi, I'm planning to start studying Counselling and Psychotherapy in PCI college next year in the Burgh Quay campus. Starting off with the foundation course in February then hopefully the diploma/degree course in September.

Just wondering if anyone on here is studying Counselling & Psychotherapy with PCI at the moment and could tell me how they're finding it, what I can expect from it etc. I'd also be interested to hear from anyone who has completed the diploma/degree course in any of PCI's campuses (other than the weekend course in Corrig house) - did you have any problem getting IACP accreditation/membership? Thanks.

trulla

I am thinking about doing the same course too plus the foundation course. i am in 2 minds of doing full-time or part-time. I have to make up my mind fast, as february is not too far away, but the finances are holding me back.
Did you decide on anything yet?

street

trulla wrote: »

I am thinking about doing the same course too plus the foundation course. i am in 2 minds of doing full-time or part-time. I have to make up my mind fast, as february is not too far away, but the finances are holding me back.
Did you decide on anything yet?

Hi trulla, yeah with any luck I'll have the foundation course paid for this side of xmas. Assuming all goes well with that course I hope to go on and do the diploma/degree in September. Where abouts were you thinking of studying Counselling & Psychotherapy full-time?

trulla

street, that's great you have the finances nearly sorted. i haven't even enrolled yet As i still don't know what way to go. I'd love to do the part-time with PCI, but would not be entitled any grant. Even the 'back to education allowance' is i think for full-time courses only. So that's why i am thinking to go full-time, but haven't found a suitable course in my area yet. I am in the Limerick area, so doing a bit of research at UL and LIT tonight.
if not i have to take a loan and go with PCI in limerick. Where are you doing it?

street

trulla wrote: »

street, that's great you have the finances nearly sorted. i haven't even enrolled yet As i still don't know what way to go. I'd love to do the part-time with PCI, but would not be entitled any grant. Even the 'back to education allowance' is i think for full-time courses only. So that's why i am thinking to go full-time, but haven't found a suitable course in my area yet. I am in the Limerick area, so doing a bit of research at UL and LIT tonight.
if not i have to take a loan and go with PCI in limerick. Where are you doing it?

Dublin city centre. BTEA is for approved full-time courses in further and higher education. There's a part-time option (PTEO) but its just a scheme that allows you to retain your jobseekers allowance/benefit payment if you are on one, and unlike BTEA it doesn't offer the €300 a year book grant. So, pretty pointless really.. It's unfortunate that there's no grant available for students in private colleges. I've applied for a credit union loan myself..

trulla

Yea pity about the grants. must check out about back to education allowance, there must be a bit of help out there don't you think? Then again with this government, no surprise if there isn't
What is the €300 books allowance? Where would i find out more info about that, any small bit would help me.

street

trulla wrote: »

Yea pity about the grants. must check out about back to education allowance, there must be a bit of help out there don't you think? Then again with this government, no surprise if there isn't
What is the €300 books allowance? Where would i find out more info about that, any small bit would help me.

I'm pretty certain there's no student grant/help available for those wishing to study a course held in a private college : | The 'book grant' is also called the 'Cost of Education Allowance', same thing. They give you €300 per academic year to spend on ...books ; )

Here's some info on the BTEA:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/social_welfare_payments_and_the_student_maintenance_grant_for_the_2010_11_academic_year.html#l0b797

The following might also be of help:

http://www.studentfinance.ie/pca9007473.html

http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp7232/maintenance-grant/index.html

HTH

trulla

Done a bit of more research today and found out the Book allowance 9cost of education allowance) is gone from january on.
Also i can apply for a back to education allowance with a part-time option. Going in to my local social service office in the morning and starting to get things sorted, so let's get the ball rolling

street

trulla wrote: »

Done a bit of more research today and found out the Book allowance 9cost of education allowance) is gone from january on.

Yeah I know, unbelievable..

trulla wrote: »

Also i can apply for a back to education allowance with a part-time option. Going in to my local social service office in the morning and starting to get things sorted, so let's get the ball rolling

Don't know exactly what your situation is but good luck, hope it works out for ya : )

Odysseus

trulla wrote: »

Done a bit of more research today and found out the Book allowance 9cost of education allowance) is gone from january on.
Also i can apply for a back to education allowance with a part-time option. Going in to my local social service office in the morning and starting to get things sorted, so let's get the ball rolling

I was lucky to be able to work part time during my degree and masters; however, I know how expensive collage can be. I used to get about £300 a year for books from SVP, they would make a cheque out to a bookshop , I would then cash it for book vouchers and just get some of the books out of that.

So that may be an option, when your qualified and working you can donate the cash back then, well that is what I did.

Hope that helps a bit.

trulla

Thanks street, wishing you all the best as well with the course.

Thanks to you too Odysseus, SVP would be worth a try. i often donate things to charities anyway, but never dealt with them.

G00L

street wrote: »

Hi, I'm planning to start studying Counselling and Psychotherapy in PCI college next year in the Burgh Quay campus. Starting off with the foundation course in February then hopefully the diploma/degree course in September.

Just wondering if anyone on here is studying Counselling & Psychotherapy with PCI at the moment and could tell me how they're finding it, what I can expect from it etc. I'd also be interested to hear from anyone who has completed the diploma/degree course in any of PCI's campuses (other than the weekend course in Corrig house) - did you have any problem getting IACP accreditation/membership? Thanks.

I am also considering signing up to the foundation course in pci in feb. Intentions are similar to streets. Can anyone give any responses to his original mail? I dont think a lot of his questions were answered. I work in a totally different field currently but i have always really known it was the 'wrong' field for me i guess!

G00L

G00L wrote: »

I am also considering signing up to the foundation course in pci in feb. Intentions are similar to streets. Can anyone give any responses to his original mail? I dont think a lot of his questions were answered. I work in a totally different field currently but i have always really known it was the 'wrong' field for me i guess!

I have also noticed that while pci college states on their website that their diploma/degree course meets iacp standards, the iacp website appears to state they only recognise the weekend course. Can anyone explain this to me? Im not 100% sure what this means

kjbsrah1

Hi. I did the foundation course with PCI in Feb 2012 and it was absolutely fantastic. I did it to see if 'it was for me'. I do not have any therapy background but it was an area i was interested in. And of the 16 of us on that foundation course, 7 of us went on to do the full time course (tuesdays and thursdays in burgh quay) while another 3 of us went on to do either the weekend dublin city course or the one in corrig house. That has to be a pretty good endorsement for the college and for the foundation. This sort of course, it depends on the individual person if its for you, not really what anyone says. Do your research, go to open days, call into the college and ask questions, thats the best way to help you make informed decisions. Good luck whatever anyone decides.

G00L

kjbsrah1 wrote: »

Hi. I did the foundation course with PCI in Feb 2012 and it was absolutely fantastic. I did it to see if 'it was for me'. I do not have any therapy background but it was an area i was interested in. And of the 16 of us on that foundation course, 7 of us went on to do the full time course (tuesdays and thursdays in burgh quay) while another 3 of us went on to do either the weekend dublin city course or the one in corrig house. That has to be a pretty good endorsement for the college and for the foundation. This sort of course, it depends on the individual person if its for you, not really what anyone says. Do your research, go to open days, call into the college and ask questions, thats the best way to help you make informed decisions. Good luck whatever anyone decides.

Well I have signed up to the course and am looking forward to it. And your assessment of the course is very encouraging and I have heard good reports elsewhere also. I will most likely go to the open day this month too to get a better feel for things. Thanks for the feedback

trulla

I thank you too for the feedback kjbsrah1. I have signed up too starting next month. I just can't wait to start.
Anyone here who's doing the course in Limerick?

sunflower27

Hi there

I'm doing the BA (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy course through ATI

http://www.psychology.ie/

Am loving it!!! it is absolutely fascinating. Just thought I would post this as another option as they do not require you to do a foundation course.