Is there any help available to repeat Leaving Cert as an adult?

Billiethepup

Hi,

Basically I'm wondering does anyone know is there any financial help (grant or loan) available to a mature (30) who goes back to repeat the LC in order to get into uni again ie. career change.
I'm guessing its a no on the grant front as im not progressing by going back to second level education.. I intend on taking full student loans for uni fees which will hopefully commence sept 2014 (already checked out options) but I'm struggling with how to finance the second-level year.

If anyone has repeated the LC as an adult and has any financial advice (aside from the 'don't do it-your mad' which I'm getting from my pals!) I'd really appreciate it :-)

HelenaRose

I'm not a mature student but I'm 20 and I repeated my Leaving this summer. I applied for the grant for the academic year 12/13 and got accepted but because I was repeating ie still in second level they cannot accept that. If you are living in or near Dublin however there is a great place you can repeat at. I know the Institute can cost around €6,000 which is completely ridiculous if you ask me but Plunket College in Whitehall is not too far away from it by bus and it costs only €300 for the year, or €170 if you have a medical card.

We weren't made to buy any books either, a lot of it is done by notes and powerpoint presentations and there were a lot of adult students in my class. I also believe they have a course catered for only adults which you might prefer and I'd say those classes would be a lot easier to focus in. It is a one year course though but they really cover everything in time and with the required amount of detail. Hope I helped!

endacl

There's no support afaik available for 2nd level study. Have you considered a plc that leads to the uni course you're interested in? As a mature student, you've loads of options. If you're in Dublin, crumlin college have an adult education guidance office. Those ladies really know their stuff. I'll dig out the number if you're interested.

I don't think you're mad to be considering the lc, by the way. It's just that there are easier and more appropriate routes to get to where you want to be.

Billiethepup

Thank you both for the advice.

Ill defo check out Plunkett before i pay anything to the institute. I am in Dublin so Whitehall is very doable.

Unfortunately no plc into medicine I've checked and really all routes lead to repeat LC as giving me the best chance. Officially the second person to say its not a pure mad idea! :-)

Thanks again

endacl

Billiethepup wrote: »

Thank you both for the advice.

Ill defo check out Plunkett before i pay anything to the institute. I am in Dublin so Whitehall is very doable.

Unfortunately no plc into medicine I've checked and really all routes lead to repeat LC as giving me the best chance. Officially the second person to say its not a pure mad idea! :-)

Thanks again

Best of luck.

endacl

Don't limit yourself to Ireland and UK for studying medicine, by the way. Lots of highly regarded European universities teaching med through English, and a lot cheaper too. That extra repeat year may not be as necessary as you think it is.

HelenaRose

Billiethepup wrote: »

Thank you both for the advice.

Ill defo check out Plunkett before i pay anything to the institute. I am in Dublin so Whitehall is very doable.

Unfortunately no plc into medicine I've checked and really all routes lead to repeat LC as giving me the best chance. Officially the second person to say its not a pure mad idea! :-)

Thanks again

Not a problem! Plunket's was definitely a good year for me, and there is an excellent guidance counsellor there who was a great help to me. Best of luck!

Annasopra

You should goto a vec adult education adviser