Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

bromley52 · 21-06-2020 11:24am #1

https://springboardcourses.ie/

Open for applications on 25th of June. Telephone lines open 22nd of June.

tommyombomb · 21-06-2020 1:59pm

Do many people get these if working fulltime on decent enough salary. Love to do something this year as an interest as might not be much happening and if it can pad the CV it would be great

zweton · 21-06-2020 2:09pm

Wondering the same. Seems to be some worthwhile courses on it.

uptherebels · 21-06-2020 2:24pm

tommyombomb wrote: »

Do many people get these if working fulltime on decent enough salary. Love to do something this year as an interest as might not be much happening and if it can pad the CV it would be great

Some of are open to applicants in full time employment. I don't think there is any issue with earnings, you just have to meet the educational/experience requirements.

Officer Giggles · 21-06-2020 2:54pm

tommyombomb wrote: »

Do many people get these if working fulltime on decent enough salary. Love to do something this year as an interest as might not be much happening and if it can pad the CV it would be great

No issue with earnings, basically if your working full-time you have to pay ten percent of the cost of the course, which is obviously still a great saving.

darragh o meara · 21-06-2020 2:58pm

tommyombomb wrote: »

Do many people get these if working fulltime on decent enough salary. Love to do something this year as an interest as might not be much happening and if it can pad the CV it would be great

I know a few people on very good money who recently completed one and had to pay €600 approx towards the cost of a Level 9

timple23 · 21-06-2020 3:07pm

Is it possible to see a list of courses or does it only show on the 25th?

21-06-2020 3:07pm

Went for one before but the application is far too long winded.

Away With The Fairies · 21-06-2020 3:10pm

timple23 wrote: »

Is it possible to see a list of courses or does it only show on the 25th?

This is available on the springboard website

Away With The Fairies · 21-06-2020 3:13pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

No issue with earnings, basically if your working full-time you have to pay ten percent of the cost of the course, which is obviously still a great saving.

Level 6 courses are free for those in employment.

RedXIV · 21-06-2020 3:14pm

I've a masters but I'd almost consider one of the culinary courses at level 6

probably be able to cook something other than pasta bake and pizza and chips for my dinner then

Officer Giggles · 21-06-2020 3:18pm

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

Level 6 courses are free for those in employment.

Ah very good, knew people that had done level 7/8 courses and just had to pay the ten percent so thought it was the same for all of them

go4it · 21-06-2020 3:28pm

This state-funded courses are mainly aimed at unemployed looking to re-skill and join the in-demand industries workforce.
Many don't get a free L6 place since they've done L7/8 in the industry that are working happily now , and don't plan to change lifelong careers ( if you're an engineer and and want to cook , this program might not be for you )

This are definitely not a Udemy -style courses

Saint_Mel · 21-06-2020 3:52pm

tommyombomb wrote: »

Do many people get these if working fulltime on decent enough salary. Love to do something this year as an interest as might not be much happening and if it can pad the CV it would be great

No issue with work or salary. I done a level 9 masters part time while working full time. Only had to pay 10% (€800) of the course fee and the other €7200 was covered by springboard

Bob Z · 21-06-2020 3:58pm

are these distant learning course or do you have to live near those colleges?

Officer Giggles · 21-06-2020 4:25pm

Bob Z wrote: »

are these distant learning course or do you have to live near those colleges?

There's a mixture, the odd one is fully online, then there's some where most of it is online but you might have to do a day a month on campus

jamesbondings · 21-06-2020 5:19pm

Do you need a job to qualify for this scheme?

Just been made redundant and see a few courses there I would B einterested in however I can't NOT working full time. I just currently don't have a job. Expect to get one in the next few months.

Officer Giggles · 21-06-2020 5:21pm

jamesbondings wrote: »

Do you need a job to qualify for this scheme?

Just been made redundant and see a few courses there I would B einterested in however I can't NOT working full time. I just currently don't have a job. Expect to get one in the next few months.

No you don't need a job, if you are on jobseekers benefit the courses are free

jamesbondings · 21-06-2020 5:24pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

No you don't need a job, if you are on jobseekers benefit the courses are free

Dont plan on getting social in any form. Might have to but would prefer not to.

Officer Giggles · 21-06-2020 5:29pm

jamesbondings wrote: »

Dont plan on getting social in any form. Might have to but would prefer not to.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/applying_to_college/third_level_places_for_unemployed_people.html#:~:text=Who%20is%20eligible%3F,level%206%20courses%20are%20free.

That's the eligibility criteria, it would appear you need to be claiming one of the payments to get the course for free otherwise you would need to pay the ten percent (level 6 courses are free for everyone)

tommyombomb · 21-06-2020 5:49pm

RedXIV wrote: »

I've a masters but I'd almost consider one of the culinary courses at level 6 probably be able to cook something other than pasta bake and pizza and chips for my dinner then

Do you know if you actually cook in a kitchen or if its theory. Would love one of those is actually cooking

SSr0 · 21-06-2020 6:02pm

tommyombomb wrote: »

Do you know if you actually cook in a kitchen or if its theory. Would love one of those is actually cooking

You need to log 400 hours in a commercial kitchen, so I'd say you do a fair bit of cooking.

caviardreams · 21-06-2020 6:15pm

Bob Z wrote: »

are these distant learning course or do you have to live near those colleges?

I'd say a lot of course which were even "face to face" will be mainly online given the current context, or at the very least heavily blended.

mad m · 22-06-2020 6:58am

I applied for a course in WIT last year, didn't realise it was springboard funded. You pay 10% so I had to pay 500 euro. I had to meet the criteria set out for the course I was doing plus upload a **** load of my qualifications before I was granted funding.

I'm in full time employment and up until Covid I was travelling to WIT in Waterford every 2nd Friday, stayed down there and was in WIT on Saturday till 2pm.

Blacktie. · 22-06-2020 9:35am

I'm actually going into my last semester in September from a course done here. Is it possible to progress to a masters on springboard afterwards?

2lazytogetup · 22-06-2020 12:08pm

how quick do you need to be off the mark to get one of these. i applied last august and was laughed at when i heard nothing and phoned up to see if i got a place.

do bookings go live on june 25th?

22-06-2020 12:16pm

search not working for me on the courses?

Saint_Mel · 22-06-2020 12:30pm

Deleted User wrote: »

search not working for me on the courses?

Theres a link on the page to an excel sheet with all the available courses by provider

mad m · 22-06-2020 6:01pm

2lazytogetup wrote: »

how quick do you need to be off the mark to get one of these. i applied last august and was laughed at when i heard nothing and phoned up to see if i got a place.

do bookings go live on june 25th?

Quick enough Id say, couple of the lads didn't get it on my course, there is only a certain amount of funding.

taytobreath · 22-06-2020 8:37pm

Some of the courses on there are brilliant, its worth having a good look at that excel file.

Can anyone tell me why are some of the level 9's called a certificate in ..... I always thought a level 9 is a masters or a post graduate diploma.

mad m · 22-06-2020 8:40pm

Bob Z wrote: »

are these distant learning course or do you have to live near those colleges?

Drove up and down to Waterford every 2nd Friday, stayed Friday night and headed back to Dublin Saturday afternoon.

lickalot · 22-06-2020 8:45pm

Higher Diploma in Science in Computing (Cloud Infrastructure) Institute of Technology Tralee Level 9

Higher Diploma in Science in Networking and Systems (Full-time / 1 year)

Very interested in these two. Work full time in IT.

FFVII · 22-06-2020 8:54pm

If you don't have a level 6, can you do a level 7?

mad m · 22-06-2020 8:57pm

lickalot wrote: »

Higher Diploma in Science in Computing (Cloud Infrastructure) Institute of Technology Tralee Level 9

Higher Diploma in Science in Networking and Systems (Full-time / 1 year)

Very interested in these two. Work full time in IT.

Honestly go for it. I started last September. In final semester, final exams in August. It flew in.

Beersmith · 22-06-2020 9:00pm

taytobreath wrote: »

Some of the courses on there are brilliant, its worth having a good look at that excel file.

Can anyone tell me why are some of the level 9's called a certificate in ..... I always thought a level 9 is a masters or a post graduate diploma.

Because it isn't a level 9 qualification you get, its not worth enough credits. Best way to think of it is its set at level 9 difficulty.

You only get certs with all of them, level 6 will be easier and require less work etc.

Brozy · 22-06-2020 9:11pm

taytobreath wrote: »

Can anyone tell me why are some of the level 9's called a certificate in ..... I always thought a level 9 is a masters or a post graduate diploma.

I'd imagine you only do a few modules and not enough credits for the full diploma or masters.

I just completed a level 7 certificate course through springboard and I'd highly recommend it. Especially if you can find something you're interested in or relevant to your job. I changed industry this year and it definitely helped having the course on my CV. It's also a great way to update your CV.

A word of warning for those working full-time and looking at a course. I only had 2 modules at once but dedicating the time to coursework and studying was tough.

taytobreath · 22-06-2020 9:51pm

FFVII wrote: »

If you don't have a level 6, can you do a level 7?

It would depend on your recognized prior learning, for example have you a job someway related to the level 7 course you are applying for. Look up the course and see their entry requirements and see if they have a mature entry route or a R.P.L. route, they usually do.

This is it · 22-06-2020 9:54pm

FFVII wrote: »

If you don't have a level 6, can you do a level 7?

You would need to have a level 6 previously or study up to level 7 over the course of two to three years which would incorporate the level 6 in the course. You couldn't skip level 6 and do a one year level 7. The one year would be an addition for someone that already has a level 6 higher certificate.

Pickboosgo · 22-06-2020 10:27pm

Could anyone recommend a course in Limerick with good employment prospects afterwards. None of them relate in anyway to what I have previously studied/ worked at, but can't find work in my area and just want a decent job don't care what as.

Class MayDresser · 22-06-2020 10:31pm

Did a level 7 recently, what I found was unless previously employed in the chosen subject area, still pretty hard to get into.
Having said that, I'm looking to do a level 8 in the same field.

zweton · 22-06-2020 11:19pm

That's the thing right, crossing over into another area without the exp to back it up. Back to the catch 22.

This is it · 22-06-2020 11:22pm

I went back to college as a mature student using Springboard and got a job in IT from it. Have managed to progress nicely in the meantime. No different than accessing the course direct, except it costs much less, or nothing in some cases

Jet Black · 22-06-2020 11:34pm

This is it wrote: »

I went back to college as a mature student using Springboard and got a job in IT from it. Have managed to progress nicely in the meantime. No different than accessing the course direct, except it costs much less, or nothing in some cases

Can I ask what course you did? Was it part time or full time? Would be interested in that area myself.

This is it · 22-06-2020 11:39pm

Jet Black wrote: »

Can I ask what course you did? Was it part time or full time? Would be interested in that area myself.

Computer Science. I did it part time which is labeled as 19 hours I think, but realistically you're talking 30+ hours most weeks between college, study and projects, and more again for end of semester projects and exams.

I'm full time now but looking at some courses to see if anything takes my fancy.

Brozy · 23-06-2020 8:14am

It's a shame they don't have the website updated with all the course information like last year.

It was very easy to navigate and pick out courses that interested you.

Now you have to search the course from the title and the institutions have different webpage layouts which puts me off searching.

OnLooker · 23-06-2020 8:28am

20 years working in development.

Thinking of doing the Certificate in Cloud Solutions Architecture in Tallaght IT or Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security in NCI.

Has anyone completed these courses?

2lazytogetup · 23-06-2020 8:41am

mad m wrote: »

Quick enough Id say, couple of the lads didn't get it on my course, there is only a certain amount of funding.

thanks mad m

go4it · 23-06-2020 8:43am

Brozy wrote: »

It's a shame they don't have the website updated with all the course information like last year.

It was very easy to navigate and pick out courses that interested you.

Now you have to search the course from the title and the institutions have different webpage layouts which puts me off searching.

You'll be able to look-up and navigate through courses on thursday 25th

Howard the Duck · 23-06-2020 8:55am

If anyone is worried they might not meet the criteria for doing a level 7/8 I say to you just apply. I am currently doing a level 7 Bsc in ITT with the option of a 4th year for a level 8. I thought I wouldn't meet the criteria for it but I have the experience in the IT industry. In the end there wasn't an interview nor did they ask about my experience , although I had to do a maths course for a few weeks beforehand, this was more to show that you are committed.

Colleges are due to lose a lot of money this year due to covid so they will be looking to recoup as much as possible, you have nothing to lose by applying and everything to gain. So go for it

rom · 23-06-2020 9:37am

OnLooker wrote: »

20 years working in development.

Thinking of doing the Certificate in Cloud Solutions Architecture in Tallaght IT or Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security in NCI.

Has anyone completed these courses?

No matter how good quality they are I would not waste my time on those. Sadly recruiters look for the same certs globally. I only found this out after my Masters in Network Security many years ago.

For cloud you probably want to pick a track and study for the certs. Things like amazon acloudguru etc.

Personally I would go for a CISSP instead of a grad diploma.

zweton · 23-06-2020 12:55pm

rom wrote: »

No matter how good quality they are I would not waste my time on those. Sadly recruiters look for the same certs globally. I only found this out after my Masters in Network Security many years ago.

For cloud you probably want to pick a track and study for the certs. Things like amazon acloudguru etc.

Personally I would go for a CISSP instead of a grad diploma.

So true.

Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

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