Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

This is it · 26-02-2021 1:30am

I'd expect most courses for 2020 will be available for 2021 but applications will be during the summer

knipper · 26-02-2021 9:51am

Has anyone done the science and reg affairs level 8 in UL. Been trying to get information on it but very little on the website and no reply from the college. I'm wondering how tough the science aspect of the course is. Any help appreciated.

py · 26-02-2021 10:01am

Horusire wrote: »

I am currently doing a course and its shocking. Normally wait 3-4 months for a result after I submit something and no feedback with the result. I think the springboard courses are a cash grab by the colleges. Alot of the lecturers I am seeing are absolutely useless at teaching

mel123 wrote: »

As a matter of interest do any of ye get much communications from your college? I get zero, no calls, mails, nothing to see how your getting on or finding the course or if there is anything they can help with. Ive done two assignments so far, and i have not even got my marks back yet.

I signed up to a level 9 in DCU. Their online setup is very mature, having been deliverying FETAC level 7/8/9 courses online for many many years at this stage. Our tutors respond on the online forums relatively quickly. I've had to email the college a few times and responses on that medium has been very quick. 1st module finished up at end of January so I'm in early stages of module 2 with first assignment due shortly. Our assignment results have been issued after 3 weeks of submission/closing date. I did an undergrad with DCU through their online platform, hence why I opted for this route again.

It is possible that whichever 3rd level insitutue you have signed up with is new to the online space. It may take them time to work through the teething issues if they are to continue deliverying courses this way.

richardkeiths · 26-02-2021 10:06am

mel123 wrote: »

Tough! I thought it would be a good distraction during the pandemic, but i find it the opposite. Tied full time to the laptop all day with work, and then to try and drag myself back to the laptop in the evenings is a killer. I will be glad when its over.

As a matter of interest do any of ye get much communications from your college? I get zero, no calls, mails, nothing to see how your getting on or finding the course or if there is anything they can help with. Ive done two assignments so far, and i have not even got my marks back yet.

are you for real.

Youre using tax payers money to study for the craic.

Youve an awful attitude

go4it · 26-02-2021 11:28am

got a friend in his late 30s, with only leaving cert, but willing to learn and get a better paid job - he started with L6 science (pharma) and worked his way to L7 ( as mature student )
From his feedback : he's grateful he had a chance to study for free , since he couldn't afford 5k/year and the blended learning meant he could keep his job to feed the family while upskilling , this 3 years

Of course he had fellow students dropping after first semester or first year , but this courses have been a 2nd chance for those willing to move forward but didn't have the money for it ...

previous years the course list was available by end of may , and sign-up till end of june , before the CAO results ( last year pandemic pushed things around a bit )

Bartyman · 26-02-2021 3:10pm

go4it wrote: »

got a friend in his late 30s, with only leaving cert, but willing to learn and get a better paid job - he started with L6 science (pharma) and worked his way to L7 ( as mature student )
From his feedback : he's grateful he had a chance to study for free , since he couldn't afford 5k/year and the blended learning meant he could keep his job to feed the family while upskilling , this 3 years

Of course he had fellow students dropping after first semester or first year , but this courses have been a 2nd chance for those willing to move forward but didn't have the money for it ...

previous years the course list was available by end of may , and sign-up till end of june , before the CAO results ( last year pandemic pushed things around a bit )

To add to this, Finished the Hdip in Science in Data Analytics (NCIRL) in December with Springboard, started a new job beginning of this month. Will be 61 next birthday.

There's always room for learning and moving up.

An old manager once told me, "In every job / role there are two types of people, movers and messers".

Soarer · 26-02-2021 4:43pm

go4it wrote: »

got a friend in his late 30s, with only leaving cert, but willing to learn and get a better paid job - he started with L6 science (pharma) and worked his way to L7 ( as mature student )
From his feedback : he's grateful he had a chance to study for free , since he couldn't afford 5k/year and the blended learning meant he could keep his job to feed the family while upskilling , this 3 years

Of course he had fellow students dropping after first semester or first year , but this courses have been a 2nd chance for those willing to move forward but didn't have the money for it ...

previous years the course list was available by end of may , and sign-up till end of june , before the CAO results ( last year pandemic pushed things around a bit )

Roughly in the same boat.

45 this summer. Currently employed but looking to progress.
Started the L6 BioPharma in January just gone.
Have every intention of progressing to the L7.

Is your buddy's L7 through Springboard too?
The €5k a year is a bit rich for my blood.

mel123 · 26-02-2021 5:46pm

richardkeiths wrote: »

are you for real.

Youre using tax payers money to study for the craic.

Youve an awful attitude

Who said anything about studying for the craic? The course I’m doing is made up of chemistry and biology and is far from any craic. I’m upskilling, far from wasting any tax payers money. The poster asked how were people finding it, where do you find a problem with my answer? Is it because I thought it would be a welcome distraction during a global pandemic seeing as we are in lockdown more often than we are not? Or is it because my feedback about the course is not good?

tbahh · 26-02-2021 6:12pm

mel123 wrote: »

Who said anything about studying for the craic? The course I’m doing is made up of chemistry and biology and is far from any craic. I’m upskilling, far from wasting any tax payers money. The poster asked how were people finding it, where do you find a problem with my answer? Is it because I thought it would be a welcome distraction during a global pandemic seeing as we are in lockdown more often than we are not? Or is it because my feedback about the course is not good?

Don't waste your time replying to them. What a stupid comment about using taxpayers' money. Some people love to groan.

It's perfectly normal to find a course difficult, especially when coupled with working at the same time. Best of luck with it all!

kala85 · 26-02-2021 9:17pm

vintcerf wrote: »

loving the one I am doing. lecturers are excellent but it's getting tough! same as others here - juggling a level 9 and work is a mission!

What course are you doing

mp3ireland2 · 27-02-2021 9:54pm

mel123 wrote: »

Tough! I thought it would be a good distraction during the pandemic, but i find it the opposite. Tied full time to the laptop all day with work, and then to try and drag myself back to the laptop in the evenings is a killer. I will be glad when its over.

As a matter of interest do any of ye get much communications from your college? I get zero, no calls, mails, nothing to see how your getting on or finding the course or if there is anything they can help with. Ive done two assignments so far, and i have not even got my marks back yet.

I get a fair bit of communication I email lecturers with questions. I have continuous assessment, got 76% overall in the first semester so hoping to get over 63 this time to get a first. The in term exams are ok as open book etc, and get results in a day or two. Got all the first term final assignment results last week.
Yeah I'm the same is quite a chore but between this and bring busy with work I count myself lucky.... Or that's what I tell myself anyway!

SpannerMonkey · 01-03-2021 3:38am

I recently finished my springboard course. Was doing the Higher Diploma in Biopharmaceutical & Medical Device Manufacturing.

Plenty of times i thought to myself i wish i hadnt started it.
That i was too busy and id never be able to get assignments done in time, but i never thought of quitting and now i graduate next week with a first class honours.

Its tough but anything worth doing usually is.

Springboard offers fantastic chance to upskill and id recommend anyone to look through the courses they offer. There will be something for everyone.

For backround, i failed my leaving cert, hated school, went and did an apprenticeship and later went back to school by night to get my degree. And then on to this H.Dip

Dont feel just because you did bad in secondary or you're not an academic that you cant do this. You can

arccosh · 09-03-2021 1:10pm

SpannerMonkey wrote: »

I recently finished my springboard course. Was doing the Higher Diploma in Biopharmaceutical & Medical Device Manufacturing.

Plenty of times i thought to myself i wish i hadnt started it.
That i was too busy and id never be able to get assignments done in time, but i never thought of quitting and now i graduate next week with a first class honours.

Its tough but anything worth doing usually is.

Springboard offers fantastic chance to upskill and id recommend anyone to look through the courses they offer. There will be something for everyone.

For backround, i failed my leaving cert, hated school, went and did an apprenticeship and later went back to school by night to get my degree. And then on to this H.Dip

Dont feel just because you did bad in secondary or you're not an academic that you cant do this. You can

Having a bad week doing something similar... this is what I needed to read

arccosh · 09-03-2021 1:24pm

richardkeiths wrote: »

are you for real.

Youre using tax payers money to study for the craic.

Youve an awful attitude

:pac::pac: clown

AngryLips · 09-03-2021 4:51pm

SpannerMonkey wrote: »

I recently finished my springboard course. Was doing the Higher Diploma in Biopharmaceutical & Medical Device Manufacturing.

Plenty of times i thought to myself i wish i hadnt started it.
That i was too busy and id never be able to get assignments done in time, but i never thought of quitting and now i graduate next week with a first class honours.

Its tough but anything worth doing usually is.

Springboard offers fantastic chance to upskill and id recommend anyone to look through the courses they offer. There will be something for everyone.

For backround, i failed my leaving cert, hated school, went and did an apprenticeship and later went back to school by night to get my degree. And then on to this H.Dip

Dont feel just because you did bad in secondary or you're not an academic that you cant do this. You can

I want to echo this sentiment. I started a Springboard course, it was harder than I expected, in the first semester I was so close to quitting, then I procrastinated so long on it that I was well into the second semester when I thought to myself "actually this second semester isn't so bad and, well I'm halfway through, why would I give up now". And finally towards the end I realised I was within striking distance of a graduating with a first so I sweated to get there and I graduated with first. Then last week I found myself doing something in work that I learned from the course and it's raised my profile in the company a bit.

Clareman · 09-03-2021 5:09pm

I'm a big fan of courses and I think that Springboard is 1 of the best initiatives going, I recommend it to everyone, I especially recommend it to people who struggled the first time around with education, you'd be amazed how "easy" things can become when you're an adult doing this stuff, then again a lot of other parts can be next to impossible

My advise to anyone who is thinking of signing up is go for it. My advice for anyone thinking of dropping out is to give it another week, speak to your lecturers, take a step back, remember if it was easy everyone would have the qualification you are going for so keep going.

Loubox · 09-03-2021 6:39pm

Have to say I echo all the positive Springboard comments above.
I'm 6 weeks away from finishing my course in AIT and I'm so glad I did it. The college have been nothing but supportive with extensions etc and very understanding in the sense that most people on the course are working full-time and may have families at home. All the lectures have been interesting and engaging, same for all the lecturers.
Can't fault my experience and am giving serious consideration to continuing on once finished this year

Blizzard · 09-03-2021 9:20pm

Totally agree with the positive comments.

I only found out about Springboard last summer and applied just before end of July. Luckily I got accepted to more than one of my choices and went for a Level 8 diploma course at NUIG. Overall I've found the course, lecturers and system online very good. At times it was tough but you definitely get out of it what you put into it. As I'm on the last six weeks or so, I think it was definitely worth the time and effort and consider it a great opportunity.

Horusire · 10-03-2021 3:06pm

You can search the courses by delivery method. I think non contact courses have a delivery method of 'online'

absolutegroove · 12-03-2021 8:34pm

I’m studying a Higher Diploma in Science at Dublin Business School.

It has been really hard work not only because I haven’t studied in years but because of the research and projects we have to do.

At times I wanted to give it up but I have only three modules left (they are all really research heavy) and the end is in sight.

The vast amount of lecturers at DBS have been great but one or two seem to be plodding along.

Updates from the College are numerous and emails are answered very quickly.

All in all I have learned a lot and it has now prepared me for the possible next step to a Masters.

I wouldn’t be doing the course without Springboard and to be honest it has kept me busy very busy during Covid.

I applaud anyone who has been doing one of these courses who are working and have kids - absolute legends.

qwertz · 13-03-2021 2:17am

I am in a course at LYIT and unfortunately the majority of lecturers have been atrocious with both quality and speed of feedback. Had I paid the full 6k for this then I’d be extremely p’d off.

bromley52 · 13-03-2021 1:36pm

I had to Google LYIT.

FFVII · 13-03-2021 3:41pm

qwertz wrote: »

I am in a course at LYIT and unfortunately the majority of lecturers have been atrocious with both quality and speed of feedback. Had I paid the full 6k for this then I’d be extremely p’d off.

Is that the data center one?

qwertz · 14-03-2021 1:58am

FFVII wrote: »

Is that the data center one?

Yep.

This is it · 14-03-2021 1:23pm

I had applied and been accepted to that but chose another course, glad now.

py · 09-05-2021 10:59pm

py wrote: »

Got my timetable for the postgrad course from DCU yesterday. It's getting a bit more real as the days tick by and more and more emails come in.

Submitted the last of my nine assignments this evening. It has been a challenging year, even without the demands of college on top of everything else. Big thank you to the OP for starting this thread. One step closer to a Fetac level 9 because of you.

djan · 09-05-2021 11:38pm

Sorry if it has been answered before but is it possible to do another course after finishing one this academic year?

Horusire · 10-05-2021 11:19am

djan wrote: »

Sorry if it has been answered before but is it possible to do another course after finishing one this academic year?

Yes heard from a friend you have to pay 20% of the fee and you have to be advancing. So I dont think you can do two level 6s in a row etc. This could all be wrong however he wouldnt be one for citing his sources

lostcat · 10-05-2021 11:27am

djan wrote: »

Sorry if it has been answered before but is it possible to do another course after finishing one this academic year?

Your first course provider have to confirm to Springboard that you have completed the first course before you can apply for another, you may have to do a bit of chasing in this regard so start asking as soon as you have completed the first course.

Officer Giggles · 10-05-2021 2:58pm

djan wrote: »

Sorry if it has been answered before but is it possible to do another course after finishing one this academic year?

You can do three courses in a five year period however, you cannot do two courses in the one academic year. Also, Level 8 graduates must wait for a period of one year from graduation before they are eligible to do a Level 9 Springboard course.

I was told by UL that applicants who have not previously received funding are given preference over those who have.

aw · 10-05-2021 3:13pm

See question 2 on the FAQ. "I successfully completed a Springboard+ course in the past. Can I do another one?"

https://springboardcourses.ie/faq

Detailed document available also: https://springboardcourses.ie/pdfs/Guidelines%20on%20applications%20from%20previous%20Springboard%20participants%202020.pdf

IwishIknew2020 · 12-05-2021 10:24pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

You can do three courses in a five year period however, you cannot do two courses in the one academic year. Also, Level 8 graduates must wait for a period of one year from graduation before they are eligible to do a Level 9 Springboard course.

I was told by UL that applicants who have not previously received funding are given preference over those who have.

Are you sure of this? I am finished a level 8 this weekend

and I am thinking of trying a level 9 in Sep?

Josuke · 12-05-2021 11:32pm

Any word on when the 2021/22 courses will be released on a document similar to last year?

Berty · 13-05-2021 6:28am

Josuke wrote: »

Any word on when the 2021/22 courses will be released on a document similar to last year?

Late May, early June last time they said anyway.

Wanderer78 · 13-05-2021 6:44am

Josuke wrote:

Any word on when the 2021/22 courses will be released on a document similar to last year?

There should be a big push on this soon, so should be plenty of courses available

Berty · 13-05-2021 1:17pm

I got a letter from AIT today, I'm on springboard with them, and it says

"We have submitted over 60 programmes for springboard+ funding, of which we will know the outcome in early June 2021."

Officer Giggles · 13-05-2021 3:14pm

IwishIknew2020 wrote: »

Are you sure of this? I am finished a level 8 this weekend and I am thinking of trying a level 9 in Sep?

I took that part word for word from the FAQ section of the Springboard website. You should contact them to clarify it as I don't know myself.

IwishIknew2020 · 13-05-2021 3:44pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

I took that part word for word from the FAQ section of the Springboard website. You should contact them to clarify it as I don't know myself.

Thanks, I have just sent them an email.

Can I ask did you did you complete a springboard course in UL this year?

Officer Giggles · 13-05-2021 4:14pm

IwishIknew2020 wrote: »

Thanks, I have just sent them an email.

Can I ask did you did you complete a springboard course in UL this year?

Yea, I submitted my final assignments for the Certificate in Management last week.

Proferoxa · 13-05-2021 4:25pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

Yea, I submitted my final assignments for the Certificate in Management last week.

How did you find UL to deal with, and what was the standard like? Also, how long did they take to get back to you after you'd applied? I'm thinking of doing a course with them myself come September, so any info would be greatly appreciated!

IwishIknew2020 · 13-05-2021 6:22pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

I took that part word for word from the FAQ section of the Springboard website. You should contact them to clarify it as I don't know myself.[/QUOT

Thanks I did. They said once you have completed the course it is no problem to apply for another.

IwishIknew2020 · 13-05-2021 6:23pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

Yea, I submitted my final assignments for the Certificate in Management last week.

Well done. I have just sent in my last assignment today too, I did the degree in management. Loved every minute. Did you enjoy it?

IwishIknew2020 · 13-05-2021 6:24pm

Proferoxa wrote: »

How did you find UL to deal with, and what was the standard like? Also, how long did they take to get back to you after you'd applied? I'm thinking of doing a course with them myself come September, so any info would be greatly appreciated!

I found UL absolutely brilliant to deal with. Very organised, very professional, highly recommend them.

Officer Giggles · 13-05-2021 7:30pm

IwishIknew2020 wrote: »

Well done. I have just sent in my last assignment today too, I did the degree in management. Loved every minute. Did you enjoy it?

That's good to hear, hoping to get the Diploma in September, found the cert handy enough as an introduction to the topic. Glad to hear you enjoyed the degree as that is obviously my long term goal. Did you do the Cert and Diploma aswell.

Officer Giggles · 13-05-2021 7:34pm

Proferoxa wrote: »

How did you find UL to deal with, and what was the standard like? Also, how long did they take to get back to you after you'd applied? I'm thinking of doing a course with them myself come September, so any info would be greatly appreciated!

I found UL good to deal with, everything was very well explained and straight forward, hoping to go on and do the Diploma with them in September.

I applied for the Cert through Springboard on 11/07/20 and I was offered a place on the course by UL on 14/08/20.

Proferoxa · 13-05-2021 8:10pm

Can anyone clarify whether you have to be in receipt of a social welfare payment for nine months before applying for a HCI course, or before the course actually starts?

IwishIknew2020 · 14-05-2021 5:40pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

That's good to hear, hoping to get the Diploma in September, found the cert handy enough as an introduction to the topic. Glad to hear you enjoyed the degree as that is obviously my long term goal. Did you do the Cert and Diploma aswell.

No I went straight into level 8 due to having a level 7 and tonnes of work experience.

IwishIknew2020 · 14-05-2021 5:41pm

Proferoxa wrote: »

Can anyone clarify whether you have to be in receipt of a social welfare payment for nine months before applying for a HCI course, or before the course actually starts?

No idea, send them an email, they are very responsive.

ballybro · 16-05-2021 10:46pm

Im coming to the end of my 1 year springboard course which was one of the specialist diplomas in NUIG in the 2020/2021 academic year towards a level 8.Just wondering would i be eligable to apply for another one of the other specialist diplima course for the 2021/2022 academic year to bring me up to the required ETCS credits for a Level 8 or would i have to take a years break in between .

Proferoxa · 17-05-2021 4:11pm

Proferoxa wrote: »

Can anyone clarify whether you have to be in receipt of a social welfare payment for nine months before applying for a HCI course, or before the course actually starts?

In case anyone else is wondering the same thing, I've got confirmation that it's nine months before the course start date.

Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

Comments