Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

09-07-2020 12:04pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Yeah they only accepted my offer last Friday 3rd and want an acceptance 10 days later... that's just it I suppose with the demand. Won't be in a position to accept that fast on my future so I'll let someone else take it!

I'm in a similar situation and I contacted Sligo IT and asked them to extend the acceptance date. They said that shouldn't be an issue.

BonnieSituation · 09-07-2020 12:05pm

tolow wrote: »

I'm in a similar situation and I contacted Sligo IT and asked them to extend the acceptance date. They said that shouldn't be an issue.

Cheers for that. I'll email your man in GMIT now.

AryaStark · 09-07-2020 12:14pm

FFVII wrote: »

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

I did a higher diploma in Web Technologies which is level 8. I had finished my leaving cert 10 years before and didn't go to college. I was accepted onto the course because I have enough industry experience. I then progressed to a level 9 Postgraduate Diploma in Cloud Computing... I loved it and enjoyed getting to a level 9 in two years.

Skidfingers · 09-07-2020 12:25pm

The chance of being offered a place on a course seems high?

This is it · 09-07-2020 12:41pm

Skidfingers wrote: »

The chance of being offered a place on a course seems high?

With nothing to go on other than anecdotal evidence I would say yes. Once you supply your documentation early on and have met the criteria set out the chances of being offered a place are very high.

Away With The Fairies · 09-07-2020 12:44pm

I applied for a course and getting the covid payment. Does anyone know if I might have to pay for a course if I take up work soon?

This is it · 09-07-2020 12:47pm

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

I applied for a course and getting the covid payment. Does anyone know if I might have to pay for a course if I take up work soon?

As far as I know once you're unemployed at the start then you won't have to pay once you take up employment. It was 2013 but I was on a 2 year course and started working part time, I wasn't asked for any contribution.

Also, it's 10% of the course fee for those employed. So while free is better, you're getting a great deal either way if things have changed since 2013.

ballybro · 09-07-2020 1:27pm

I applied for a level 8 course in NUIG and have been asked to provide a personal statement (500 words max ) .
This makes me wonder have they been oversubscribed .Im already working in the industry of the course and have a level 7 qualification so its definately a relevant course for me .Just wondering what i need to mention in this statement .

BonnieSituation · 09-07-2020 1:41pm

ballybro wrote: »

I applied for a level 8 course in NUIG and have been asked to provide a personal statement (500 words max ) .
This makes me wonder have they been oversubscribed .Im already working in the industry of the course and have a level 7 qualification so its definately a relevant course for me .Just wondering what i need to mention in this statement .

Treat the statement like a cover letter for a job and sell yourself and why the course is for you.

It's pretty standard issue for post grads to have to do this.

They want to make sure that those doing the courses are the ones that should be doing them. The big issue with free things is you have lots of people applying for everything and anything so this is a good way to weed them out.

taytobreath · 09-07-2020 6:23pm

When some of you were asked for exam transcripts, is that the written exam you done at the time of the exam?

I always thought those transcripts were strictly private, I remember when I wanted to view one of mine a member of staff had to be in the class with me and i was not allowed to write on it or even barely touch it.

RunRoryRun · 09-07-2020 6:25pm

taytobreath wrote: »

When some of you were asked for exam transcripts, is that the written exam you done at the time of the exam?

I always thought those transcripts were strictly private, I remember when I wanted to view one of mine a member of staff had to be in the class with me and i was not allowed to write on it or even barely touch it.

No, different to this! It’s a list of all subjects / exams taken during your time in college with your grade listed for each (and your overall award).

taytobreath · 09-07-2020 6:27pm

RunRoryRun wrote: »

No, different to this! It’s a list of all subjects / exams taken during your time in college with your grade listed for each (and your overall award).

ahhh thank you.

SpannerMonkey · 09-07-2020 7:08pm

GirlatdRockShow wrote: »

Thanks all for your replies. I have my scroll alright so I might chance that, its just the request was very specific about past exam transcripts. I will also try the log in, although I may have trouble remembering my details as it was so long ago now! Yes totally understandable that there is no one answering phones and that email is a bit slow at the moment due to current restrictions, just a little worried as springboard provider said have it back in 7 days.

My wife applied for her transcripts from TUD, it took them a week to come back to her and she was told they cant find them online and there is nobody in the college to access them. Dont know what happens now. Not great though

BonnieSituation · 09-07-2020 8:31pm

SpannerMonkey wrote: »

My wife applied for her transcripts from TUD, it took them a week to come back to her and she was told they cant find them online and there is nobody in the college to access them. Dont know what happens now. Not great though

Does she know her results?

They can assess her on that assumption and then get confirmation afterwards.

I submitted screenshots of mine. And should they need the official ones I will get them on foot of an acceptance. No point delaying to be told know.

---

Is anyone else getting emails asking to upload stuff etc that you have already submitted?

It's driving my internal admin-nazi insane. I'm ex-public sector. I don't mess with life administration.

Vetch · 09-07-2020 9:36pm

ballybro wrote: »

I applied for a level 8 course in NUIG and have been asked to provide a personal statement (500 words max ) .
This makes me wonder have they been oversubscribed .Im already working in the industry of the course and have a level 7 qualification so its definately a relevant course for me .Just wondering what i need to mention in this statement .

I got the same from NUIG and agree with another poster that the request for a personal statement is probably to weed out people. That said, I don't think the requirements for some NUIG courses were set up properly first day as it allowed me to apply for at least one without supplying any kind of supporting documents (like identification). I got an email afterwards looking for this as well.

cefh17 · 09-07-2020 11:05pm

Vetch wrote: »

I got the same from NUIG and agree with another poster that the request for a personal statement is probably to weed out people. That said, I don't think the requirements for some NUIG courses were set up properly first day as it allowed me to apply for at least one without supplying any kind of supporting documents (like identification). I got an email afterwards looking for this as well.

Same here, no section for personal statement for an NUIG course. The deadline for mine is 30th July and the admin person indicated they won't let people know if they've been accepted until after that. In two minds whether to look at other courses as a back up but it might be too late now

BonnieSituation · 10-07-2020 4:10am

cefh17 wrote: »

Same here, no section for personal statement for an NUIG course. The deadline for mine is 30th July and the admin person indicated they won't let people know if they've been accepted until after that. In two minds whether to look at other courses as a back up but it might be too late now

Always look at other courses as back up. Always.

oleras · 10-07-2020 5:47am

BonnieSituation wrote: »

You need to be on an eligible payment for 9 months of the previous 12 BEFORE the course starts.

So I've been on JA since January 1st, so my 9 months doesn't finish til September 30th. Course starts on September 7th.

How does this work for someone not entitled to any social welfare, eg still living at home with parents ?

Son finished college just now and no jobs out there atm, wondering if he could apply for these to keep him busy/upskill?

Mickeroo · 10-07-2020 9:52am

Vetch wrote: »

I got the same from NUIG and agree with another poster that the request for a personal statement is probably to weed out people. That said, I don't think the requirements for some NUIG courses were set up properly first day as it allowed me to apply for at least one without supplying any kind of supporting documents (like identification). I got an email afterwards looking for this as well.

I applied to an NUIG course too and the personal statement was there in application uploads. I didn't apply until last weekend so maybe it wasn't there before hand.

Vetch · 10-07-2020 10:58am

Mickeroo wrote: »

I applied to an NUIG course too and the personal statement was there in application uploads. I didn't apply until last weekend so maybe it wasn't there before hand.

I looked at a few courses and think the documents upload facility might have been there for some. Unsure though as I was looking around at different colleges. For the particular course I applied for, the email I got from NUIG said the system hadn't been working properly but was fixed.

Mickeroo · 10-07-2020 11:00am

Vetch wrote: »

I looked at a few courses and think the documents upload facility might have been there for some. Unsure though as I was looking around at different colleges. For the particular course I applied for, the email I got from NUIG said the system hadn't been working properly but was fixed.

Makes sense. I've only applied to the one course so hopefully I get it, it was the only one that seemed to fit my needs in terms of fitting it around work from the descriptions.

Officer Giggles · 10-07-2020 11:52am

Do you get an email if you are unsuccessful or does your status on springboard just update to something negative

shanec1928 · 10-07-2020 12:07pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

Do you get an email if you are unsuccessful or does your status on springboard just update to something negative

you get an email that it was unsuccessful

dinky earnshaw · 10-07-2020 1:40pm

Can anyone tell me if level 6 courses are free to people in employment?

Officer Giggles · 10-07-2020 1:41pm

dinky earnshaw wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if level 6 courses are free to people in employment?

Yea all level 6 courses are free

newuser99999 · 10-07-2020 1:51pm

oleras wrote: »

How does this work for someone not entitled to any social welfare, eg still living at home with parents ?

Son finished college just now and no jobs out there atm, wondering if he could apply for these to keep him busy/upskill?

He won’t be able to do one. You need to either be working or in receipt of some type of social welfare payment.

oleras · 10-07-2020 2:09pm

newuser99999 wrote: »

He won’t be able to do one. You need to either be working or in receipt of some type of social welfare payment.

Makes sense, all i have to do is ask him to move out, start claiming 200/week sw and get them to pay another 100/week towards a room, cost the state 15k/year when he can live at home for free :pac:

Tough time to be a recent graduate unfortunately.

2lazytogetup · 13-07-2020 4:49pm

some of the courses dont require any additional documentation. ie dont need to provide evidence of past courses completed. Dont need to set out why you are applying. So how do they decide. Will the course provider contact us directly and ask for this information.

anyone know if the courses have filled up. i only applied an hour ago. was it in vain?

uptherebels · 13-07-2020 4:55pm

2lazytogetup wrote: »

some of the courses dont require any additional documentation. ie dont need to provide evidence of past courses completed. Dont need to set out why you are applying. So how do they decide. Will the course provider contact us directly and ask for this information.

anyone know if the courses have filled up. i only applied an hour ago. was it in vain?

It depends. I applied to Sligo, they didn't require additional documentation with the initial application, but they asked for transcripts after reviewing my initial application and then proof of employment when I accepted the course.

2lazytogetup · 13-07-2020 5:07pm

uptherebels wrote: »

It depends. I applied to Sligo, they didn't require additional documentation with the initial application, but they asked for transcripts after reviewing my initial application and then proof of employment when I accepted the course.

thanks uptherebels

PEACEBROTHER · 13-07-2020 5:19pm

uptherebels wrote: »

It depends. I applied to Sligo, they didn't require additional documentation with the initial application, but they asked for transcripts after reviewing my initial application and then proof of employment when I accepted the course.

Same as me -

Quick question any idea how I would get around the utility bill Request

I have no bills at all in my name only bank statement - sent them bank statement to see if that will do

py · 14-07-2020 11:13am

DCU are hosting a webinar for anyone interested in applying for their courses. It's on this Thursday 16th July at 7pm. Details here.

woofwoof123 · 14-07-2020 6:04pm

Hi Guys,

I have been offered a place by IT Sligo for a level 8 Certificate in Medical Technologies Regulatory Affairs & Quality. I am waiting to hear back from Innopharma about their Higher Diploma in BioPharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturing. Has anyone any experience on either of these two courses? Finding it hard to decide on which one to do.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

bennyx_o · 14-07-2020 6:30pm

Received an offer today from DBS for a Higher Diploma in Science in Computing - delighted. Need to work out the evenings with work before accepting, though

Away With The Fairies · 14-07-2020 6:47pm

Does anyone know if I don't accept a course, will that disqualify me to apply next year?

absolutegroove · 14-07-2020 7:45pm

Confused on which offer to accept: I never thought I’d be in this position................

Master of Arts in Creative Digital Media - UX and Interaction Design

or

Higher Diploma in Science in Digital Marketing

BonnieSituation · 14-07-2020 8:01pm

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

Does anyone know if I don't accept a course, will that disqualify me to apply next year?

No.

FFVII · 14-07-2020 9:25pm

bennyx_o wrote: »

Received an offer today from DBS for a Higher Diploma in Science in Computing - delighted. Need to work out the evenings with work before accepting, though

whats that now

taytobreath · 14-07-2020 11:48pm

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

Does anyone know if I don't accept a course, will that disqualify me to apply next year?

You could accept the course and defer it for a year as far as I am aware

GirlatdRockShow · 15-07-2020 12:00am

SpannerMonkey wrote: »

My wife applied for her transcripts from TUD, it took them a week to come back to her and she was told they cant find them online and there is nobody in the college to access them. Dont know what happens now. Not great though

Did your wife get sorted?

I filled out the online form multiple times and kept emailing everyone I could think of/every email I could find even vaguely associated with my school/course
In the end I was able to find my student number on some random notes from years ago so logged in to that (thanks to advice here!) , reset my pin and took screenshots of results and sent those.

After I did all that TUD eventually got back to me with the transcipts but I don't know whether it was the forms or the many emails that worked!

Got my first choice anyway in IT sligo so all worked out OK

Captain Flaps · 15-07-2020 12:27pm

Thanks for this, just got the acceptance emails for the course I applied to, will be starting back part time in september with the govt paying 90% of my fees. Delighted.

Officer Giggles · 15-07-2020 12:30pm

Has anyone that has applied for a course in UL had any movement on their application yet.

Kiith · 15-07-2020 1:41pm

I still haven't been able to get a copy of my results. QQI said Carlow would have to issue them directly, and i've had no reply from Carlow. Really annoying.

py · 15-07-2020 1:57pm

Kiith wrote: »

I still haven't been able to get a copy of my results. QQI said Carlow would have to issue them directly, and i've had no reply from Carlow. Really annoying.

Have you tried contacting them on social media?

Kiith · 15-07-2020 1:59pm

Emailed them again there, and there's a 15 day turnaround apparently. Will see what turns up over the next few days.

Snow Garden · 15-07-2020 2:00pm

woofwoof123 wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I have been offered a place by IT Sligo for a level 8 Certificate in Medical Technologies Regulatory Affairs & Quality. I am waiting to hear back from Innopharma about their Higher Diploma in BioPharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturing. Has anyone any experience on either of these two courses? Finding it hard to decide on which one to do.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Do you need to be working in MedTech or have a Science degree to apply for those?

15-07-2020 5:09pm

Got accepted on the course that I really wanted to do, so happy days! A little worries about the workload but we will see how it goes!

Does anyone know when fees are due for the courses?

Thanks

This is it · 15-07-2020 5:58pm

tolow wrote: »

Got accepted on the course that I really wanted to do, so happy days! A little worries about the workload but we will see how it goes!

Does anyone know when fees are due for the courses?

Thanks

Just before you start I'd imagine

woofwoof123 · 15-07-2020 11:01pm

Snow Garden wrote: »

Do you need to be working in MedTech or have a Science degree to apply for those?

As far as I‘m aware you need to have a Level 7 science/engineering degree.

mad m · 16-07-2020 4:44am

tolow wrote: »

Got accepted on the course that I really wanted to do, so happy days! A little worries about the workload but we will see how it goes!

Does anyone know when fees are due for the courses?

Thanks

Well done. As far as I can remember when I registered and got accepted i had to pay the 10% there and then. Think it said it’s dependant on if I’m selected for springboard grant. Think one of the lads in my course paid 10% (500). He was then told he was selected for springboard but later on during Semester 1 College turned around and said it was a mistake and wanted full fee. He argued it to the hilt, but college didn’t budge and he had to eventually pay full price.

Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

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