Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

This is it · 12-10-2020 10:34am

I don't work in software development but I think you'd find it tough to get your foot in the door with no experience and a level 6. Not to say it won't happen, just that I think you'd be better off with level 7+.

If you're already into coding and have a portfolio, projects, etc. you've already worked on then I'd presume, maybe wrongly, that the education side might not matter as much.

CBear1993 · 12-10-2020 10:41am

Good stuff thanks, was thinking the same. Reluctant to go below a level 8 in general as that's what I have to my name...

tv3tg4 · 12-10-2020 6:43pm

I got and registered for a course in dcu.
They never sent me an email about the start date. Only found out today that it had started a few weeks ago

Esse85 · 12-10-2020 7:23pm

tv3tg4 wrote: »

I got and registered for a course in dcu.
They never sent me an email about the start date. Only found out today that it had started a few weeks ago

I wonder did they enter your email details wrong like they did with mine and as a result I heard nothing until I had to contact them to find out what's happening.

red face dave · 12-10-2020 10:34pm

tv3tg4 wrote: »

I got and registered for a course in dcu.
They never sent me an email about the start date. Only found out today that it had started a few weeks ago

I had a few problems with reg for DCU also but got it sorted after a few emails. You probably wouldn't have missed to much as its all on Loop anyway

Cardamom and mimosa · 20-10-2020 11:40pm

Hi has anyone had experience with not getting a place on a Springboard course?
Im a teacher whose fed up with precarious and casual gig work. I applied to Springboard courses related to my undergrad degree but in an area unrelated to teaching, I didnt even get a reply to my application. Interview dates have passed.
Just dont know where I went wrong?

This is it · 21-10-2020 9:46am

Cardamom and mimosa wrote: »

Hi has anyone had experience with not getting a place on a Springboard course?
Im a teacher whose fed up with precarious and casual gig work. I applied to Springboard courses related to my undergrad degree but in an area unrelated to teaching, I didnt even get a reply to my application. Interview dates have passed.
Just dont know where I went wrong?

You should/should have followed up with the course contact when you hadn't heard anything back from them. Plenty here didn't get their first choice but any who applied for 2+ got a place as far as I remember.

Cardamom and mimosa · 21-10-2020 12:09pm

This is it wrote: »

You should/should have followed up with the course contact when you hadn't heard anything back from them. Plenty here didn't get their first choice but any who applied for 2+ got a place as far as I remember.

Thank you, I will contact them this week.

Bartyman · 21-10-2020 1:55pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Feeling very overwhelmed after week one.

Doing a postgraduate diploma and my online lectures were filled with 100+ students asking very technical questions and talking about programmes and concepts I've never even heard of setting myself up on Udemy tonight and have asked two lecturers for any particular Udemy courses they might recommend.

The reality is definitely setting in for me today, but hopefully the high standard means I'll come out of the course with good skills.

Stick with it, I was in the same boat in January with the Data Analytics course, it gets easier, this is from someone who left school 45 years ago.

Nearly died when the lecturer threw up the 1st slides on coding.

I'm now in the final semester having passed all the exams to date, also found Udemy a great resource, YouTube also has some great tutorials.

dazzday · 22-10-2020 11:43am

https://www.irishtimes.com/subscribe/student/

Little perk for doing springboard - 1 year free access to Irish times

GHOST MGG · 22-10-2020 12:16pm

dazzday wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/subscribe/student/

Little perk for doing springboard - 1 year free access to Irish times

Ironic that the springboard courses run by the irish times are not eligible haha

jamesbondings · 27-10-2020 11:34am

dazzday wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/subscribe/student/

Little perk for doing springboard - 1 year free access to Irish times

are these courses part time or full time? i paid for a part time degree course but i cannot activate the free irish times sub - they do say for full time only but it is no where in their tcs and cs

flipflophead22 · 27-10-2020 5:58pm

These ones seem to be added recently? Similar to the springboard i wonder?

https://www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/government-additional-college-places-stimulus-jobs

Vetch · 28-10-2020 9:01am

flipflophead22 wrote: »

These ones seem to be added recently? Similar to the springboard i wonder?

https://www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/government-additional-college-places-stimulus-jobs

The newly available courses are listed here: https://hea.ie/skills-engagement/july-stimulus-he-initiative-places-announced/.

Ella108 · 07-11-2020 2:53pm

Hi, not entirely off topic, but how many springboard courses can you take? Can you do a year course one year and then go for another, next year and so on? What is the limit?

Kamu · 07-11-2020 3:18pm

Ella108 wrote: »

Hi, not entirely off topic, but how many springboard courses can you take? Can you do a year course one year and then go for another, next year and so on? What is the limit?

3 Courses over a 5 Year period.
https://springboardcourses.ie/pdfs/Guidelines%20on%20applications%20from%20previous%20Springboard%20participants%202020.pdf

Skidfingers · 08-11-2020 4:27pm

I'm doing a course in IT Sligo, started in September. When do they require payment for the course (10%)?

py · 08-11-2020 4:46pm

Skidfingers wrote: »

I'm doing a course in IT Sligo, started in September. When do they require payment for the course (10%)?

In DCU we had to pay up prior to it commencing as we would not have gained access to the course materials.

mp3ireland2 · 09-11-2020 6:58pm

Did you guys have to upload proof (in the last couple of weeks) that you were working or unemployed or other status at the time the course started? I had done in application and now done again, it just says "First registered" not sure if my proof has been accpted yet...(I started the job about a week after the course started so not sure how strict they are)

This is it · 09-11-2020 7:25pm

I had to reregister on Springboard and upload a payslip. Also I completely forgot about paying the 10% so I'll do that tonight!

Officer Giggles · 09-11-2020 8:39pm

mp3ireland2 wrote: »

Did you guys have to upload proof (in the last couple of weeks) that you were working or unemployed or other status at the time the course started? I had done in application and now done again, it just says "First registered" not sure if my proof has been accpted yet...(I started the job about a week after the course started so not sure how strict they are)

My status changed to first registered and I haven't heard anything since, that was about 2 weeks ago

cefh17 · 09-11-2020 8:43pm

mp3ireland2 wrote: »

Did you guys have to upload proof (in the last couple of weeks) that you were working or unemployed or other status at the time the course started? I had done in application and now done again, it just says "First registered" not sure if my proof has been accpted yet...(I started the job about a week after the course started so not sure how strict they are)

Same as but in the other direction, I was employed at the time of application/acceptance but left my employment after, the admin of my college course said to include details of DEASP payment. I'm still down as first registered.

FFVII · 09-11-2020 9:00pm

Had to reregister with 2 days notice. If you missed it then tough.

Now have to do a mandatory module with first assignment due Friday.

They couldn't tell use about this module at the beginning!

On top of being forced into a course that wasn't remotely my first choice cuz they didn't didn't bother getting back to my request to extend deadline so I could wait for my other choices to even look at my application. Which in the end was a month later.

Fooking shambles of an outfit.

FFVII · 20-11-2020 9:23pm

Was their any stock broker type/financial courses on it?

Any body do anything like that?

pancake_tuesday · 20-11-2020 9:33pm

FFVII wrote: »

Was their any stock broker type/financial courses on it?

Any body do anything like that?

Haven’t done any of these courses but got an email today from the Institute of Bankers offering springboard funded courses. Might be of interest.

https://iob.ie/areas/funded-skills

This is it · 20-11-2020 10:38pm

Your best bet is to check the springboard website

FFVII · 21-11-2020 3:12am

pancake_tuesday wrote: »

Haven’t done any of these courses but got an email today from the Institute of Bankers offering springboard funded courses. Might be of interest.

https://iob.ie/areas/funded-skills

Hi, thanks for this. I don't see these on the springboard site at all.

I wonder is this any good?

International Investment Fund Services

AngryLips · 21-11-2020 9:54am

There's a fin tech course in TUD

Horusire · 03-12-2020 3:39pm

Has anyone found out if those of us taking springboard courses are eligible for the €250 student payment that was announced?

un5byh7sqpd2x0 · 03-12-2020 4:24pm

Horusire wrote: »

Has anyone found out if those of us taking springboard courses are eligible for the €250 student payment that was announced?

Hahaha, no.

Horusire · 03-12-2020 4:48pm

Israel Tinkling Simulator wrote: »

Hahaha, no.

What makes you think no? Ive been in touch with the college and even they aren't sure. My course is full time so It would seem that we might be eligible? Have you asked your course coordinator maybe they know more then mine.

A2LUE42 · 03-12-2020 4:50pm

Might be of interest to people looking at Springboard.

https://www.ul.ie/gps/funded-programmes-government-stimulus-package

go4it · 04-12-2020 6:30am

from what i understood, the july stimulus advantage over springboard/HCI is that recent graduates could sign-up to it ( springboard was for unemployed or for re/upskill only )
The disadvantage - it's worth only 30 credits , and you need 60 for a full academic year ( lot's of people don't fully comprehend how credits accumulation/ academic progression works)
Got a friend who signed up in july for a pharma course , but since the demand was too high , only made it for a January 21 start (some colleges have a jan-aug academic year )

Hobgoblin11 · 03-02-2021 8:56pm

I'm enrolled but not registered on a springboard course that I know I won't be able to do, so can I bail at this point with no repercussions ??

This is it · 03-02-2021 10:29pm

Hobgoblin11 wrote: »

I'm enrolled but not registered on a springboard course that I know I won't be able to do, so can I bail at this point with no repercussions ??

When was/is it due to start?

Hobgoblin11 · 03-02-2021 10:50pm

This is it wrote: »

When was/is it due to start?

3 and a half weeks ago I told them I didn’t want to do it , it started this week

This is it · 03-02-2021 10:59pm

Hobgoblin11 wrote: »

3 and a half weeks ago I told them I didn’t want to do it , it started this week

Ah, I wouldn't worry about it. Once you told them you weren't taking it up and you didn't finalise the registration through springboard then you should be fine.

mp3ireland2 · 10-02-2021 3:21pm

How are people getting on? Have those with demanding courses made it this far? I'm getting their it but a lot of time at Christmas spent with assignments. Really looking forward to finishing to be honest, but it was the year to do it with not much else going on. Will appreciate my free evenings and weekends with no assigments a lot more from May!

This is it · 10-02-2021 3:25pm

mp3ireland2 wrote: »

How are people getting on? Have those with demanding courses made it this far? I'm getting their it but a lot of time at Christmas spent with assignments. Really looking forward to finishing to be honest, but it was the year to do it with not much else going on. Will appreciate my free evenings and weekends with no assigments a lot more from May!

Struggling with work and assignments but we're half way through now, won't see the end coming round. Same as you I'm looking forward to it ending but a good experience and learning plenty.

Found myself looking at more courses for September but I might leave it until next year, could do with a break.

bkrangle · 10-02-2021 3:43pm

mp3ireland2 wrote: »

How are people getting on? Have those with demanding courses made it this far? I'm getting their it but a lot of time at Christmas spent with assignments. Really looking forward to finishing to be honest, but it was the year to do it with not much else going on. Will appreciate my free evenings and weekends with no assigments a lot more from May!

I'm enjoying my course overall but it is somewhat more demanding than I was expecting. Juggling the course, my job and other commitments has been challenging.

ballybro · 10-02-2021 4:08pm

Same as that spending a lot of time reading literature to do reviews but then struggling to get down to the writing.It being 28 years since last being in college has not helped me either .Having 4 teenagers at home home schooling is making semester 2 more difficult for me as cannot concentrate and dedicate as much time .But will stick with it and finished 21st May i think .Similarly might leave it a year before doing another course.

mp3ireland2 · 10-02-2021 5:29pm

ballybro wrote: »

Same as that spending a lot of time reading literature to do reviews but then struggling to get down to the writing.It being 28 years since last being in college has not helped me either .Having 4 teenagers at home home schooling is making semester 2 more difficult for me as cannot concentrate and dedicate as much time .But will stick with it and finished 21st May i think .Similarly might leave it a year before doing another course.

Yeah even without kids I find it tough, moved countries changed careers started up engineering contracting and needed to work about 45 hours a week on this project which is a big change from last job 37.5. I am going to try and get the springboard employment thing out if way early to focus on actual modules. It's not the best use of time but saving me 5,500 of the cost of my course for doing this employment and effectivity course so won't complain too much. Same as the course is more demanding then I expected! But being very busy is a good complaint in the current situation where some people are unable to work. Hopefully springboard course has meant some people on forced leave can have a sense of accomplishment and something to throe themselves into when stuck at home

Atchoo22 · 25-02-2021 2:01pm

pancake_tuesday wrote: »

Haven’t done any of these courses but got an email today from the Institute of Bankers offering springboard funded courses. Might be of interest.

I'm doing the Certificate in Fund Accounting in Dublin Business School, Its very interesting, good lecturers

swingking · 25-02-2021 3:58pm

I just finished doing a professional diploma in UX Design and I really loved it.

Passed both my exam and assignments with high marks so I'm thrilled with that.

Would highly recommend it to someone thinking of doing it!

tv3tg4 · 25-02-2021 3:59pm

When will the list of courses for 20/21 be available?

mel123 · 25-02-2021 5:02pm

mp3ireland2 wrote: »

How are people getting on? Have those with demanding courses made it this far? I'm getting their it but a lot of time at Christmas spent with assignments. Really looking forward to finishing to be honest, but it was the year to do it with not much else going on. Will appreciate my free evenings and weekends with no assigments a lot more from May!

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.

Horusire · 25-02-2021 6:09pm

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 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

vintcerf · 25-02-2021 8:25pm

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!

Esse85 · 26-02-2021 12:16am

Horusire wrote: »

Alot of the lecturers I am seeing are absolutely useless at teaching

Is it because the classes are online that the lecturers are useless or why do you say this?

Irishphotodesk · 26-02-2021 12:19am

tv3tg4 wrote: »

When will the list of courses for 20/21 be available?

Based on the original post at the start of this thread, I'm going to guess mid or late June .

Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

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