Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

22-09-2020 3:28pm

kilburn wrote: »

Brutal sorry to hear that what course was it and did you apply for others?

Maybe contact springboard to reset your applications

py wrote: »

What college and course?

Griffith College’s Postgraduate Diploma in Big Data Management and Analytics.

I had a bunch of other offers but they were all cancelled by accepting that one. I've got in touch with Griffith already and they seem happy to allow me to take another offer but it's a completely different field so a bit risky career-wise. Applying for a few others right now. I'm sure I'll get something.

kilburn · 22-09-2020 3:32pm

Deleted User wrote:

I had a bunch of other offers but they were all cancelled by accepting that one. I've got in touch with Griffith already and they seem happy to allow me to take another offer but it's a completely different field so a bit risky career-wise. Applying for a few others right now. I'm sure I'll get something.

Best of luck hope you get sorted out

fast_eddie · 22-09-2020 4:32pm

roro1990 wrote: »

Are you enjoying your course, out of curiosity?

Yeah thanks, shaping up nicely so far

Jet Black · 23-09-2020 12:06am

Anyone doing a cert in computer programming in DCU know the timetable?

CBear1993 · 23-09-2020 8:39am

I have a few offers, but I’m desperately scared to accept because of the intensity of the course. It didn’t say on springboard or the college website any indication of the timetable. But both offers are 3 evenings per week 6-10pm plus some Saturday’s.
That’s a serious commitment alongside working a full time job which doesn’t finish to 5:30/6pm each day. I can see why they are targeted at people out of work now.

I did a part time degree when I was younger, level 8 and it was 1 full day per week 9-5

This is it · 23-09-2020 8:53am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Griffith College’s Postgraduate Diploma in Big Data Management and Analytics.

I had a bunch of other offers but they were all cancelled by accepting that one. I've got in touch with Griffith already and they seem happy to allow me to take another offer but it's a completely different field so a bit risky career-wise. Applying for a few others right now. I'm sure I'll get something.

I hope you get sorted, all the best.

bren2001 · 23-09-2020 9:37am

Jet Black wrote: »

Anyone doing a cert in computer programming in DCU know the timetable?

Timetables are not yet finalized but the majority of the material will be asynchronous which means you can just do it in your own time. Timetables are not really a thing for first semester this year.

This is it · 23-09-2020 9:40am

CBear1993 wrote: »

I have a few offers, but I’m desperately scared to accept because of the intensity of the course. It didn’t say on springboard or the college website any indication of the timetable. But both offers are 3 evenings per week 6-10pm plus some Saturday’s.
That’s a serious commitment alongside working a full time job which doesn’t finish to 5:30/6pm each day. I can see why they are targeted at people out of work now.

I did a part time degree when I was younger, level 8 and it was 1 full day per week 9-5

That's pretty heavy alright. I've 6-10 one evening and 6-8 another with the odd Saturday per semester, and I'm going to struggle with that and the time for assignments as it is.with working full time and other commitments

py · 23-09-2020 9:53am

Jet Black wrote: »

Anyone doing a cert in computer programming in DCU know the timetable?

I've been a student in DCU Connected before. It tends to be 1 online midweek lecture and 1 on site weekend lecture per month. I'd hazard a guess that both of those will be online this year though.

Jet Black · 23-09-2020 10:49am

Cheers, I was trying to work out the calendar and I was thinking it would be two days in the week, on set days and some Saturdays. GF is doing Mondays and Wednesdays so trying to work a schedule.

py · 23-09-2020 11:15am

Jet Black wrote: »

Cheers, I was trying to work out the calendar and I was thinking it would be two days in the week, on set days and some Saturdays. GF is doing Mondays and Wednesdays so trying to work a schedule.

You might send me the link to that calendar via PM please. What I've found is this link which says timetables will be out on 28th September but perhaps that is for full time students.

FFVII · 23-09-2020 7:09pm

I've never done third level before but finding out if ya need books/timetables, 10 days for student advisors to reply. God, the whole thing is ridiculous. Impossible to plan anything. Great jobs these people have faffing about.

This is it · 23-09-2020 7:59pm

FFVII wrote: »

I've never done third level before but finding out if ya need books/timetables, 10 days for student advisors to reply. God, the whole thing is ridiculous. Impossible to plan anything. Great jobs these people have faffing about.

You're unlikely to need books, timetables would be handy obviously. A laptop, an a4 pad and a few pens/pencil will sort you out for the first few classes and go from there

Esse85 · 23-09-2020 8:15pm

FFVII wrote: »

I've never done third level before but finding out if ya need books/timetables, 10 days for student advisors to reply. God, the whole thing is ridiculous. Impossible to plan anything. Great jobs these people have faffing about.

I'd say that's a bit harsh and they are under far more pressure than you realise.

bren2001 · 23-09-2020 10:23pm

FFVII wrote: »

I've never done third level before but finding out if ya need books/timetables, 10 days for student advisors to reply. God, the whole thing is ridiculous. Impossible to plan anything. Great jobs these people have faffing about.

Module descriptors are available in most Universities. You can read what modules are on your course and see what the recommended texts are. You'll be told in the first lecture if you should actually purchase one. The notes usually suffice. The timetable is a bit tricky at the moment....

Irish94 · 23-09-2020 10:36pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

I have a few offers, but I’m desperately scared to accept because of the intensity of the course. It didn’t say on springboard or the college website any indication of the timetable. But both offers are 3 evenings per week 6-10pm plus some Saturday’s.
That’s a serious commitment alongside working a full time job which doesn’t finish to 5:30/6pm each day. I can see why they are targeted at people out of work now.

I did a part time degree when I was younger, level 8 and it was 1 full day per week 9-5

This is interesting - it certainly is a commitment.

Out or curiosity if you have paid the 10% contribution fee and the course timetable turns out to be a lot more demanding than what was originally stated e.g. 3 evenings a week (with one evening mandatory) instead of two evenings a week (neither mandatory) as originally stated. Would you have grounds for a refund if you dropped out immediately due to being unable to give the commitment required?

CBear1993 · 23-09-2020 11:15pm

Irish94 wrote: »

This is interesting - it certainly is a commitment.

Out or curiosity if you have paid the 10% contribution fee and the course timetable turns out to be a lot more demanding than what was originally stated e.g. 3 evenings a week (with one evening mandatory) instead of two evenings a week (neither mandatory) as originally stated. Would you have grounds for a refund if you dropped out immediately due to being unable to give the commitment required?

Would doubt it, the colleges will be trying to grab all they can this winter. The lecturers will have it handy with everything online

This is it · 23-09-2020 11:58pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Would doubt it, the colleges will be trying to grab all they can this winter. The lecturers will have it handy with everything online

Far more prep in online work than an in class lecture I would think.

bacondope · 24-09-2020 10:35pm

Does anyone know for the UL online lectures, must you attend for the time they are on or would you be able to do it during the evening or when you had time if you missed the orginal online lecture?

Officer Giggles · 25-09-2020 8:41am

bacondope wrote: »

Does anyone know for the UL online lectures, must you attend for the time they are on or would you be able to do it during the evening or when you had time if you missed the orginal online lecture?

For my UL course you don't have to be online for the actual lecture, you can just watch the recording

CBear1993 · 26-09-2020 7:22am

This is it wrote: »

That's pretty heavy alright. I've 6-10 one evening and 6-8 another with the odd Saturday per semester, and I'm going to struggle with that and the time for assignments as it is.with working full time and other commitments

Yeah I’d love to have done software development at NCI, but 6-10pm mon, wed & fri plus a number of saturdays 9-6 would have driven me into a mental breakdown I think. I don’t get finished work most nights to 6:30 as it is so at least it would have nipped that in the bud!

The other one was HDip in Business conversion but again it was Mon, Tues We’d 6-10pm with one night on campus at TU.

Cancelled them both and will now see what’s left after everything’s been picked over and a lot of deadlines have passed!

CBear1993 · 26-09-2020 7:38am

Has anyone ever done a course with CCT college Dublin? Any reviews? (Diploma in data analytics for business L7)

I’m a bit skeptical, I’m sure they’re fine but just had never really heard of them in Dublin until springboard this year.

I saw someone else post on here that the same course was available in 5/6 colleges and they ranked in order of merit/advice of which one to pick, CCT was the bottom one

It’s also only a level 7 diploma. I’ve done a level 8 , 4 yr degree before, does it help on your cv at all or less regarded?
I am taking this course in the hope that I’ll be able to change industries into a new career. However I’m not sure if employers look upon level 7s any less, should I be challenging myself and doing at least another level 8 or a masters / postgrad level 9?

Don’t want to waste a year either,, there’s a higher diploma level 8 available of the same course that goes another semester.

smck321 · 26-09-2020 2:32pm

Started a post grad in LYIT from this scheme, going well so far although the idea of learning python with minimal programming experience is daunting to say the least.

They're already hinting at converting from the post grad included in the springboard course to a masters for an extra fee but in the grand scheme of things getting a masters for €2000 or so isn't the worst thing considering 10 grand would be the normal fee.

Certainly I can see the logic from the colleges side with the issues they'll face over the next year or so.

Brian201888 · 26-09-2020 2:35pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Has anyone ever done a course with CCT college Dublin? Any reviews? (Diploma in data analytics for business L7)

I’m a bit skeptical, I’m sure they’re fine but just had never really heard of them in Dublin until springboard this year.

I saw someone else post on here that the same course was available in 5/6 colleges and they ranked in order of merit/advice of which one to pick, CCT was the bottom one

It’s also only a level 7 diploma. I’ve done a level 8 , 4 yr degree before, does it help on your cv at all or less regarded?
I am taking this course in the hope that I’ll be able to change industries into a new career. However I’m not sure if employers look upon level 7s any less, should I be challenging myself and doing at least another level 8 or a masters / postgrad level 9?

Don’t want to waste a year either,, there’s a higher diploma level 8 available of the same course that goes another semester.

I'm doing the level 7 with them, was a bit dubious myself but we'll see how it goes

This is it · 26-09-2020 3:07pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Has anyone ever done a course with CCT college Dublin? Any reviews? (Diploma in data analytics for business L7)

I’m a bit skeptical, I’m sure they’re fine but just had never really heard of them in Dublin until springboard this year.

I saw someone else post on here that the same course was available in 5/6 colleges and they ranked in order of merit/advice of which one to pick, CCT was the bottom one

It’s also only a level 7 diploma. I’ve done a level 8 , 4 yr degree before, does it help on your cv at all or less regarded?
I am taking this course in the hope that I’ll be able to change industries into a new career. However I’m not sure if employers look upon level 7s any less, should I be challenging myself and doing at least another level 8 or a masters / postgrad level 9?

Don’t want to waste a year either,, there’s a higher diploma level 8 available of the same course that goes another semester.

My last third level stint was in CCT. I was dubious myself, that was back in 2012, but all in all I thought they were fantastic. You'll always have some lecturers that are better than others but in my two years there and having had probably 6-7 different lecturers I think there was only one that I didn't feel was particularly good, the rest were excellent.

I enjoyed it so much last time that I applied again this time for CCT, and thankfully got a place. I'm starting on Tuesday. I don't know how well it will run online but 2012-2014 it was an excellent experience and I'd definitely recommend them. My course was computer science, not sure what the business lecturers are like.

mp3ireland2 · 26-09-2020 10:02pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Yeah I’d love to have done software development at NCI, but 6-10pm mon, wed & fri plus a number of saturdays 9-6 would have driven me into a mental breakdown I think. I don’t get finished work most nights to 6:30 as it is so at least it would have nipped that in the bud!

The other one was HDip in Business conversion but again it was Mon, Tues We’d 6-10pm with one night on campus at TU.

Cancelled them both and will now see what’s left after everything’s been picked over and a lot of deadlines have passed!

That sounds like it won't have been tough all right! I've got 6-8 Monday and 7-8 Thursday and no saturdays so I feel lucky, it's a L9 post grad cert in Biopharmaceutical Processing

CBear1993 · 26-09-2020 10:46pm

mp3ireland2 wrote: »

That sounds like it won't have been tough all right! I've got 6-8 Monday and 7-8 Thursday and no saturdays so I feel lucky, it's a L9 post grad cert in Biopharmaceutical Processing

Do you have previous pharma experience yeah? Sounds very particular that one , innopharma ?

mp3ireland2 · 27-09-2020 11:49am

CBear1993 wrote: »

Do you have previous pharma experience yeah? Sounds very particular that one , innopharma ?

I did chemical engineering in college but never managed to get into pharama as worked in other industries, got laid off from Oil and Gas over in Aberdeen due to downturn and home now and starting this course and starting a job next Monday so things have worked out quite well! I think you can do the course with a science or engeering degree, or if you had experience in the pharma industry already from what I recall. It's run but Sligo IT but based out of NIBRT in Dublin.

Aleece2020 · 27-09-2020 12:38pm

Applied for a course with a listed deadline of the 28th of September; it allowed me to go through with the application and submit all documentation. Seemed very smooth.

Description on the providers website said applications were due the 31st of August and course was due to start September 7th. I imagine it changed due to COVID-19 lockdown?

tv3tg4 · 27-09-2020 7:38pm

Most courses seem to be online.
Broadband coverage is poor where I am.
It is ok on mobile.
Worried about the that.

CBear1993 · 27-09-2020 10:11pm

Aleece2020 wrote: »

Applied for a course with a listed deadline of the 28th of September; it allowed me to go through with the application and submit all documentation. Seemed very smooth.

Description on the providers website said applications were due the 31st of August and course was due to start September 7th. I imagine it changed due to COVID-19 lockdown?

Wouldn’t hold my breath, the organization and communication from a lot of the designated contact details for the colleges on springboard has been nothing short of appalling.

un5byh7sqpd2x0 · 27-09-2020 10:32pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Wouldn’t hold my breath, the organization and communication from a lot of the designated contact details for the colleges on springboard has been nothing short of appalling.

Agreed. There was no proper module description for my course but the title sounded interesting, or any module listings at all. No information on required hours or anything. 15 mins into the first lecture the other day I knew it wasn’t for me. Far far too basic so I’m no longer continuing. Luckily I haven’t paid my fees yet.

py · 27-09-2020 10:39pm

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.

This is it · 27-09-2020 10:44pm

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.

I've an open day tomorrow and first lecture on Tuesday. I'm crazy busy with work, a child to look after and lots of other things on the go, slightly regretting signing up but I know it's short term pain for, hopefully, long term gain.

Aleece2020 · 28-09-2020 9:04am

CBear1993 wrote: »

Wouldn’t hold my breath, the organization and communication from a lot of the designated contact details for the colleges on springboard has been nothing short of appalling.

Had a look at it this morning; apparently the course provider has at least downloaded the application so that bodes well - or at least I hope so as I doubt they'd look at it if the deadline was wrong on the site.

ballybro · 28-09-2020 11:52am

Due to start my first online tutorial with NUIG on Saturday .Have held off paying the 10% fees balance till I see what its like.If i decide after the first couple of weeks that the course is not for me or not as relavant as I had hoped and dont want to continue would I still be expected to pay the 10 % of what have others done .

keyboard_cat · 28-09-2020 3:00pm

ballybro wrote: »

Due to start my first online tutorial with NUIG on Saturday .Have held off paying the 10% fees balance till I see what its like.If i decide after the first couple of weeks that the course is not for me or not as relavant as I had hoped and dont want to continue would I still be expected to pay the 10 % of what have others done .

I’m pretty sure once your register for the course you have to pay the fees. Not sure what would happen if you drop out I would assume it may affect your springboard funding and then nuig might come looking for the 100%?
Either way it’s a bit late for you but for anyone thinking of doing the same next year maybe email the lecturers and get a better idea of the course content before accepting your offer.
Accepting a course and trialing It for a few weeks because it was cheap or free is not ideal as you could be taking a spot on the course from someone who really wanted it.

Aleece2020 · 01-10-2020 10:12am

Anyone have any experience as to when you get replies from course providers as to if you're accepted or not? Application was viewed by two different people from the University a few days ago but so far no word. I would normally agree that it takes time for this, but given we're already in October I imagine I'll miss the start of the course if I don't hear back soon.

This is it · 01-10-2020 10:18am

Aleece2020 wrote: »

Anyone have any experience as to when you get replies from course providers as to if you're accepted or not? Application was viewed by two different people from the University a few days ago but so far no word. I would normally agree that it takes time for this, but given we're already in October I imagine I'll miss the start of the course if I don't hear back soon.

At this stage I'd be on the phone and firing off an email, I'd imagine most courses have started or will be starting next week at the latest

touts · 01-10-2020 11:00am

Aleece2020 wrote: »

Anyone have any experience as to when you get replies from course providers as to if you're accepted or not? Application was viewed by two different people from the University a few days ago but so far no word. I would normally agree that it takes time for this, but given we're already in October I imagine I'll miss the start of the course if I don't hear back soon.

Some are better than others. Trinity & UCD are both excellent in their communication and explanation if you don't get accepted. UCC basically give a one sentence "You were not accepted" response. It didn't really bother me because a day later I was accepted onto a similar course in UL which probably suited better but if UCC was my only application I would be seriously annoyed with their attitude.

py · 01-10-2020 11:02am

keyboard_cat wrote: »

I’m pretty sure once your register for the course you have to pay the fees. Not sure what would happen if you drop out I would assume it may affect your springboard funding and then nuig might come looking for the 100%?
Either way it’s a bit late for you but for anyone thinking of doing the same next year maybe email the lecturers and get a better idea of the course content before accepting your offer.
Accepting a course and trialing It for a few weeks because it was cheap or free is not ideal as you could be taking a spot on the course from someone who really wanted it.

Just to follow up on this. We had our DCU intro meeting last week and we are required at various stages to acknowledge our participation on the course with Springboard. Failure to do so has an effect on funding for that particular insitution.

djan · 01-10-2020 12:21pm

Has anyone who is on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment been accepted onto a course? What implications would this have? I have found some info suggesting that you have to move to the standard jobseekers etc. instead. Thanks for any help!

shanec1928 · 01-10-2020 1:57pm

touts wrote: »

Some are better than others. Trinity & UCD are both excellent in their communication and explanation if you don't get accepted. UCC basically give a one sentence "You were not accepted" response. It didn't really bother me because a day later I was accepted onto a similar course in UL which probably suited better but if UCC was my only application I would be seriously annoyed with their attitude.

Not that it matters to you now. But they are required to give detailed feedback. If they the college don’t reply you then contact springboard who will contact the college on your behalf and you will receive feedback then.

02-10-2020 6:30pm

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.

BelovedAunt · 02-10-2020 7:03pm

[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.

Yeah it’s tough going. I’m doing a data science one myself and thinking of packing it in tbh. It won’t really help my current job anyway so no huge motivation to stick with it.

Jet Black · 08-10-2020 10:26pm

Good news for those on pup.

mp3ireland2 · 10-10-2020 9:52pm

BelovedAunt wrote: »

Yeah it’s tough going. I’m doing a data science one myself and thinking of packing it in tbh. It won’t really help my current job anyway so no huge motivation to stick with it.

My lectures seem fine but the assigments, I don't know where to start. Figure assigments are 50% and continious assement 50% so hopefully I can keep up with lectures and assigments make more sense later on, worst case just do decent exams based on lectures and bad assigments and be enough to pass hopefully! (Biopharma processing) I've 3 1 hour lectures a week and each with an assigment due after Christmas, don't think i could handle some of the full on courses!

CBear1993 · 10-10-2020 10:00pm

That sounds ok, 3x1 hours per week.

Didn’t see many courses like that on springboard

mp3ireland2 · 10-10-2020 10:08pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

That sounds ok, 3x1 hours per week.

Didn’t see many courses like that on springboard

Yeah all remote learning, and even at that sometimes I feel sorry for myself! SO can't imagine some of the crazy hours that some people are expected to put in, I've 7-9 on a Monday and 6-7 on a Thursday. Have to do the literature reviews which i'm not looking forward to at all but I'm getting off lightly I think!

CBear1993 · 12-10-2020 10:27am

Has anyone done anything through code institute before?

They have a level 6 software development, all online. Bit skeptical as the other software development courses offered that have started were all level 7/8/9.

I have a job and career just wanted something to build on or have on my CV to move out of my industry, not too sure how much pulling power a level 6 would have?

Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

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