Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

Toashty91 wrote: »

Hi guys
I applied for the MA in Creative Digital Media- UX and Interaction Design in TUD weeks ago and my application is still pending. I understand someone on here has been accepted, anybody else? I'm getting so anxious. I contacted springboard, they told me to contact the college which I have done but they have yet to reply. I understand they have a lot to get through but it's driving me mental not having any updates! Has anyone else who has applied for this course heard from them?

Also waiting to hear on my application for an Msc, not in TUD but it does appear that the Msc's take a bit longer than the others for getting back. The cut off for mine was the 31st July, i can see my application has been downloaded a few times so im just going to hang on until the closing date.

absolutegroove wrote: »

I’m waiting on this aswell. I’ve been accepted on to another course at another institution but I’d honestly prefer TUD. My acceptance date for the other course is coming up soon!!

Reach out to the course contact & ask if they a. can let you know asap if possible b. if not, when will all be informed.

Toashty91 wrote: »

I just got a reply!

"All applications received are marked ‘pending’ on Springboard at the moment.

They are being assessed and this won’t be completed until around mid-August.

Then, all applicants will receive an email and the application ‘status’ will be amended on Springboard, to reflect decisions made."

Mid-August. So i don't understand how someone could have already been offered a place?

TU Dublin were the first to make me an offer out of the few applications I made and they only gave me a week to accept. Luckily for me it was my #1 pick so I was ok. The subject was Science in Computing so not the same situation as yours but still interesting to compare the two. They have been terrible to respond to my emails since though.

Anyone waiting on transcripts from Carlow IT?

Hubby waiting nearly two weeks now for a response and they aren't answering phones or emails.
He doesn't even remember his student number it was over 25 years ago so we don't even know if he will ever hear back from them.
It's holding up everything, only a leaving cert required for his chosen course so might just go ahead and apply

delishdoughnut wrote: »

Anyone heard from NUIG?

My wife has applied for a course there but hasn't heard a thing

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Hi everyone... just gotten my email to say I have been accepted into the Springboard that I applied for

I am trying not to get my hopes up just yet because it honestly sounds too good to be true...

I have a part time job (in retail) that I've had for over a year. Worked through COVID etc. It says 'dept. of education will pay 90% of fees for those in employment' and so I will be liable for 10% - is this true?? The course has nothing to do with my retail job. Does it only matter that I am employed? Or does it have to be a job within the field of the course??

I presume if they have accepted me they have checked all of this out, since I gave my PPS number and details of the job. But I don't want to believe it yet...

Would you mind telling us what college you applied to just to get an idea of which ones are making progress through the applications

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Apologies for the double post.

It's a post-graduate diploma in NUI Galway, in the business school.

I applied on the 28th and got an acceptance email today.

Thanks and best of luck with your course

FFVII wrote: »

Pity one can't get in as mature student on most of these.

I didn't meet the requirements on any of the ones I was after.

I stay in the my **** job.

I didn't know they had places listed for mature students or not. Any IT course I looked at didn't specify anything regarding mature students, I'd imagine a large majority of those availing of this will be mature students, considering mature in the eyes of third level institutions is 23...

What courses specify no mature students?

FFVII wrote: »

Pity one can't get in as mature student on most of these.

I didn't meet the requirements on any of the ones I was after.

I stay in the my **** job.

There's no age issue for any of these courses.

There are academic requirements (L7/L8) though and failing that you need to show previous experience, ie. an RPEL, in lieu of your lack of academic qualifications.

Irish_peppa wrote: »

What is the difference between a "Springboard" Course and a "Fetch" Course?
Are they aimed at different
Employment sectors?
Ages?
Past education History?
The only difference i see are the stock photos on the Fetch home page are of older more mature looking people and the site itself is very business like, whereas springboard is all colorful fun colors and bright so im guessing fetch is for older people plus 30 that never went to college or career change and springboard for people under 30 ?

https://springboardcourses.ie/
https://www.fetchcourses.ie/

Springboard are courses run by Universities/ITs to a much higher level then fetch. The purpose is to upskill people in areas where there are employment opportunities in the economy. It is not for under 30's, it is for people of all ages. Based on my own experience, the majority would be 35-45. This will be extended by HCI Pillar 1 where full 1 year courses will be available enabling people to meet entry requirements where they did not have them before for 3rd level courses e.g. someone lacking maths for an Engineering Masters.

Springboard and HCI Pillar 1 are very much about career change.

Fetch is not run by Universities. They would not deliver material to as high a standard as Universities. Where Universities are level 7-9, I suspect Fetch is 3-5. They have apprenticeships, traineeships and more basic and fundamental courses compared to Springboard.

I would suspect the students to be older in Fetch.