Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

FFVII · 17-07-2020 3:44pm

Damo 2k9 wrote: »

Finished my Springboard course in May, I done the Level 7 in Cyber Security + Digital Forensics in Blanchardstown. As far as I know, the fee's were 3750, but with springboard the total came to 400 euro for me.

It was part time, 3 days a week on site, 6-10PM. Luckily, I work very close to the campus so I was blessed with having a short trip.

The workload was a lot in the majority of the subjects, and that was agreed with all in the class, not just me :pac:

The college itself was extremely unorganised with allocation of lecturers for subjects, etc. I wont get into the ins and outs, but it left a sour taste in a lot of peoples mouths, and put us under even more pressure with certain subjects starting late, and trying to fit in even more deadlines in a shorter amount of time.

The course content itself was brilliant, and the lecturers for the most part were extremely knowledgeable in the field (as youd expect).

Best of luck to everyone starting this year, its a brilliant idea!

Digital forensics....where do you go now?

py · 17-07-2020 4:03pm

Damo 2k9 wrote: »

Finished my Springboard course in May, I done the Level 7 in Cyber Security + Digital Forensics in Blanchardstown. As far as I know, the fee's were 3750, but with springboard the total came to 400 euro for me.

It was part time, 3 days a week on site, 6-10PM. Luckily, I work very close to the campus so I was blessed with having a short trip.

The workload was a lot in the majority of the subjects, and that was agreed with all in the class, not just me :pac:

The college itself was extremely unorganised with allocation of lecturers for subjects, etc. I wont get into the ins and outs, but it left a sour taste in a lot of peoples mouths, and put us under even more pressure with certain subjects starting late, and trying to fit in even more deadlines in a shorter amount of time.

The course content itself was brilliant, and the lecturers for the most part were extremely knowledgeable in the field (as youd expect).

Best of luck to everyone starting this year, its a brilliant idea!

I know from working with people who have completed the above course that it's very good at all levels (Level 7 through to 9) and respected within industry. My initial communications via Springboard echo what you have stated above though. Particularly when I compare it to DCU's webinar the other evening who seem to have all their ducks in a row.

tritium · 17-07-2020 4:12pm

Does anyone know how long colleges usually take to come back with online aptitude test results? I have an offer with a deadline on one course but did an aptitude test on another that I’d probably have as my first choice. Don’t want to lose out on both either though

Bellbottoms · 17-07-2020 4:31pm

tritium wrote: »

Does anyone know how long colleges usually take to come back with online aptitude test results? I have an offer with a deadline on one course but did an aptitude test on another that I’d probably have as my first choice. Don’t want to lose out on both either though

I was in a similar boat, the turn around on the aptitude test was 3 working days. You could try contacting the institution.

Irishder · 17-07-2020 4:59pm

Applied to the Master Black Belt in CIT last week. Fingers crossed i get accepted. Talking to the course leader he was saying its over subscribed from a springboard point of view. Waiting game now.

Gadge · 17-07-2020 6:08pm

Hi guys, bit of a question for you.

I applied for four courses, got offered a place in three, with one still pending an RPL review. If any of you have done the following or have anything good or bad to say please feel free to comment. All courses are part time as I'm full time employed, I already have a L7 in electronics.

HDip in Science in Computing (TU Dublin Blanch)
BSc in Computing in Data Centre Management (LYIT)
HDip in Computing 2 year conversion (LYIT)
HDip in Computer Science (WIT) (pending)

The one I'm leaning towards is the first in TUD, all online with one Saturday per month on site, and the material looks good. Dublin is closest as I'm living in North Tipperary.

Any info or insights into the subjects and / or the colleges would be most appreciated.

Regards,

Garret.

bennyx_o · 17-07-2020 6:37pm

I was declined the HDip in Science in Computing in TU as I don't have 180 ECTS - disappointed as it's the one I was hoping to get, but, at least I have a fallback in DBS

Officer Giggles · 18-07-2020 11:29am

Are offers for courses being made prior to the deadline for applications closing?

Kamu · 18-07-2020 12:03pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

Are offers for courses being made prior to the deadline for applications closing?

A few people (myself included) have been accepted and have accepted courses through Springboard already.

Officer Giggles · 18-07-2020 12:06pm

Kamu wrote: »

A few people (myself included) have been accepted and have accepted courses through Springboard already.

I have seen that but I am just wondering has the deadline for those particular courses closed for applications, each college has different closing dates so I'm wondering do they only offer places once this closing date has passed or have some people been offered places even though the course if still open to new people to apply.

py · 18-07-2020 12:24pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

I have seen that but I am just wondering has the deadline for those particular courses closed for applications, each college has different closing dates so I'm wondering do they only offer places once this closing date has passed or have some people been offered places even though the course if still open to new people to apply.

I've been given a provisional place on a course which people can still apply for. There's no point in them closing the application process as they may not fill all the available places of people do not accept their position on the course.

Officer Giggles · 18-07-2020 12:27pm

py wrote: »

I've been given a provisional place on a course which people can still apply for. There's no point in them closing the application process as they may not fill all the available places of people do not accept their position on the course.

I thought that alright but just wanted to be certain

py · 18-07-2020 12:41pm

I'd love to know how their funding works as it would make it much clearer on how the places are allocated. Is it based on number of graduates from the course or just the number of people who accept?

Officer Giggles · 18-07-2020 12:45pm

py wrote: »

I'd love to know how their funding works as it would make it much clearer on how the places are allocated. Is it based on number of graduates from the course or just the number of people who accept?

It has to be the number of people you register as the college will need to get paid regardless of whether you pass or not

sabinaspb · 20-07-2020 11:41am

Hi, just out of interest, anyone got any word back on their applications to DCU?

py · 20-07-2020 11:47am

sabinaspb wrote: »

Hi, just out of interest, anyone got any word back on their applications to DCU?

Nadda. They said they're oversubscribed with applicants for their courses so they need to decide who they think will be best suited to attending now. In the webinar last week, one person said people would be notified by end of July whilst another said end of August. The status of my application has had several people download it over the past 2 weeks so dunno if that's a good/bad thing.

go4it · 20-07-2020 12:39pm

each school applies springboard rules when selecting students ; after the springboard rules boxes have been ticked , they apply their own rules ( ie. how do you evaluate 2 candidates, both working and looking for free education? based on past exam results from 10+years ago, based on how far off are from the field of studies? or you apply the springboard ethos?( re-skill first and then upgrade ? )
Then again, no school wants bad rep from high student fail rate at exams, etc

bennyx_o · 20-07-2020 1:22pm

I got accepted to the Certificate in Computer Programming in DCU on Friday evening

Skidfingers · 20-07-2020 1:39pm

I applied for a few courses 2 weeks. How long usually till you're offered a spot if you get offered?

Kamu · 20-07-2020 2:13pm

Skidfingers wrote: »

I applied for a few courses 2 weeks. How long usually till you're offered a spot if you get offered?

Each school is different, but it took from me applying to them accepting 2 weeks, and I accepted the week after.

Captain Flaps · 20-07-2020 2:37pm

Incidentally if anyone is doing the Higher Diploma in Interaction Design (HDID) in DCU and wants to buddy up on a group project please feel free to slide into my PMs.

Officer Giggles · 20-07-2020 6:18pm

Skidfingers wrote: »

I applied for a few courses 2 weeks. How long usually till you're offered a spot if you get offered?

I had applied to UL and LYIT a couple of weeks ago and had heard nothing since. Got an email from both colleges this evening looking for supporting documents

AryaStark · 20-07-2020 7:43pm

I've been accepted onto the certificate in culinary skills in AIT... I'm delighted. Worked in IT for years so this will be a big change for me.

Mystery666 · 20-07-2020 7:53pm

py wrote: »

Nadda. They said they're oversubscribed with applicants for their courses so they need to decide who they think will be best suited to attending now. In the webinar last week, one person said people would be notified by end of July whilst another said end of August. The status of my application has had several people download it over the past 2 weeks so dunno if that's a good/bad thing.

How can you see if someone has downloaded your application? I don't see this at all

Mystery666 · 20-07-2020 7:54pm

Is there a way to give priority to one application over the other, as there is definitely one application I want over the other one.

bennyx_o · 20-07-2020 8:00pm

Mystery666 wrote: »

How can you see if someone has downloaded your application? I don't see this at all

This is it wrote: »

Log in to the website and click the hamburger button on the right, see attached.

From earlier in the thread - go to 'My Applications' then click the last icon to the right. Application Status should change to 'Pending' too

This is it · 20-07-2020 8:12pm

AryaStark wrote: »

I've been accepted onto the certificate in culinary skills in AIT... I'm delighted. Worked in IT for years so this will be a big change for me.

Best of luck!

This is it · 20-07-2020 8:14pm

Mystery666 wrote: »

Is there a way to give priority to one application over the other, as there is definitely one application I want over the other one.

No, unfortunately not. Some put a pretty short time limit to accept also so you could be waiting on your first pick while the timer ticks down on your second. Accept the second and it immediately cancels the first, choose to wait and you could miss both

py · 20-07-2020 8:30pm

sabinaspb wrote: »

Hi, just out of interest, anyone got any word back on their applications to DCU?

py wrote: »

Nadda. They said they're oversubscribed with applicants for their courses so they need to decide who they think will be best suited to attending now. In the webinar last week, one person said people would be notified by end of July whilst another said end of August. The status of my application has had several people download it over the past 2 weeks so dunno if that's a good/bad thing.

Actually, I'd be interested to know if anyone has heard back on the postgrad courses in DCU? From those who have posted, it seems they are all undergrad thus far.

kilburn · 20-07-2020 8:53pm

Irishder wrote:

Applied to the Master Black Belt in CIT last week. Fingers crossed i get accepted. Talking to the course leader he was saying its over subscribed from a springboard point of view. Waiting game now.

Did you have Black belt already?

Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

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