College Choice/Brian Mooney:Many students do not progress directly to university or institutes of technology. Thousands do Further Education (FE) courses, leading to a Further Education and Training Awards Council (Fetac) award with a view to entering employment, or progressing to third-level education, using their Fetac qualification.
Today, the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, will present some of these learners with their certificates at Fetac's national awards ceremony. The ceremony is being held to celebrate 500,000 awards made since the organisation was established in June 2001.
Progression links
The Higher Education Links Scheme (Hels) links specific named Fetac Level five and some Fetac Level six advanced certificates to reserved places at third level. These Fetac certificates are mainly achieved at further education centres through PLC programmes. The scheme has gradually expanded and now offers participants a broad range of third-level courses and institutions to aim for.
For students taking the Leaving Certificate in 2007, there are many places on offer in a variety of courses, in everything from cookery to childcare, business studies to multimedia. This year 36 higher education institutions, including universities, institutes of technology and private colleges, are involved in the scheme. To find a course running in your area, please visit www.qualifax.ie.
Opening up college places to Fetac students
In 2005, the institutes of technology and some higher education institutions introduced pilot admissions criteria and scoring systems for Fetac Level 5 certificates and Level 6 advanced certificates.
This change was intended to broaden access and facilitate greater progression routes between all levels of the national framework of qualifications.
Instead of quotas of reserved places, there has been an opening-up of the system to enable Fetac applicants to compete on an even footing with Leaving Certificate applicants. For details of all links and/or specific requirements for both schemes contact the admissions office of the individual higher education institutions or see www.cao.ie or www.fetac.ie.
Higher education links scheme for 2007
This scheme operates through the following institutions:
American College, Dublin; DCU; DIT; Carlow College (St Patrick's); Mary Immaculate College ; Mater Dei College (DCU); Milltown Institute; NUI Maynooth; National College of Art and Design; Shannon College of Hotel Management; St. Angela's, Sligo; St. Patrick's College; UCC; UCD and UL.
New for 2007
Some institutions offer links between Fetac Level 6 advanced certificates and third-level courses.
For information on these and admission details contact the institution directly or see the CAO website www.cao.ie.
Application process and scoring system
Students must submit third-level applications to the CAO by February 1st (May 1st for late applications - restrictions apply, see CAO handbook 2006). In July, Fetac results are issued to the CAO and the participating institutions.
Applicants must have obtained a full Fetac certificate. A component certificate will not suffice. A full certificate may be accumulated over more than one year.
In such cases, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their Fetac centre applies to Fetac for a full certificate, where courses are taken over more than one year. Application for a full certificate should be made prior to CAO application.
Each component is credited with three points for a distinction, two for a merit, and one point for a pass.
The best eight components are scored and applicants are ranked accordingly.
Pilot Scheme
The institutes of technology and some other higher education institutions have introduced new admissions criteria for students presenting Fetac Level 5 certificates and Level 6 advanced certificates. The scoring system under these new arrangements enables a Fetac certificate holder to achieve up to a maximum of 400 CAO points. For the institutions participating in this scheme see www. cao.ie.
Application process and scoring systems
Students apply through the CAO in the usual way. In July Fetac results are issued to the CAO and the participating institutions. An overall point score is calculated, based on the best eight components, presented in an applicant's Fetac Level 5 certificate or Level 6 advanced certificate.
Under this initiative, most places are open to Fetac Level 5 certificate and Level 6 advanced certificate holders, along with Leaving Certificate applicants. Hence, the quota of places reserved under the Higher Education Links Scheme does not apply to this scheme.
Notwithstanding minimum entry requirements, specific higher certificate (Level 6), ordinary degree (Level 7), and honours degree (Level 8) courses, may have prerequisite Fetac certificate or component requirements.
Links with nursing degree programmes
To broaden access routes to nursing 12 institutions offer a very small number of places on honours degree programmes in nursing to holders of specific Fetac Level 5 certificates, offered at FE level. For further details visit www.nursingcareers.ie and www.cao.ie.
Tomorrow: teaching