Almost all school-leavers compete for third-level places on the basis of Leaving Cert points. However, there are other routes to third-level education.
One of the newer options is to progress via the post-Leaving Certificate sector. The main aim of PLC courses is to prepare students directly for employment but a pilot project also links PLC courses with a variety of third-level certificates and diplomas. Each year since 1995 more than 1,000 places have been set aside for PLC students.
Most PLC courses are one year in duration, with students completing a National Council for Vocational Awards level two qualification (NCVA level 2). Dr Dermot Douglas, the registrar of Tallaght RTC, explains that the advantage of going this route is that it allows you time to find out whether you are suited to a particular discipline. In the meantime you pick up a useful qualification.
Students who do not get sufficient points in the Leaving Cert can use this route to get to college if they perform sufficiently well at PLC level.
The regional technical colleges and the institutes of technology (other than DIT) assess students solely on the basis of their NCVA qualification. The DIT requires students to possess the minimum Leaving Cert requirements for the particular course. This seems a rather counter-productive approach as it may undermine their achievement at PLC level.
If you intend using this route to third level you must check that the particular PLC you are interested in links in directly with a third-level course. The NCVA publishes a list of PLC courses along with the corresponding third-level courses (the NCVA can be contacted at 01 853 1910). Some college prospectuses list these courses also. For instance, Tallaght RTC has a list of linking PLCs at the back of its prospectus.
Particular modules may be specified as a requirement. For instance, students need to take a mathematical methods module in their NCVA level 2 qualification if they want to study engineering in Tallaght RTC. Dr Douglas explains that, without this module, students would not be able to cope with first year.
NCVA students apply through the CAO in the normal way and their results are forwarded automatically to the CAO.
To qualify for an NCVA level 2 award, students must reach the required standard in eight modules - five vocational, two general studies and one preparation-for-work or work-experience module.
You must achieve a full certificate in order to be considered for admission to third level.
Places are awarded on the basis of students' performance - three points for a distinction (80 per cent), two for a merit (65 per cent) and one for a pass (50 per cent).
The DIT calculates a grade point average - total points divided by eight and a minimum grade point average of 2.2 is required. The other colleges simply rank students on the basis of their total scores. There is a slight variation in treatment here, in that some colleges total points for eight modules only while others allow students to add up points for eight plus.
NCVA candidates are not competing with Leaving Cert students, as about 1,000 places are reserved for them, but they may have to compete with each other. In fact, not all of these places are taken up and competition occurs only in very high-demand courses. Dr Douglas suggests that students maximise their chances by following their choice of course around the State. It is more difficult to get places in urban colleges, as higher population density means more competition.
Remember, national certs and diplomas are the same wherever one does them. In general, if the cut-off points are high for a course - meaning the course is in demand with school-leavers - there will also be increased demand from NCVA holders.
A full review of the NCVA linkage scheme has been undertaken but so far no report has appeared.
Dr Douglas says that these students have an advantage in first year as they already have some background in the area; however, they are competing on an equal footing from second year. "By and large, these people enter on a focused choice so they tend to progress well," he says.
Qualifications In Their Own Right
The majority of the 18,720 students enrolled in the post-Leaving Certificate sector last year were looking towards the jobs market rather than third-level education.
In all, more than 37,000 level 2 awards have been made since 1994. Last year, there was a significant increase in the numbers achieving certificates in computer-aided design, craft, business studies, horticulture, horsemanship, electronic technology, performing arts and print journalism.
Almost 4,000 students received NCVA level 2 awards in 1997, with a further 8,500 getting records of achievement. Students must complete eight modules satisfactorily to attain a certificate. More than 1,800 candidates achieved nine or 10 modules, while 34 candidates achieved 13 modules or more.
The list of new modules that became available last November gives some indication of the huge variety of PLC courses on offers: animal anatomy and physiology, animal grooming, appreciation of art/craft/design, animal welfare, Gaeilge for pre-school services, music industry services, nutrition, hotel and catering modules, tourism modules, printmaking, sound engineering, usaid na Gaeilge le paisti oga.
There are no tuition fees for PLC courses and students contemplating them will be heartened to hear that eligibility for maintenance grants has been extended to this sector. If you begin a course this autumn, you are eligible to apply for a means-tested maintenance grant.
International Teleservices
The teleservices industry employs about 3,500 people at present. It is predicted that this will grow to 10,000 within three years. Call centres engaged in the teleservices business provide marketing and support services for international companies.
These services range from hotel reservations to airline flight bookings, car rental, information technology, software and hardware support.
All of these call centres need people who are computer-literate and who possess good communication skills. Some of the companies require fluency in one or more European languages (other than English).
As more companies locate here, a shortage of skilled people has been predicted. The Government responded last year by making a new post-Leaving Certificate course in international teleservices available in 20 colleges around the State. Ballyfermot Senior College in Dublin pioneered the programme in 1996. A target of 750 places was set and 690 were filled despite the late advertisement of these programmes last year.
This year, expect lots of interest in these innovative courses, which virtually guarantee employment. Students need a minimum of a grade B in ordinary-level Leaving-Cert English and one continental language or an equivalent qualification.
The course includes up to six months' work placement in a European country. Students receive £100 a week living expenses while they are in Europe. They also have 75 per cent of their air fares refunded (maximum £300 for airfare and £1,700 for living expenses).
The PLC colleges offering this course have been given a substantial investment for new equipment.
Applying For PLC Courses
There is no centralised applications system for PLC courses. You must apply directly to each college, and places are usually allocated on the basis of an interview (a portfolio may be required for certain courses).
Popular courses tend to fill early and some colleges hold interviews in May.
In the past, many students regarded these courses as a fallback if they did not get the CAO offer they wanted - however, this is no longer the case.
Leaving Certificate Applied
Students taking the new Leaving Certificate Applied programme are not eligible to apply directly for third-level places through the CAO. So, post-Leaving Certificate courses are of increased importance as students can progress via a PLC to a national cert and diploma. And, if they do sufficiently well in their exams, they can continue on to degree level.
Last year, 750 students sat the LCA and it is expected that more than 2,000 students will complete the programme this year.
Leaving Certificate Vocational
The regional technical colleges, CIT and WIT award points for the three link modules which LCV students complete in addition to the traditional Leaving Cert subjects. These modules comprise enterprise education, preparation for work and work experience, and are given a composite mark.
A pass in the link modules is worth 30 points; a merit 50 points and a distinction 70 points. These points may be used as an alternative to a student's sixth Leaving Cert subject for the purposes of points.
The DIT and the universities have not yet come to a decision about the link modules, so for the present, they cannot be used for points purposes for these colleges.
Back To Fees:
The free fees initiative applies only to full-time courses, so fees are payable in respect of UCD's modular evening courses (DN022 and DN023 in the CAO handbook).
Additional reporting by Catherine Foley