PLC – Post Leaving Cert Courses

What is a PLC course?

A PLC – Post Leaving Cert course is a further education programme of study that forms a bridge between secondary and third level education in institutes of technology, universities and colleges in the UK, the EU and beyond. The qualification (FETAC Level 5 or 6) is fully accredited and is recognised by colleges, employers, and employment organisations.

Each course consists of typically eight modules, including work placement, a year-long programme of classroom learning coupled with applied practical learning. Students are assessed on assignments, research, placement and end of year exams. PLCs offer courses across a comprehensive range of career interests

What are the advantages of doing a PLC?

PLC colleges offer a broad range of programmes [search here] covering a range of career interests, including many with a practical content.

• The FETAC links scheme offers PLC students an alternative route into the Third Level college course of their choice – full information on course listings available here or at www.qualifax.ie. If a student fails to meet the Leaving Cert Points requirement, he can still access the course of his choice by meeting the FETAC entry requirements.
• The compulsory Work Experience module is useful, allowing students to gain valuable experience of their chosen workplace
• Courses offer a more gentle progression from school to college
• It can be useful and cost-effective way to spend a gap year if a young person is waiting to take up a deferred place or remains undecided about their plans
• It offers a taster course for subjects not available in a Leaving Cert Curriculum
• Students that have completed the Leaving Cert Applied can access third level education through the PLC route. 

How and when are applications made?

Some VECs now operate localised / online central applications systems. In many cases application is made directly to the college in question. PLC courses have been filling up quickly in recent years with many students applying during their Leaving Cert year as a contingency plan.

Applications are made online or by completing the appropriate application form. For information on financial support to PLC students go to www.studentfinance.ie

Tip: Contact individual PLC colleges to enquire about late vacancies. PLC courses have filled up rapidly in recent years but places may become available as some PLC candidates now take up CAO offers.

UCAS CLEARING

UCAS is the British system for undergraduate University entry. Clearing is a service available into colleges in the UK between July and September. For most people it is used after the exam results are published in August. It can help people without a university or college place to find suitable vacancies on higher education courses.

College fees in the UK have risen steeply and there may be less interest in UCAS options generally. However, for some students it remains an option. If you have the flexibility and the young person has reasonable exam results, there is still a good chance they will find another course through Clearing. For full details go here. 

Repeat Leaving Cert

Repeat Leaving Cert courses are available at a number of specialised colleges, VEC colleges and some schools. Repeating is a particularly good option for students that have the following:

• Strong likelihood of improving with work and study
• Solid existing record of study and application to the Leaving Cert Programme
• Have gained stronger educational focus and will genuinely benefit from spending the year repeating the Leaving Cert
• Narrowly missed the course of choice by a few points
• Missed the course of choice on random select
• Students that experienced health, trauma, family issues or bereavement
• Students whose focus was on sports or other areas of talent or expertise

The main advantage of repeating the Leaving Cert for higher points is that, this time round, once they have covered the matriculation requirements there is no need to re-sit that subject – for instance Irish or a language. The Repeat student is thus free to concentrate on studying subjects that will deliver higher points.

Where is the Repeat Leaving Cert option available?

In Dublin the Institute of Education has been offering a Repeat Leaving Cert programme for many years. Other options are Rathmines College, Whitehall, Marian College Ballsbridge, Saint Lawrence College in Loughlinstown and a number of City of Dublin VEC colleges. Yeats College offers a programme in both Galway and Waterford and Bruce College in Cork.

Students apply directly to the individual college.

To check for other colleges offering a Repeat Leaving course, we recommend a Google search

For a more detailed discussion on choosing to do a Repeat course, read this article from the IrishTimes

Study Abroad

Key websites: www.learnabroad.ie; www.eunicas.ie

Studying abroad can offer fantastic opportunities to students for learning, travel, networking, internship. The quality of educational experience can be very high. In terms of value, the cost of living in some European countries is significantly lower and tuition fees can be lower than at home.

Why is this option growing in popularity?

Many EU countries offer courses through English, with more affordable tuition fees. Students that wish to study Medicine, Veterinary or Dentistry & Pharmacy can find it easier to access a place on English speaking degree programmes abroad, where the entry requirements are more realistic than at home.

Gap Year

The trend of taking a year out between school and college - or Gap year - tends to fluctuate. But taking time out, away from the formal educational path can work well if there has been personal or family upheaval of some kind, if the young person has heavy sporting, creative or voluntary sector commitments, if there is a health issue that needs to be addressed or for financial reasons.

For some young people it is just not the right time for college or they have not yet decided on a career or course of study. If you think Gap year may be a realistic option for your child, some discussion round planning and goal-setting may make the process a more rewarding one for everyone. Students who found the gap year most valuable have said that setting clear goals, planning and organising carefully for the experience helped them to reap the maximum benefit from taking a year out.  

A number of voluntary organisations offer voluntary work abroad including:

www.habitatireland.ie

www.eilireland.org

www.projects-abroad.ie

Non-CAO Undergraduate Courses

There are approximatly 100 courses run by a number of Higher Education providers that take on students each year outside of the CAO system. These are fee paying courses, but in many cases the fees are not that much more than the registration fees paid by CAO students.

These courses are accredited by a number of different bodies, sometimes in the UK, so it is important that you check out and understand who is the qualifying authority.

For a list of these courses, click here