FAQs
Do You Have Questions?
Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions you may have on the new Joint Tertiary Degrees. Also, please feel free to check out our Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn social media accounts. If you still can’t find the answer you’re looking for, just Contact us!
A Joint Tertiary Degree is a joint further and higher education degree programme. Students commence their third level experience in further education with the Education and Training Board but will complete the remainder in higher education colleges. It varies from 1 to 2 years studying in the Further Education & Training College, depending on the course. A full list of the courses can be found here.
The ETB Adult Educational Guidance and Information Service offers impartial and confidential information, advice, guidance, and counselling on the educational options that are available to you, including the tertiary programmes. The aim of the service is to support you in making the right decision about your future education and training options and to help you make those decisions within the context of your wider life. A full list of these services can be found here Contact a local Adult Guidance Service – ETBI
Applying for a Joint Tertiary Degree is simple:
- You can apply directly through the course information page of our website. Courses | National Tertiary Office (hea.ie).
- Alternatively, you can get in touch with the appropriate contact person detailed in the course information section.
- If you have any difficulties with any of the above routes, please contact the ETB Adult Education Guidance and Information Service. (Contact a local Adult Guidance Service – ETBI
Over 20 Joint Tertiary Degree courses commenced in September 2023 across 11 locations and 5 fields of provision including Business, ICT, Arts, Engineering, Manufacturing & Construction and Health & Welfare. You can check the course information section of the website for the full list of courses & locations. Additional degree courses will be added for 2024/25 and are expected to continue expanding each year.
Yes. From day one of starting a Joint Tertiary Degree, students are registered at both the ETB where they are commencing their course and the partnered university. This provides the student with access to dual supports and services including libraries, sports, and other campus facilities as well as academic, health and wellbeing supports.
No tuition fee or student contribution fee will apply for the duration of the tuition delivered by the ETB on the Joint Tertiary Degree. The Free Fees Initiative and student contribution arrangements will apply to the duration of tuition delivered by the HEI on the Joint Tertiary Degree. Students will have to meet eligibility criteria of the Free Fees Initiative while undertaking HE part of programme, otherwise the standard student contribution arrangements will apply.
Tertiary students may be eligible to apply for SUSI grants www.susi.ie/ subject to the normal eligibility criteria. There is also various funding available for those returning to full time education: including funding for students with disabilities, student assistance funding and back to education allowances.
The Higher Education Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme for Displaced Persons (Ukraine) in academic year 2022/23 was published last year by Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. For the purposes of the HEI part of the programme, Ukrainian nationals who are qualified for protection under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015, will be treated as European students and will be eligible for the Free Fees Initiative. Students who are eligible for the Free Fees Initiative are required to pay a student contribution charge of €3,000 per year (2023/24 academic year). Ukrainian nationals with Section 60 protection are also eligible to apply to SUSI for a grant towards their student contribution or tuition fees. It was confirmed by the Minister that these supports will continue for academic year 2023/24. For more information on this you can check gov.ie – Minister Harris announces new measures to provide access to further and higher education for displaced Ukrainian students (www.gov.ie)
As different course programmes have different entry requirements, students may be required to submit proof of achievement from other agencies to show they are eligible and meet the entry requirements for the course they are applying for. Please refer to the course information section in the course page of our website for these details. The course provider will be able to advise you of any additional paperwork which is required for your application, the contact details for the course coordinator can be found in the course page.
You do not need the same leaving certificate points. Different course programmes have different entry requirements where students may be required to submit proof from other agencies to show you are eligible and meet the entry requirements for the course you are applying for. Please refer to the course information section in the course page of our website for these details. The course provider will be able to advise you of any additional paperwork which is required for your application. The contact details for the course coordinator can be found in the course page.
Yes, this is a new pathway to your Bachelor’s degree, all tertiary programmes lead to an NFQ level 7 or 8 degree. The course information section in the course page of our website details the qualification you will receive.
The Joint Tertiary Degree provides guaranteed access, subject to passing exams, to a degree programme that starts in further education and concludes in higher education. Also, you do not need to apply through the CAO for a tertiary degree course.
Funding: The link below gives a list of various funding available for those returning to full time education: including funding for students with disabilities, student assistance funding and back to education allowances.
https://hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/
Tertiary applicants may be eligible for the 1916 Bursary fund. This fund aims to encourage participation and success by students who are most socio-economically disadvantaged and from groups most under-represented in higher education. More information including a list of eligibility criteria can be found on the website. www.1916bursary.ie
The Sanctuary Scholarship University of Sanctuary Ireland (UoSI) is an Irish initiative to encourage and celebrate the good practice of universities, colleges and other education institutes in welcoming refugees and protection applicants / people seeking asylum into their university communities and fostering a culture of welcome and inclusion for all those seeking sanctuary.
A full list of Universities/HEIS that offer sanctuary scholarships can be found at: University (Sanctuary Scholarships) Funding | Irish Refugee Council. There are a limited number of scholarships available for each HEI.
Supports: If you have a diagnosed disability and/or specific needs, we have a range of programmes catering for your requirements. Additionally other training supports can be provided such as: adaptive technologies, for example screen reading software, suitable furniture, equipment, or devices, adjusting or modifying examinations. This is facilitated by, for example, allowing extra time or providing a reader or scribe, provision of a reader or interpreter service based on your needs assessment. It is important that your ETB and HEI know about your needs relating to your disability at the time of course selection/recruitment in order to facilitate a discussion about which programmes are most suitable to your needs. It will also assist us in providing any additional supports that are needed. If your circumstances have changed from the time, you have joined the Joint Tertiary Degree as a student please contact the ETB Adult Educational Guidance and Information Service for help and advice. Contact a local Adult Guidance Service – ETBI
SUSI grants Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is Ireland’s national awarding authority for further and higher education grants. For information on SUSI grants please access the SUSI website here
Students carrying out their full-time studies in higher education institutions, who are fleeing the aggression in Ukraine, can avail of an Erasmus stipend of €1,150 per month of study. They may also qualify for support under the temporary tuition scheme.
Students registered on tertiary programmes and who have a valid HEI student number are eligible to apply for the SAF through the partner HEI, subject to meeting the criteria outlined.
Students registered on tertiary programmes and who have a valid HEI student number are eligible for supports under the FSD subject to the criteria set out elsewhere in these Guidelines. To ensure a seamless transition from further education to higher education, eligible students on tertiary programmes should be supported by the higher education FSD funding operated by the partner higher education institution.
The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) has been designed to allow students to compare and classify qualifications across ten levels ranging from the very initial stages of learning (level 1) to the most advanced stages (Level 9and 10). The framework can also make it easier for you to make informed decisions about which level and course, is most appropriate for you and the framework can make it easier for you to explain the qualifications you hold and those for which you are working towards. This becomes particularly important when you are considering further learning or entering employment both here in Ireland and abroad. For more information on the National Framework of Qualifications please visit our Course Types and Levels page.
Applications for 2024/25 will open on 1 February 2024.
Applications for 2024/25 will close on 27 September 2024.
No, when the provider assesses your online application, they will contact you regarding the next steps.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an auto-reply to the email address utilized confirming that the application has been received. The ETB will commence processing your application once it has been received. They will maintain contact with you through the email address provided with your application. It is important to monitor this email address to receive any updates.
Each student who commences a course will be required to complete a learner detail form. This is to enable us to register you for the course and allows us to access funding to run our courses. More details on completing the learner detail form can be found in the video https://youtu.be/FRglQafn-v0
Students will be required to register after you receive confirmation of your course place. Details of this process will be shared directly with you from your course provider.
You may be required to submit additional documentation and/or participate in an interview or submit a portfolio, for some courses, details can be found on the course description page. The Course Coordinator may also request an informal interview to assess your suitability for the course. You will be advised by the provider if any of the above applies to you.
Any candidate wishing to discuss a course in detail please contact the course coordinator, the contact detail can be found on the course page.