Third-level places for unemployed people

Information

As announced in the Supplementary Budget April 2009 there will be an additional 2,500 part-time third-level places for unemployed people starting in September 2009. Under the scheme there are 1,500 places on undergraduate courses and 1,000 places on postgraduate courses. The courses will focus on getting people back to work by upskilling or reskilling them. The undergraduate courses are in the business, science, engineering and technology sectors. You can find further details about the scheme for undergraduate courses and the scheme for postgraduate courses on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.

This is a labour market activisation programme organised jointly by the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (DETI) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The undergraduate places will be funded by DETI and the HEA will fund the postgraduate places.

Undergraduate courses

The undergraduate places are on a range of certificate and degree courses leading to qualifications at levels 6, 7 and 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). There are 1,500 places available and they are intended mainly for people with level 4, 5 or 6 qualifications.

Postgraduate courses

The places for graduates are for part-time postgraduate diplomas or conversion courses at levels 8 or 9.

Rules

To qualify for a place on one of these courses you must be unemployed. This means you must either:

• Have been getting a Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance. for at least 6 months on 1 September 2009

Or

• Have received statutory redundancy and have an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment

Under the Part-time Option of the Back to Education Programme you are entitled to keep your jobseeker's payment.

If you get a third-level place under this scheme you must continue to be available for and genuinely seeking work. If you get an offer of full-time work you must take up this employment offer. If you get a job before your course finishes you will not have to pay the course fees for that year.

The length of the courses is from 1 to 4 years, depending on the course. As these are part-time courses you will not be eligible for a third-level education maintenance grant or the Back to Education Allowance.

Rates

There are no tuition fees for these courses and you will not be required to pay the registration fee. Postgraduate students may have to pay a nominal charge.

How to apply

You can find a list of the undergraduate courses and the postgraduate courses on the website of Qualifax. If you wish to apply for a place on one of these courses you should contact the college directly. Most colleges will accept applications up to the middle of August 2009.

The courses will start in autumn 2009. Further details are available from your local FÁS office and social welfare office.