Guidance

Welcome to the Firhouse ETSS Careers corner

Guidance Academic Year 2025 / 2026

Hello everyone and welcome to the Firhouse ETSS Guidance page. This will be updated regularly. If there are any queries in relation to careers please encourage your child to come and talk to me or indeed parents can contact me through Julie on VSmail.

Eoin Houlihan

Guidance Counsellor

GUIDANCE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT TO FOLLOW

Classroom Guidance

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRxGfdGD-d9/?igsh=bmkyanoxNmo2dDJz

SUSI - Student Universal Support Ireland

Grants for PLC and University

SUSI is now open to receive applications for the 2026/27 academic year.

Changes to the Student Grant Scheme announced in Budget 2026

As part of Budget 2026, the following changes to the Student Grant Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year were announced:

  • The Special Rate of maintenance grant threshold will increase from €27,400 to €28,600.

  • The income threshold for the €500 Student Contribution Grant will increase from €115,000 to €120,000.

  • The Postgraduate Fee Contribution grant will increase by €500 to €4,500.

  • Income from Disablement benefit (when paid to the applicant) and Constant Attendance Allowance will not be included when calculating a household’s total reckonable income.

  • The annual rates for non-adjacent maintenance grant holders studying PLC, undergraduate and postgraduate courses will increase as follows:

    • Non-Adjacent Special Rate increase of €350

    • Band 1 Non-Adjacent Rate increase of €430

    • Bands 2 to 4 Non-Adjacent Rates increase of €200

Key dates for SUSI applicants in 2026

  • Priority closing date for renewal applications - 11 June 2026

  • Priority closing date for new applications - 9 July 2026

Click or copy and paste the following link for more information

https://www.susi.ie

SUSI information event, please click or copy and paste the following link

https://www.susi.ie/news/susi-information-event-2026/

CAO application process

CAO is now open for registration. The most important thing right now is that students register and if they are DARE or HEAR that this is ticked on their application online.

  1. Registration before 20th January = €35
  2. Between 20th January and 1st February = €50
  3. Only restricted courses to be inputted by 1st February 2026
  4. All other courses on students choices and closing date for CAO = 1st July 2026
  5. DARE and HEARonline application 1st March (completed by students themselves)
  6. DARE and HEARsupporting documentation = 10th March 2026

Please click or copy and paste this link to bring you to the CAO parents sectionhttps://www.cao.ie/?page=parents

Please copy and paste this link for the CAO digital handbook https://www.cao.ie/handbook.php

Please copy and paste this link for DARE and HEAR https://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=accessroutes

CAO presentation Firhouse CAO.pdf

UCAS

Applying to universities in the UK including Northern Ireland

Application process is now open

15th October - Deadline for courses in

  • Medicine
  • Veterinary medicine/science
  • Dentistry
  • Oxford
  • Cambridge

14th January - Deadline for all other courses

Please click or copy and paste the link below to find out more information about the application process.

https://www.ucas.com/applying/applying-to-university/filling-in-your-ucas-undergraduate-application#_3

University speakers to our school

This will be updated as we go through the term. More universities have still to confirm dates

College Date

National College of Ireland https://www.ncirl.ie/

Monday 22nd September @ 09:45 & 11:00 classes

DCU https://www.dcu.ie/

Monday 13th October @ 09:45 & 11:00 classes

Ulster University https://www.ulster.ac.uk/

Monday 20th October @ 09:45 & 11:00 classes

TU Dublin https://www.tudublin.ie/

Monday 03rd November @ 09:45 & 11:00 classes

Griffith College https://www.griffith.ie/locations/dublin

Monday 10th November @ 09:45 & 11:00 classes

Maynooth University https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie

Monday 1st December @ 09:45 & 11:00 classes

UCD https://www.ucd.ie

Monday 15th December @ 09:45 & 11:00 classes

TU Dublin https://www.tudublin.ie

Monday 19th January @ 09:45 & 11:00 classes

Vikki Hughes - Employment law and rights

Monday 2nd March @ 09:45 & 11:00 classes

College Open days and other events

University Midweek Weekend
October
University College Galway Friday 3rd Saturday 4th
University College Cork Saturday 11th
Mary Immaculate College - Limerick Friday 16th Saturday 17th
University of Limerick Friday 16th Saturday 17th
TUS Athlone Friday 16th Saturday 17th
ATU Galway Friday 16th Saturday 17th
Carlow College - St. Patrick's Thursday 23rd
SETU Carlow campus Thursday 23rd
November
Mary Immaculate College - Thurles Saturday 8th
UCD Saturday 8th
Intro to Physiotherapy at RCSI - Webinar Wednesday 12th
ATU Sligo & St Angela's Thursday 13th
Teagasc - Botanic Gardens Thursday 13th
Thurles Campus - Sport performance workshop Friday 14th
Marino Institute of Education Saturday 15th
DCU - Dublin City University Glasnevin Campus Friday 14th Saturday 15th - Glasnevin + St. Pat's campus
SETU Waterford - Try Culinary Tuesday 18th
SETU Waterford - Try Tourism and Hospitality Tuesday 18th
UCD - Social Sciences open evening Tuesday 18th
Dundalk Institute of Technology Wednesday 19th
National College of Ireland Wednesday 19th
Shannon College of Hotel Management Wednesday 19th
Dublin Business School Saturday 22nd
Institute of Art, Design and Technology Saturday 22nd
Maynooth University Friday 28th Saturday 29th
The Lir Academy Saturday 29th
Trinity College Saturday 29th

December

TU Dublin - Tallaght, Grangegorman, Blanchardstown & Bolton Street https://www.tudublin.ie/opendays/ Saturday 6th

January

RCSI

Friday 9th

SETU Carlow Campus

Wednesday 14th

Maynooth University

Wednesday 14th (evening)

Independent College Dublin

Thursday 15th

University of Limerick

Saturday 17th

Mary Immaculate College Limerick

Saturday 17th

NCI

Saturday 24th

MARCH

Carlow College - St. Patrick's

Thursday 5th

IADT

Saturday 21st

University of Galway

Saturday 21st

APRIL

TU Dublin - Aungier Street campus

Saturday 18th

DCU

Saturday 18th

TUD - Tallaght campus

Tuesday 21st (evening)

TUD - Blanchardstown

Thursday 23rd (evening)

TUD - Grangegorman & Bolton Street

Saturday 25th

Maynooth University

Saturday 25th

Colleges of Further Education and Training & PLC

Please see below the open days and evenings.

2026 PLC/FET OPEN DAYS

Ballsbridge College of FET

Thursday 15th January

Liberties College of FET

Friday 16th January

Sallynoggin College of FET

Tuesday 20th January

Crumlin College of FET

Tuesday 20th January (evening)

Greenhills College of FET

Tuesday 20th January

Ballyfermot College of FET

Wednesday 21st January

Inchicore College of FET

Wednesday 25th February

Bray Institute of FET

Friday 27th February

Bray Institute of FET

Wednesday 25th March (evening)

Inchicore College of FET

Thursday 16th April

World Skills

https://worldskillsireland.ie/

On Friday 19th of September a group of students will be brought to this event.

It is a free event and students must email Eoin if they wish to attend

Campus Tour - Ulster University

On Friday 14th of November there is a planned university campus tour being organised for 5th and 6th years.

This trip will only go ahead if there is a minimum of 15 students who wish to go

Details:

  • Meet at Dublin Connolly train station at 07:15
  • Arrive in Belfast at 09:45 - walk to the Belfast campus (c. 10 minute walk)
  • Campus tour
  • Lunch - students to bring or buy lunch themselves
  • Return on the 15:00 train arrive in Dublin Connolly at 17:05
  • Cost €18.00 - Please bring this into Eoin by Wednesday 22nd of October

This link will bring you to the undergraduate courses available at the university https://tinyurl.com/mdkae2k6

TRINITY SCHOOL OF LAW - INFORMATION EVENT

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27TH

Trinity School of Law is holding a law- specific information event on Saturday 27th September 2025. This event is designed especially for students who are curious about the subject and considering applying to study for an undergraduate degree in law at university. This event is intended for fifth, sixth year and/or mature students.

The event will consist of seminars led by academic staff and researchers - experts in everything from constitutional law to human rights. There will also be the opportunity to talk to current Trinity law students about their experiences, how they chose their course, and what life is like as part of the Trinity Law School community, as well opportunities to discover more about studying abroad, careers in law and much more.

Click here for more information and registration details. Spaces are limited and booking is essential

Study Medicine in Ireland

Please click or copy and paste the following link if you are interested in studying medicine in Ireland. This is for 2025 applicant entry, however it is a good guide explaining the process.

https://www2.cao.ie/downloads/documents/2025/UGMedEntry2025.pdf

CAO

The application process for entering Irish universities

CAO is currently processing the application process for 2025 applicants. It will not be available for registration for 2026 applicants until the 5th of November. Students will be learning about the process during their Guidance classes each Monday. Information will also be shared here and updated regularly.

DARE (Disability Access Route to Education)

&

HEAR (Higher Education Access Route)

Both these processes will be explained to students during Guidance classes. More information will follow here but for now any parent/guardian wishing to learn more about the process please click or copy and paste the following link https://accesscollege.ie/

National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI)

TheNational Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) is delighted to share their upcoming open day designed to support students in exploring careers at sea and ashore in the maritime, energy and supply chain sectors.

NMCI Open Day – Thursday, November 6, 2025

• Meet lecturers, cadets, and industry representatives.

• Explore state-of-the-art facilities and simulators.

• Learn about career pathways in the maritime, sustainable energy, and supply chain sectors.

Location: NMCI, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork

Time: 10am – 2:30pm

More information can be found here https://careersportal.ie/colleges/college.php?college_id=66&client_id=322

Tertiary Degrees - Ballyfermot College

2 new Tertiary Degree Programmes running in City of Dublin FET College, Southwest Campus, Ballyfermot. These are both Level 8 BA Hons Degrees;

  1. BA Hons in Politics, Society & Media conferred by TUD Media Dept; BA (Honours) in Politics, Society and Media - Ballyfermot Southwest Campus | City of Dublin FET College
  2. BA Hons in Business with Psychology conferred by IADT; Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Business + Psychology - Ballyfermot Southwest Campus | City of Dublin FET College

All the information you need is in the link.

Trinity Access Parents Info Evening:

Alternative Routes to College

This is a practical session for parents/guardians of 6th Year students about alternative routes to college.

Tallaght LibraryWednesday, October 8th, 6:30-7:30pm

TAP staff will give an overview of FET routes (PLCs), and the TAP Foundation Course as pathways to degree courses. There will be information on sources of funding such as SUSI grants and the HEAR scheme, and the application process.

Book a free ticket here: Trinity Access Parents Info Evening: Alternative Routes to College Tickets, Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite

Taking Ukrainian as a Leaving Certificate Exam

2025 marks the first year that Ukrainian was offered as a non-curricular examination paper for the Leaving Certificate. I am pleased to inform you that to support students interested in taking this paper, we will host an online information session which will focus on key points such as what the exam involves, who can take it, how to register, and where to find past papers and marking schemes.

It will take place on Wednesday, 8 October at 7:00pm to learn more. The session will be delivered simultaneously in both English and Ukrainian.

This session is being provided free-of-charge and is open to all 5th and 6th year students in Ireland who may wish to take this examination paper.

Please see below the link to our website where students can find more information and a link to registration. https://languagesconnect.ie/non-curricular-leaving-certificate-ukrainian/

UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business

Open Evening

The UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business will hold an in-person Open Evening on Tuesday, 14 th October 2025 at 5.30pm.

This event is an opportunity for sixth-year students interested in studying Business at UCD to learn about the range of programmes on offer and to speak with academic staff,
professional staff and students about life as a student in one of Europe’s leading business
schools.

Students, Parents, Guardians, Business Studies Teachers and Guidance Counsellors are welcome to attend, and we would be delighted if you would join us on the evening.

The programmes that will be discussed on the evening are:

  • Commerce
  • Commerce International
  • Economics and Finance
  • Business and Law

In addition to information talks on each of the individual programmes, information on
Careers, Scholarships and Awards, the Quinn Internship Programme, Study Abroad
opportunities and the Business Mentoring Programme will also be available.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - Places are limited and last year’s event was fully
booked, so early registration is advised. REGISTER HERE.

Other open evenings in UCD

Please see a list below of upcoming events for October 2025. These events are for students, parents and teachers & guidance counsellors.

TUD Access Foundation Programme

The Access Foundation Programme (AFP) is a preparation for higher education programme.

The programme prepares students personally and academically to pursue undergraduate programmes across all disciplines in TU Dublin including Science and Health, IT and Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Social Science, Business, Hospitality, Arts and Tourism.

The programme is designed to provide an entry route into TU Dublin for (i) mature students and (ii) young adults who have experienced socio-economic and educational disadvantage. Please copy and paste or click the link below to find out more.

https://www.tudublin.ie/media/website/study/undergraduate/entry-pathways/documents/Access_Foundation_Programme_Candidate-Brief-TU699-2025-26.pdf

CAO Students / Parents online information session

An online information evening for Students and Parents, in association with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and Admissions Officers from Higher Education Institutions, will take place on

  • Tuesday, 21 of October at 6pm.
  • Registration for this event will open on 1st of October at noon at www.cao.ie/webinar

The School of Mathematics and Statistics, TU Dublin

The School of Mathematics and Statistics, TU Dublin will have a stand at the open day in Grangegorman (https://www.tudublin.ie/opendays) on Saturday, 6th December. Representatives from the School will be on site to answer any questions about the degree courses on offer:

TU874 - Mathematics and Statistics

TU873 - Mathematics and Statistics for Data Science

Work placement is a mandatory part of these degrees which occurs in the 2nd semester of year 3. Student work placement occurs in such organisations as - Accenture, AIG, CSO, Bank of Ireland, Davy, Deciphex, Deloitte, EdgeTier, Grant Thorton, Murex and Zurich.

UCD Open Day Registration

We are excited to host the UCD Open Day on Saturday 8th November 2025 from 10am to 4pm.

This event offers students a chance to explore the courses they are interested in, chat with academics and students, explore our wonderful campus and get a feel for life at UCD.

Your students can enjoy

- Over 130 subject and general information talks
- A central exhibition hall featuring more than 50 college and information stands
- The opportunity to chat with UCD Staff and Students
- Experiencing UCD by taking a campus tour with our Student Ambassadors

We would be grateful if you would encourage your students to register online @ www.ucdopenday.ie. Further information on the programme of talks and the day’s schedule will be available soon.

Ballyfermot College of Further Education Open Day

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The School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology, TU Dublin

The School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology, TU Dublin, is leading the way in education and research in the exciting sectors of Food Studies, Culinary Arts, Gastronomy, Bakery, Pastry, Horticulture and the Beverage industry offering many program progression options at Apprenticeship, Higher Certificate, Ordinary Degree, Honours Degree, Master’s Degree and PhD Doctoral studies. As well as obtaining TU Dublin graduate attributes, Culinary Arts, horticulture, and food technology graduates also have career opportunities and job prospects that are exciting, innovative and are in family friendly and flexible working environments not just in Ireland but all over the world. The school employs lecturers that are industry and education leaders in culinary, bakery, pastry, gastronomy, horticulture, beverages and the food science and food technology studies fields.

Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT)

Screenshot 2025-10-21 at 12.58.17.png

Join us for Taster Days and discover your future course at IADT.

Taster Days offer you the chance to experience our courses first hand by taking part in practical workshops and exploring our campus.

Taster Days are free and places are limited, click or copy and paste this link https://iadt.ie/news/taster-days/ to book your workshops. For further information contact: info@iadt.ie

Audition Preparation at The Lir Academy

Thinking of auditioning for drama school or just want to nail your monologue? Learn more about upcoming audition courses and which one would best suit your needs by copy and pasting or clicking the link below.

https://www.thelir.ie/courses/short-courses/audition-preparation

UCD OPEN DAY

Griffith College

If any students are interested in these please contact Eoin

NCI Open Day

CAO Open Day 19th November.jpg

Copy and paste the link below.

https://www.ncirl.ie/Events/ArtMID/6569/ArticleID/1233/CAO-Open-Day-November-2025?_cldee=YztdAHXRrHj20atiqS-oGFUNRtIDm-6_foqMGWgqdmModQ-xfhGPL9AeF3oNVFYn&recipientid=contact-0086c1cb9870ef11a66f000d3adf44da-da5b923a17cd4c6eaa78d799bd7bf3c9&utm_source=ClickDimensions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CAO%202025%20-%20School%20Emails&esid=4dd00329-71b6-f011-bbd2-7ced8d45e96c

Griffith College

Workshop

If you are interested in this please email eoin@firhouseetss.ie

What’s Happening?

Are you ready to take your tech passion to the next level? Join us for the Future Coders Event at Griffith College on *2nd December, 2025.

This coding workshop will take place at our Dublin campus, where you will get to experience what it’s really like to be a Computing Science student at Griffith. Plus, you’ll meet our lecturers, chat with current students, and hear from industry experts who’ll show you how to turn your love for tech into a fulfilling career.

Why Attend?

  • Explore the Future of Tech: Get an insider’s look at specialisations like Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Network Management, and Software Development—these are the fields that are changing the game.
  • Get Your Hands Dirty: Jump into our coding workshop and learn how we teach programming here at Griffith—nothing beats learning by doing.
  • Map Out Your Future: Our careers talk will give you the lowdown on the incredible job opportunities waiting for you after graduation.
Event Schedule:
Time Topic
10:00 Student Arrival
10:15 Welcome Address
10:30 Coding Workshop
11:30 Campus Tour
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Careers Talk

This event will show you how the BSc (Hons) in Computing Science at Griffith College can set you up for a future in tech. Don’t miss out—see you there!

TU Dublin Open Day Saturday 6th December Grangegorman Campus

A quick reminder that our University Open Day takes place this Saturday, 6 December, from 10am–2pm on our Grangegorman Campus. It’s a great opportunity for students to explore the University and meet staff and students from every programme in one place.

We’re also delighted to announce our new Arts programme TU980, launching in September 2026. The Dean of Arts & Humanities, Orla McDonagh, will give an introductory talk at 11:15am in the Concert Hall, East Quad.

We greatly appreciate the feedback we received from guidance counsellors, students, and parents throughout the development of this programme. For any of your students considering an Arts degree, we would be grateful if you could encourage them to attend the session on Saturday to learn more.

We look forward to welcoming your students to TU Dublin Arts in 2026.

Regards,

TU Dublin School Liaison Team

UCD Physics

UCD Physics is delighted to invite you to a special online event for Transition Year, 5th-year, and 6th-year students. This virtual event will take place on Thursday, 22 January, from 10:00am to 12:30pm.

This session offers an excellent opportunity for secondary-school students and teachers to explore what Physics is really about. Throughout the morning, research-active members of the UCD School of Physics will deliver short, engaging “dazzle with wonder” talks that highlight some of the latest developments across a wide range of physics topics.

There will be plenty of opportunities to submit questions during the event, and we warmly welcome questions from teachers watching with their classes.

Programme

10:00–10:15am: Welcome and Introduction to Physics at UCD - Dr Antonio Martin Carrillo

10:15–10:40am: Optical Physics - Associate Professor Brian Vohnsen

10:40–11:05am: Theoretical Physics - Dr Steve Campbell

11:05–11:15am: Break – NASA’s Icebreaker Game

11:15–11:40am: Medical Physics - Dr Irene Hernandez-Giron

11:40–12:05pm: Spectroscopy - Professor Padraig Dunne

12:05–12:30pm: EIRSAT-1: Ireland’s First Satellite Developed at UCD - Laura Cotter

Registration please click or copy and paste the following link: https://www.ucd.ie/myucd/visiting-ucd/events/

After registering, you will receive an automatic confirmation email with your webinar link. We recommend that parents or guardians book on behalf of individual students.Please note that as this event takes place during regular school hours, individuals booking places may need to get permission from their school to watch the webinar. Please ensure that your email address is entered correctly when registering.

If you have any questions or do not receive your confirmation email, please contact us at AskScience@ucd.ie

Best wishes,

Gary Dunne
UCD Science Office

Interested in Apprenticeships?

We're excited to let you know we are running a FREE Apprenticeship Information Webinar, designed to help students understand and succeed in the apprenticeship application process.

📅 Date: Monday, 19th January 🕢 Time: 7:00 PM

Our expert tutor will cover:

  • An Overview of the Apprenticeship Selection Process
  • Apprenticeship Opportunities (ESB and more)
  • How to Apply
  • Aptitude Tests & Interviews
  • How to Succeed in Recruitment Competitions
Don't miss this chance to gain valuable insights and improve your chances of success in securing an Apprenticeship!

Register on the following link - https://careerservices.ie/apprenticeship-information-webinar/

Apprenticeships at TU Dublin

https://www.tudublin.ie/study/apprenticeships/access-to-apprenticeship/

TU Dublin – Access Foundation Programme (TU699) Webinar

I would like to bring to your attention an upcoming webinar on the TU699 Access Foundation Programme, which may be of interest to your students who are considering pathways into higher education.

The session will provide an overview of the programme, entry requirements, progression routes, and support available to learners. It is an excellent opportunity for prospective students to ask questions and learn more about how the programme can support their educational journey.

TU Dublin – Access Foundation Programme (TU699) Webinar

Date: Thursday, 15 January 2026
Time:
18:00pm–19:00pm
Format:
Live online webinar
Audience:
Mature Students, Leaving Cert Students, Young Adults, Parents & Guardians

About the Webinar:

This online information session introduces the Access Foundation Programme (TU699) — a one‑year, full‑time course designed to prepare students both personally and academically for entry into undergraduate programmes at TU Dublin.

Attendees will learn about:

  • The purpose and structure of the Access Foundation Programme
  • Entry requirements and application process
  • Supports available to Access students
  • Pathways into undergraduate study at TU Dublin

Registration link:

UCD Access & Lifelong Learning - DARE Applications Webinar

UCD Access and Lifelong Learning is happy to invite you to a webinar focussing on the DARE application process for 2026.

This webinar is open to students, their parents/guardians as well as guidance counselors.

Webinar Details:

Topic: DARE information Session. A practical information on completing the DARE Application process
Date: Friday 16th January 2026
Time: 11am
Platform: Zoom (online)
Duration: 1h

During the session, we’ll discuss:

· DARE Pathway explained

· DARE Application process

· Steps to apply and deadlines

· Q&A

Please register by Thursday 15th January to secure your spot.

Registration link: https://ucd-ie.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SD5Aevk3Sd-CqDMuv3ooTg

UCD Access & Lifelong Learning - DARE Applications Webinar

Please follow this link to find out information about the HEAR clinic happening Wednesday 14th January at 18:00

https://www.ucd.ie/all/aboutus/newsandevents/2025/hearwebinar/

Ballyfermot College of Further Education

OPEN DAY

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NCI

OPEN DAY

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Atlantic Technological University

ATU Sligo, Ash Lane, Sligo, F91 YW50, Ireland

We understand that students may feel anxious about points and accessing their chosen career path, so the details below outline the various routes available to them.

Allied Health Professions

We have two Health Science degrees in ATU Sligo:

AU861 BSc in Health Science and Physiology

AU971 BSc (Hons) in Health Science and Physical Activity

These offer pathways into careers such asPhysiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy and Diagnostic Imaging/Radiography.

Students generally choose one of two paths:

1. Level 7- Exit our Level 7 programme after two years with a Level 6 Higher Certificate and pursue undergraduate studies in their preferred Allied Health Profession or complete the three year Level 7 ordinary degree and then pursue undergraduate studies in their preferred Allied Health Profession.

2. Level 8- Complete our Level 8 honours degree and pursue Masters studies in their preferred Allied Health Profession.

Students who exit after three years with their Level 7 degree qualification or after two years with their Higher Certificate qualification are eligible to transfer to Irish, UK, Dutch and Belgian Universities for further undergraduate studies. The most common progression route universities from ATU Sligo are University of Salford, Ulster University, Robert Gordon University, Northumbria University, Glasgow Caledonian and University of Derby.

A huge benefit of our Health Science programmes is that they all contain exit and progression options. If a student has a change of mind and in hindsight decides that they want to pursue Health Promotion, Public Health or a more tailored Physical Activity degree, they can continue their studies with ATU Sligo. Additionally, the flexibility to change mind mid-stream is a huge benefit to undertaking our programmes. For example, we have seen students who were positive that they wanted to study Physiotherapy change to Occupational Therapy or Diagnostic Radiography after experiencing different module strands in the programme, or vice versa. This situation occurs each year, and it is extremely important to allow this flexibility.

Our Level 7 and 8 programmes also come with Professional Accreditation from the International Union for Health Promotion (IUHPE) and REPS Ireland, where students can graduate with embedded awards as a fitness instructor, personal trainer and exercise for health specialist.

We also offer Masters studies in this area for any students wishing to progress their studies at ATU Sligo:

MSc in Health Promotion Practice

MSc in Public Health Nutrition

MSc in Sports and Exercise Nutrition

Below are some student stories from recent graduates who have taken this route to the Allied Health Professions:

Niall Carr Student Story Niall studied our Level 8 BSc (Hons) in Health and Physical activity and progressed to study a Masters in Diagnostic Radiography in University College Cork. Niall is now employed as a Radiographer in Sligo University Hospital.

Laura Dunlevy Student Story Laura studied our Level 8 BSc (Hons) in Health Science and Physical Activity and is now studying a Masters in Physiotherapy in University College Cork.

Megan Creegan Student Story Megan exited with a Level 6 Higher Certificate in Health and Exercise Science before progressing to the University of Salford to complete a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy. Megan now works as a Physiotherapist with the HSE.

Dearbhla Neenan Student Story Dearbhla exited with a Level 6 Higher Certificate in Health and Exercise Science before moving to the University of Cardiff to study a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy.

Dietetics

We have two Human Nutrition degrees in ATU Sligo:

AU972 BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition

AU862 BSc in Human Nutrition

Our students have been very successful in gaining entry to Dietetics Masters from our honours degree. For example, several graduates have studied and completed the MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics in the University of Limerick. Of course, students have also been successful in gaining places on Dietetics Masters in other universities across Ireland and the UK. Our Level 8 degree is also accredited by the Association for Nutrition. Please note that Level 7 graduates can complete a one year add-on to obtain their honours degree in Human Nutrition.

Students may also be interested in reading some student stories from recent graduates who have progressed to a Masters in Dietetics:

Aisling Lee Student Story Aisling studied our BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition before completing the MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics in the University of Limerick. Aisling now works as a Diabetes Dietitian with the Health Service Executive.

Angela Kosko Student Story Angela graduated from our BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition degree in 2021 and has since completed an MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics in the University of Limerick.

Niamh O’Callaghan Student Story Not Dietetics related, but Niamh’s story is one most definitely worth sharing. Niamh obtained a place on the Irish Research Council Government of Ireland research programme. Niamh undertook her Masters by Research titled Investigating Nutrition Related Life of Irish Cancer Survivors here in ATU Sligo.

We also offer Masters studies in this area for any students wishing to progress their studies at ATU Sligo:

MSc in Health Promotion Practice

MSc in Public Health Nutrition

MSc in Sports and Exercise Nutrition

PE Teaching

We have a Level 7 Applied Sport with Business degree and a Level 8 Sport with Business degree in ATU Sligo. Both degrees offer a pathway to PE Teaching. More information on how this works is explained below.

AU804 BBs in Applied Sport with Business

AU903 BBs (Hons) in Sport with Business

Level 7 Applied Sport with Business: Students who complete this three-year degree before going to complete our one-year Add-on in Level 8 Sport with Business degree. This pathway, which is four years total in ATU Sligo, has the requisite core and optional subject modules that align with the Teaching Council of Ireland’s requirements for the teaching of PE and Business. Students can then apply for admission to the Professional Master of Education (PME) in PE Teaching at the University of Limerick. Students can also pursue PGCE studies in Northern Ireland and the UK. Our graduates have successfully completed the PME at the University of Limerick and various universities throughout Northern Ireland and the UK.

Level 8 Sport with Business: Students who complete this three-year degree, can apply to a Professional Master of Education (PME) or a PGCE. However, students may be required to complete two additional modules for teaching PE i.e. gymnastics and athletics. We have had several students choosing this pathway to become a PE Teacher. Students who follow this route can complete the missing modules as standalone modules at a later date, as per the Teaching Council of Ireland’s requirements.

Our degrees also have several embedded coaching awards and students undertake work placement during their studies. This helps them build a strong resumé and application for their postgraduate studies in Physical Education Teaching.

Below are some student stories from recent graduates who have taken this route to becoming a Physical Education Teacher:

Aoife Gannon Student Story

Michael Patton Student Story

Dónal Ó Loideáin Student Story

Primary School Teaching

AU919 BEd (Hons) in Early Education and Carehas a pathway to Primary School Teaching. Many students progress to a PME in the Republic of Ireland or PGCE studies in the UK. Of course, students will still need a H4 or equivalent in Irish to teach in the Republic of Ireland. For many students, completing these steps one at a time is much more achievable than trying to get their Irish grade and CAO points at once.

We recently changed our Early Education programme from a Bachelor of Arts to a Bachelor of Education (Hons) in Early Education and Care. We are now one of only three HEI’s in Ireland offering a Bachelor of Education in this area. For more information on the exciting changes to this programme, please use the link in the paragraph above to visit the programme webpage.

Psychology

AU917 BA (Hons) in English and Psychology(Common Entry) is a three-year honours degree which has pathways for students to progress their studies to Psychology. Students who successfully complete all required modules in Years 1, 2, and 3 and who are eligible for, and choose, the Psychology Research Project in the final semester will graduate with a BA (Hons) in Psychology and English, accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).

Upon completion this path, students may progress to a Psychology Conversion Course. Graduation from a Psychology Conversion Course will then allow students to pursue further study in various specialism areas within this discipline. There are several Psychology Conversion Courses which range from one to two years to complete.

Speaking with graduates recently, some have progressed to universities such as Queens University Belfast, University of Limerick and University of Galway for their conversion courses. Students may be interested in reading Deborah Doherty's Student Story. Following graduation from ATU Sligo, Deborah completed a Higher Diploma Psychology Conversion at University of Galway and then a Master of Science in Applied Developmental Psychology at Queens University Belfast.

Teacher Training

Many of our Level 8 honours degrees are mapped to the Teaching Council of Ireland’s subject requirements to teach various subjects at secondary school level. Students complete their Level 8 honours degree with us before pursuing a Professional Master of Education (PME). As you have already seen above, we have links to PE Teaching and Primary School Teaching. Below is a selection of other options available. Please get in touch if there are other subjects you wish to ask about possible progression routes to.

AU906 BA (Hons) in Business and Irish- Business and Irish

AU901 BBs (Hons) in Business and ICT - Business and Computer Science

AU916 BA (Hons) in Sociology and Politics - CSPE, SPHE and Politics

AU917 BA (Hons) in English and Psychology(Common Entry) - English

AU902 BA (Hons) in Accounting - Accounting (to LC Level) and Business (to JC Level)

AU900 Bachelor of Business (Hons) - Business

AU904 BBs (Hons) in Marketing - Business

AU905 BBs (Hons) in Tourism and Event Management - Business

AU928 BA (Hons) in Fine Art – Art

AU929 BA (Hons) in Writing and Literature - English

AU930 BA (Hons) in Writing and Literature (Online) - English

AU946 BSc (Hons) in Construction Project Management and Applied Technology - Construction Studies and DCG

AU970 BSc (Hons) in Forensic Investigation and Analysis - Chemistry (to LC Level) and Science (to JC Level)

DO YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR?

UCD School of Medicine and St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG) would like to invite you and your students to attend our virtual series of talks titled ‘So you want to be a doctor?’, scheduled over two days. The event is designed for secondary school students in the senior cycle.

Please Note: This is a virtual event and will be held online via zoom.

Event Information:

Date: Tuesday, 10th February & Thursday, 12th February 2026

Location: Virtual (Register below. Zoom links will be forward closer to the above date)

The event consists of a series of half-hour talks on Tuesday 10th and Thursday 12th February, 09.30- 15.00 on both days, presented by SVHG consultant specialists in sub-specialities spanning the breadth of Medicine e.g., general practice, anaesthesiology, pathology, microbiology, neurology, cardiology, obstetrics, ENT and various surgical specialties, all of whom are adjunct or full faculty of UCD School of Medicine.

These talks will be held via Zoom. A schedule of the talks, with the Zoom links to join, will be provided to all registered emails. Attendance at the live event is recommended as audience questions are facilitated.

REGISTER HERE

If the above link does not work, copy and paste the one below for registration.

https://www.ucd.ie/myucd/visiting-ucd/events/ucd-virtual-event-so-you-want-to-be-a-doctor/

Enquiries: Jean Ryan; jean.ryan@ucd.ie

DCU Access options

Copy and paste the link below into an internet browser for information about access options for DCU.

https://elinkeu.clickdimensions.com/m/1/87053699/p1-b26034-973de4554fec4d8d876bd8a9cfef34ad/1/204/b5e28049-84d3-4623-ac98-65e90f5af3eb

ESB APPRENTICESHIP - OPEN DAY

The attached poster advertising the upcoming ESB Networks Training School Open Day at our Training Centre in Portlaoise on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th March.

This event will give students an opportunity to learn more about an Electrical Apprenticeship with ESB Networks.

Please note that this is a ticket‑only event, and tickets will be available from Wednesday 25th February.

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DARE application

  1. Ticking DARE on CAO by March 1st
  2. Online Personal Impact Statement completed by 1st March
  3. All the supporting documents to CAO by March 10th

These deadlines are set and there is no wriggle room.

Students completed the Educational Impact Statement with me. This was given to students to bring home for review. If you are happy with what was written then it MUST come back to me to be signed and stamped by the school. This form along with the evidence of disability and any other supporting documentation is posted of by the student to CAO to reach them by the 10th of March.

All information about DARE can be found here https://accesscollege.ie

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate in contacting Eoin the Guidance Counsellor.

HEAR application

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a higher education admissions scheme for Leaving Certificate students (under 23) whose economic or social background are underrepresented in higher education.

Click or copy and paste the following to find out more https://accesscollege.ie/hear/

  1. Ticking HEAR on CAO by March 1st
  2. All the supporting documents to CAO by March 10th

Scholarship Opportunity

The Irish Tax Institute is accepting applications for their third-level scholarship programme. Copy and paste or click the link below for further information.

https://taxinstitute.ie/career-in-tax-advisory/scholarship/

This scholarship programme is open to second-level students who are sitting the 2026 Leaving Certificate in the Republic of Ireland and are interested in pursuing an exciting Career in Tax Advisory.

The Third-Level Scholarship offers the successful candidate support throughout their third-level studies, including:

  • €5,000 of financial support per college year
  • a place on the prestigious Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) programme after your degree
  • mentoring from the Irish Tax Institute

FREE Leaving Cert. Revision Courses

ATU is delighted to offer a suite of Free Leaving Certificate Revision courses covering Maths, Accounting, History, Chemistry, Home Economics, and Computer Science. Some of these courses are offered on a specific ATU campus and others are offered fully online. For more information or to register, please visit

https://www.atu.ie/study/undergraduate/leaving-cert-revision-sessions

Accounting Programme Options

Accounting programme pathways available for September 2026 that may be of interest to students considering a career in Accounting or Finance.

Accounting Technicians Ireland offers flexible routes (apprenticeship, full-time, part-time and online) leading to qualification as an Accounting Technician (Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Accounting), with a clear progression pathway to the Accounting Technologist apprenticeship (Level 8 Honours BSc in Accounting Technology).

These programmes provide a practical route into employment, allowing students to earn while they learn and gain professional experience alongside their academic qualification.

ATI qualifications also provide recognised progression routes into professional accountancy bodies, with exemptions available with organisations such as Chartered Accountants Ireland, ACCA and CIMA.

Expressions of interest for any ATI programme for Sept Intake 2026 are now being accepted via ATI website here:

(click or copy & paste ) https://accountingtechniciansireland.ie/prospectus/

The online application will open in early April 2026 and students that express interest with ATI will be notified once are live.

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