Recent Graduates
Full- time Postgraduate courses are open to recent graduates. However, to participate in these courses, 2020 graduates will be required to pay 10% of the course fee.
The Employed
Applicants who are employed will need to meet the residency requirements, i.e. that the applicant has been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to the programme.
This category of applicant will also be required to provide a copy of their most recent ‘Employment Detail Summary’ or other relevant revenue documentation. Applicants will be required to pay 10% of the course fee.
Returners
Returners are those who are not in receipt of a payment from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection but who have been out of the work environment for a number of years due to childcare or other caring obligations. They have a previous history of employment but may require upskilling, reskilling or cross-skilling to transition back to the workforce.
To be eligible the applicant must have been:
- A Homemaker or on other caring duties for a minimum period of 9 of the previous 12 months prior to their application
- Ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to the programme
- In addition, the applicant will need to provide supporting documentation to confirm their status as a Homemaker.
- Applicants must swear a declaration before a Commissioner for attesting to their status.
It should be noted that acceptance on to a postgraduate course does not confer any entitlement to DEASP payments or childcare supports. Returners will not pay any course fees.
Formerly Self-employed
To be eligible those who are formerly self-employed must provide a letter/statement from Revenue confirming that the applicant is no longer trading or a similar letter from the applicants (former) accountant should be sufficient.
Alternatively, a participant can swear a declaration stating that they are no longer self-employed. Applicants will be required to pay 10% of the course fee.
General
Eligible participants must have at least a level 8 qualification or equivalent prior to acceptance onto a course. Exact academic eligibility requirements will be determined by individual providers and may depend on the nature of the course.
Eligible Applicants must be ordinarily resident in Ireland and must meet the nationality and EU residency rules as aligned to Springboard as detailed here (opens in a new window)https://springboardcourses.ie/faq