Further & Higher Education

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Differences between Further Education & Higher Education

In Basic terms, Further Education will award you a certificate, where Higher Education can lead to a Degree. Further Education and Higher Education providers in Ireland all operate under two organisations which award their certification:

  • Further Education providers are linked into the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC)
  • Higher Education providers are linked into the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC)

Further Education

Higher Education

FETAC accredited courses for example:

  • Post Leaving Cert courses in Colleges of Further Education e.g Ballyfermot, Crumlin, Inchicore etc.
  • Courses based in the community which receive their accreditatiom from BIM, FAS, NCVA, NTCB & Teagasc
  • Other training courses who apply for accreditation with FETAC
  • Courses in Institutes of Technology
  • Selected Distance Courses

HETAC accredited courses

  • Courses in Institutes of Technology
  • Courses in Colleges of Education
  • Courses in Colleges of Art & Design
  • Courses in Universities
  • Open University Courses
  • Selected Distance Courses

Both these councils then feed into the National Qualifications Authority. The establishing of the Further Education and Training Awards Council in 2000 has ensured that any course which enables learners to achieve FETAC at Level 5 for example, has a link to a Higher Education place in an IT or University.

Opportunities

The Further Education and Training Awards Council aims to create opportunities for all learners in further education and training, to have these achievements recognised and, through links, to provide access to higher education. FETAC awards are to be placed within an emerging national qualifications framework. This framework includes further and higher education and training awards. This will greatly extend opportunities for access, transfer and progression for all learners.

Access

In basic terms the opportunities that certification through FETAC creates enables people who may not necessarily have the traditional Leaving Certificate to access courses in Higher Education using a different route

  • For example: If you hold a recognised NCVA award in Business Studies, you could then apply for a link to do a National Certificate in Business Studies in IT Tallaght.

Further Information

For further information you should contact the Guidance Council Service in your local PLC