PROGRESSION TO INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY, UNIVERSITIES & OTHER COLLEGES
FETAC Links Scheme
The diagram below illustrates the possible progression routes to Higher Level programmes as applies to those Institutes implementing the Pilot Scheme or Higher Education Links Schem (HELS).
FETAC – FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING AWARDS COUNCIL
HETAC – HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING AWARDS COUNCIL (applies to 3rd Level Institutions but not to Universities)
Institutes of Technology, some HEI’s (Higher Education Institutions) and private Third Level Colleges operate the Pilot Scheme for FETAC Award holders. Applicants must have obtained a full FETAC major Award. Programmes may have pre-requisite FETAC Certificate or component requirements as listed in individual HEI’s prospecti and on the CAO website (www.cao.ie). Application is through the CAO. A maximum of 400 points may be obtained from a FETAC Level 5 Award. Points are calculated on the best eight modules and allocated as follows:
Pass: 20 points Merit: 35 points Distinction: 50 points
Holders of Level 6 Award(s) can obtain up to 500 CAO points where scores are calculated at 1.25 of the above values. Applicants should contact the appropriate HEI directly for information on the admissions process.
THIS SITUATION MAY CHANGE.
Links to Nursing Courses
Learners are eligible for consideration for entry to Nursing programmes when they achieve the FETAC Level 5 Awards:
- DCHSN (Nursing Studies)
- DCHSX (Community & Health Services) or
- DHSXX (Health Care Support)
and obtain a Distinction in five modules in the FETAC Level 5 course, which must include a Distinction in:
- D20001 (Anatomy and Physiology)
- D20012 (Introduction to Nursing), and
- D20032 (Human Growth and Development) or C20006 (Biology).
- A reserved number of places are allocated to applicants presenting with FETAC qualifications.
- Places are allocated on a competitive basis.
- The best eight modules, at a single sitting, are considered for scoring purposes.
Higher Education Links
At this point in time, there are 40 higher education institutions including Universities, Institutes of Technology and private 3rd Level Colleges offering places to FETAC CAO applicants.
In addition to the Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS), which links specific FETAC Level 5 Certificates and some Level 6 Advanced Certificates to a number of reserved places on higher education programmes, the Institutes of Technology and some higher education institutions operate admissions criteria and scoring system for non-specific FETAC Levels 5 and 6 Certificate applicants.
FETAC’s information leaflet entitled Progression from FETAC Level 5 Certificates and Level 6 Advanced Certificates to Higher Education 2011 provides applicants with answers to some of the more frequently-asked questions about CAO application for FETAC Award holders through the Higher Education Links Scheme and the FETAC Pilot Progression Scheme. This leaflet may be downloaded from www.fetac.ie.
Note: Applicants are advised at all times to confirm linked Awards, any additional module requirements, application processes and scoring systems with the Admissions Offices of the participating higher education institutions, or visit www.cao.ie.
All information relating to linked programmes has been provided by the participating higher education institutions and every effort has been made to ensure that it is accurate and up to date.
Further information may be obtained from the CAO website (www.cao.ie) or the FETAC website (www.fetac.ie)
LIT Bonus Point Access Scheme
- City of Limerick VEC, Limerick College of Further Education and Limerick Institute of Technology are signatories to a Bonus Point Access Scheme agreement which extends progression routes for LCFE learners to LIT.
- This agreement awards bonus points to CAO applicants from LCFE who have achieved specified FETAC awards and who meet pre-requisites for entry to specific LIT programmes. The scheme guarantees a quota of reserved places in the specified programmes for qualifying applicants from LCFE.
- The scheme is a great example of how co-operation between Further Education and Higher Education colleges can enhance the prospects of learners accessing their course of choice at Higher Education.LCFE learners apply as normal to the CAO and the colleges liaise to apply the bonus points. The agreement is reviewed annually and additional programmes may be added, from time to time, to provide additional progression routes to LIT for LCFE learners.
LCFE Progression Agreement to Mary Immaculate College
- A bilateral agreement exists between LCFE and Mary Immaculate College, offering graduates of the college's four designated media programmes the opportunity to apply through the CAO for entry to the BA (Hons) in Liberal Arts (MI004).
- To gain entry to the Liberal Arts Programme, LCFE learners must gain a full award and four Distinctions from a prescribed list of modules.
- This agreement is subject to review on an annual basis.