IT and Universities Courses:
The best pace to get information on courses is the CAO website
www.cao.ie . On the site there is a search option where you put in a keyword (eg sport) and the list of all the different courses will show up. College Courses start for Level 6 (2 year Certificate), Level 7 (3 year Degree), Level 8 (4 year Honours Degree). Then there are post graduate courses: Level 9 (Masters) and Level 10 (PHD, Doctorate).
Post Leaving Courses:
Typically run by local VECs, there are lots of one year Sport and Recreation Courses. These are FETAC qualifications and are at Level 5. They often allow access to IT Colleges, giving the equivalent of up to 400 Leaving Cert points. The best way to look for these is through VEC’s and directly with the school, eg Portlaoise College. There are also soccer specific courses in Pearse College (Crumlin, Colaiste Ide (Finglas), Colaiste Staiofain Naofa (Cork) and GTI (Galway)
FAI/FAS Courses:
There are seven of these around the country in Dublin (3-onel female only), Cork (2), Limerick and Castlebar. They students play football for a couple of hours each day and complete a FETAC Level 5 in Sport and Recreation. Apply directly through FAS. Information is also available on the FAI website
hereIT Carlow Course:
IT Carlow offer a Level 7 and Level 8 Soccer Course which allows students study for a degree in Business with Sport and Exercise and gain UEFA coaching qualifications as well as improving as a player. There is more information
hereScholarships:
All colleges offer scholarships of some sort. Some offer before the student enters the college and some offer after the student has entered. The best thing here is to contact the college/university the student is looking to go to.
Finally I would like to thank Mr.Ger Dunne for providing the above information.
Eamonn Brady
Youths Divisional Manager
CCFL
