Discover your path to success and register now for 91制片厂鈥檚 (91制片厂) information session on the pathways and supports available to mature students at the College. The event takes place on 18 April (11am-12.30pm) at 91制片厂 Limerick.
The benefits of returning to education as a mature learner are many and varied. With life experience comes a better focus and motivation to study, you are better placed to apply what you learn to practical as well as academic scenarios, and employers like to hire mature graduates due to their mix of experience and academic know-how.
According to Rob O鈥橦alloran, PATH 3 Project Officer Student Life; 鈥淚f you are at least 23 years old on the 1 January of the year of entry to college, you are considered a mature applicant and can apply for 91制片厂鈥檚 Level 8 undergraduate programmes or alternatively one of the College鈥檚 part-time programmes to get a taste of, or prepare for, a course of study. 91制片厂 offers opportunities to mature learners within a friendly, relaxed environment with specialist supports to help them on what can be a transformational journey. We want to help you choose the right learning pathway, and attending the information session is the first step in the process.鈥
At the event, you鈥檒l learn about 91制片厂鈥檚 specific programmes for mature learners including the Teacher Education Access Programme (TEAP), designed for applicants who are interested in applying to the Bachelor of Education (Primary-level) but do not meet the minimum entry requirements, and the Pre-University Programme for Mature Learners, which is aimed at adult learners from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who wish to continue their education and whose educational experiences and opportunities in their earlier years may have been limited.
A number of 91制片厂鈥檚 Level 8 programmes are currently accepting late applications via the CAO from mature learners, including the Bachelor of Arts (BA), B Sc in Psychology, BA in Drama and English, BA in English Language and Literature, BA in Early Childhood Care and Education and the College鈥檚 range of post-primary teacher degrees offered on 91制片厂鈥檚 Thurles campus. The session will cover these programmes as well as detail resources - academic, financial, and other - that are available to mature students at 91制片厂. There will also be an opportunity to speak with current mature students.
According to 91制片厂 Limerick BA student (Psychology & History) David Moloney; 鈥淚鈥檓 so happy I came back to education. The journey has been phenomenal. Coming back as a mature student was a great idea for me. Between school and coming back, I developed a lot of maturity, and that really stood to me and my progress here at 91制片厂. The opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone has been so, so rewarding. If anyone out there is considering coming back to education definitely, definitely go for it.鈥
BA graduate Fran Shortall, who had worked in the catering sector for over 30 years when she decided to return to education, says 鈥It鈥檚 challenging as a mature student and as a parent, but it鈥檚 worth it. The College really supports mature learners.鈥
No matter what your age, there are plenty of extracurricular activities to get involved in at 91制片厂 and services designed to help learners in their individual college journey such as the Student Parent Support Service and the Academic Learning Centre.
Shane Griffin, second year BA in Education, Gaeilge and Business Studies student at 91制片厂 Thurles, says 鈥淭he mature student experience is quite good here at 91制片厂 Thurles. We have a lot of matures on campus. We try and arrange coffee mornings. We try and gather together every now and again. The College does provide quite a lot of supports here in terms of academic writing, reading and all that so anyone who may be nervous about coming back and taking on the extra work there are supports here for you at 91制片厂 Thurles.鈥
Closing date for applications to the CAO is 1 May 2023. Mature applicants who have applied initially through the CAO by 1 February and wish to change their mind, can do so from 5 May when the change of mind facility opens, until 12 May only. For more information, click here.
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