This two-year professional programme enables you to develop the knowledge, skills and competence to work as autonomous practitioners, subject to practice supervision, promoting and supporting the holistic needs of children 0-6 years and facilitates suitable adults in acquiring the qualifications necessary for employment in the childcare sector and as Classroom Assistants or Special Needs Assistants.

The programme is designed to meet the professional award standards for early learning and care at NFQ level 5. The programme comprises six mandatory modules which equips the learner with the vocational skills and knowledge to work at entry level across a range of early learning and care settings or to progress to stage 2 of the Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care or to a relevant higher Level 5 Certificate in Early Learning and Care education programme. The focus is on providing for the holistic well-being, development and learning needs of children from 0 to six years across a range of ELC settings. The programme offers a balance of theory and practice, and professional practice placement is integral to the teaching and learning.

Are you interested in pursuing a career in childcare and early years services? Throughout this Early Learning and Care course, you’ll gain valuable knowledge, practical skills, and hands-on experience that will prepare you to work with children aged 0-6 and promote their holistic development. This award also opens up opportunities for you to progress to the Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care and further and Higher education and training.

This award also provides the learner with the opportunity to transfer and progress into further and higher education and training, and to Stage Two of the Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care.

The overall aim of the two-stage programme is to enable learners to develop the knowledge, skills, and competence to work as autonomous practitioners, subject to practice supervision, promoting and supporting the holistic needs of children from 0 to six years, and/or to take responsibility for a room or area in an ELC setting. This award also provides the learner with the opportunity to transfer and progress into further and higher education and training.

The current qualification requirement for room leaders is Level 6 (DCEDIY, register of recognised Early Years qualifications.) Qualifications for different roles in ELC may be subject to change in line with evolving national policy.

The Early Learning Care with Special Needs Assisting course equips the learner with the knowledge, experience and practical skills necessary to work in a range of childcare and early years services, promoting and supporting the holistic needs of children 0-6 years. This award also provides the learner with the opportunity to progress into the Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care and into higher education and training.

This Advanced Certificate course supports learners gain knowledge and practical skills to be successful in a career in a variety of Early Years settings. Additionally, this programme includes modules for Special Needs Assisting.

The course provides opportunities to work as a Special Needs Assistant or personal carer in a variety of Early Childhood Care and Education settings including: Full Day Care, Pre-School, Primary and Secondary schools.

This one-year program provides students with the contemporary knowledge and practical skills required to work professionally with babies and young children. The curriculum is designed to meet modern employer expectations, covering essential aspects of childhood education and development. This hands-on experience in settings such as crèches, Montessori groups, and Forest pre-schools ensures students can apply theoretical learning to real-world childcare environments

This four-year degree will expose you to interdisciplinary perspectives from the Schools of Applied Psychology, Applied Social Studies and Education. The curriculum emphasises academic theory, research skills, and professional and reflective practice. It includes a broad range of perspectives on childhood, the child in society, child development, early years care and education, and child health. 

Earth and Ocean Sciences involve the study of the physical and chemical processes that affect planet Earth and its oceans. In this field, you will study topical subjects, such as climate change, natural resources and the management and conservation of our oceans. Four sub-disciplines are involved: geology, geophysics, hydrogeology and oceanography, which, in different ways, look at various workings of our planet, from the atmosphere to the seabed.

This course will provide students with knowledge and skills to address environmental challenges effectively by applying theory to real-world issues. There will be a strong hands-on and practical emphasis in the course and students will be introduced to important aspects of environmental protection and sustainable development.

A highly practical course focused on the key skills and knowledge needed to carry out a range of ecological field survey methods. Learners will be able to demonstrate strategies and practices to help foster a more environmentally-friendly society.

This unique course will be delivered at Killarney National Park Education Centre, in the heart of Ireland’s premier National Park.

As an established field studies centre run by Kerry ETB and The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Education Centre will provide an ideal location for the Level 5 Ecology course.

Many of the practical elements of the course will either be delivered in the variety of habitats of the National Park or close by on the peninsulas of Iveragh, Dingle and Beara or in the Burren.

Some aspects of the course such as Team Building & Mountain Skills will be delivered at Cappanalea, the National Outdoor Education & Training Centre. The team delivering the course are all experienced ecologists and field-studies tutors. Both Centres are fully equipped with first-class facilities and professional equipment.

This module will equip the learner with the knowledge, skill and competence to assist in the management of the natural environment.

As a BSc Economics student, you will learn to take a scientific evidence-based approach to understand, critique and create policies to combat economic and social problems. Employers in all sectors from government to financial services have a growing need for economists who can analyse and interpret data. This requires a strong grounding in analytical and quantitative methods. With an emphasis on independent research, this programme is designed to allow you to flourish based on your individual curiosity and strengths.

Economics explores how and why people make decisions and choose between alternative ways of spending their money and using their time, energy and skills. That is why Economics can help to shed light on decision-making in areas from love and marriage, to sports and crime.

If you are interested in people’s behaviour and in current affairs, and if you enjoy problem-solving and are naturally analytical with good numeracy skills, then Economics will appeal to you.

BSc Hons Economics focuses on the aspects of economics that relate to the practical application of Economics today, in finance, policy making, management, organisational behaviour and consumer decisions.

This programme aims to provide students with the ability to apply economic principles and models to a wide range of issues as well as understanding the larger driving forces which shape economic and public policy.

You will develop problem solving skills and become more adept in numeracy, IT and the use of statistical methods.

A BSc in Economics degree equips students with analytical and cognitive skills to understand how economies function (macroeconomics) and how individuals make decisions (microeconomics).