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Animal Care & Management - Pre-University

PLC Post Leaving Cert
5M2768 HI

This one-year course is one of the few courses of its kind in Ireland. It offers a broad range of subjects relating to animal care and husbandry.

Award Name Certificate at UK Level 3
NFQ Classification
Awarding Body City and Guilds
NFQ Level
Award Name Level 5 Certificate (Level 5 NFQ)
NFQ Classification Major
Awarding Body QQI
NFQ Level Level 5 NFQ
Award Name NFQ Classification Awarding Body NFQ Level
Certificate at UK Level 3 City and Guilds
Level 5 Certificate (Level 5 NFQ) Major QQI Level 5 NFQ
Alternate Provider:
Location:
Bray
Attendance Options:
Full time, Daytime
Apply to:
Course provider

Duration

1 year

Entry Requirements

One of the following:
• Leaving Certificate with a minimum of 2 H5’s, one of which must be Biology. Extenuating circumstances may be considered.

• Mature Applicants – experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications

Learners are required to source their own work experience.

Careers / Further progression

Career Opportunities
• Veterinary Clinics
• Animal Sanctuaries
• Dog Grooming
• Pet Shops
• Cattery/Dog Kennels
• Self-Employment

Higher Education Progression*
Examples of potential courses include:
• BIFE:
Animal Science - QQI Level 6 (6M5153)

• UCD:
Veterinary Nursing (DN310)
Animal Science-Equine-Agricultural Science (DN250)
• Dundalk IT:
Veterinary Nursing (DK784)
• TUS - Technological University of the Shannon (Athlone Campus):
Veterinary Nursing (AL731)
BSc (Hons) in Bio Veterinary Science (AL842)
• ATU - Atlantic Technological University (Letterkenny Campus):
Veterinary Nursing (LY847)
• UL:
Equine Science (LM093)
• Universities in Great Britain & Northern Ireland

*Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria. Please consult the individual college websites for more information on application. Information available also at www.cao.ie

QQI FET Links to CAO Courses

Course Web Page

Further information

Course commences in September 2024.

Enrolment Procedure

Step 1:
Applicants must apply online at www.bife.ie.

Step 2:
In some cases, applicants may be invited to attend for interview at the Institute. Applicants will be selected on suitability and a first come/first served basis. You should bring the following to the interview:
• A copy of Leaving Certificate results (if applicable)
• A brief Curriculum Vitae
• A Portfolio of Work (where necessary)
• References (where necessary)

Step 3:
Successful applicants will be offered a place by post, subject to them achieving the basic entry requirements laid out in the prospectus/website and must secure their place by paying an acceptance fee of €50. All fees must be paid by Friday 30th August 2024. The €50 acceptance fee is non refundable. All other fees will be refunded if the applicant subsequently decides not to take their place before Friday 27th September 2024. Failure to pay the relevant fees may result in a lapse of your offer. All candidates who accept an offer agree to abide by the policies and procedures of the Institute.

Step 4:
All learners must register at the Institute or on-line by the designated registration date.

International Applicants
The Institute welcomes applications from International Learners. Non EA applicants (applicants outside the European Area, i.e. outside EU & Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) must comply with Irish immigration requirements. Such applicants will have to secure a visa from the Immigration Section of the Department of Justice. As all courses are delivered in English, International students will be required to provide a certified qualification of proficiency in English where English is not the applicants first language.

Non-EU students will be required to pay the economic cost of the course as determined by the Department of Education.

International applicants should apply directly to the Institute office for further information.

Mature students are welcome to apply. Formal academic qualifications not required.

Fees
Courses at Bray Institute of Further Education are funded largely by the European Social Fund. Tuition costs are covered for Irish or EU citizens undertaking PLC courses. There is no application fee, however all learners are required to pay the following:

• An Acceptance Fee of €50, to be paid when offered a place on a course.
• A Resource contribution fee of €150 for learner services*, paid annually.

There is also a cost of registration with professional bodies for a small number of courses such as Accounting Technicians Ireland (ATI).

*Resource fees are used as a general fund to provide learner resources for PLC courses including library services

Maintenance Grant
Learners on full-time approved courses at the Institute are entitled to apply for Maintenance Grants. The Grant is means tested. Learners should apply to SUSI, the online grant application system, through www.studentfinance.ie.
Learners in receipt of the maintenance grant must pay all the usual costs of the course.

Back to Education Initiative & VTOS
The Department of Social Welfare and The Department of Education and Skills administer these two schemes. In 2024, these schemes will become fully integrated into the college. These schemes offer unemployed adults an opportunity to return to full-time education while retaining their full social welfare entitlements and in some cases to receive extra benefits. Payments from DEASP normally establish eligibility. Previous educational level can also contribute.
To check your eligibility log onto www.studentfinance.ie or talk to the VTOS Co-ordinator. Some extra benefits may apply.

Yes

You can only apply online on the BIFE website by clicking on the "Apply Now 2024/2025" button at the top of any page on the college website Or
Click on the Application Weblink above.

Applications usually begin in mid December of the proceeding year of application. Early applications are always advisable to avoid classes filling up and increase your chances of getting a position.

The learner studies for the QQI Animal Care award and a City & Guilds Certificate in Animal Management. These awards will enable learners to pursue a career in the animal care industry both at home and abroad. Work Experience is an integral part of this course providing practical, hands-on experience which will lead to a range of training and career prospects.

Programme of Study
QQI
• Animal Anatomy & Physiology
• Biology
• Animal Welfare
• Work Experience
• Communications
• Animal Grooming
• Information and Communication Systems
• Veterinary Assisting Skills
• Mathematics

Components subject to change

5M2768 - Animal Care (level 5)

Certification:
QQI Level 5 Award in Applied Science – Animal Care (5M2768).

City & Guilds Certificate Level 5 equivalence on the NFQ in Animal
Management (0074-03)

Head of Department:
Paul Shortall

Course Co-ordinator:
Evelyn Dixon

Bray Institute of Further Education,
Tel: 01 282 9668
Email: bifeenquiries@kwetb.ie
Web: www.bife.ie

Alternate Provider:
Location:
Bray
Attendance Options:
Full time, Daytime
Apply to:
Course provider