Animal Healthcare - Advanced
| Award Name | Level 6 Advanced Certificate (Level 6 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | QQI |
| NFQ Level | Level 6 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 6 Advanced Certificate (Level 6 NFQ) | Major | QQI | Level 6 NFQ |
Duration
This is a Full-time One Year course which runs from Sept. to May, 5 days a week, Monday to Friday. Exact details of the timetable will be given out to students during the induction process prior to class commencement in September.
Entry Requirements
One of the following:
Level 5 QQI Award in Animal Care (5M2768).
For Mature Applicants (aged 21 or over) - appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college.
Applicants whose first language is not English require level B2 competency on the CEFR language framework. Applicants may be required to undergo English language testing to establish their language competency.
Careers / Further progression
Progression Opportunities
Although Level 6 is directed more at employment whereas Level 5 is the primary CAO route, Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme to a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 and Level 6 major awards. Places are not guaranteed and are subject to students meeting certain criteria. It is the students' responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process, especially if a student is looking for advanced entry into third level. Students may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie
Examples of CAO progression routes are listed below:
Progression Examples:
BSc Veterinary Nursing (AL731)
Entry into 1st Year
Athlone Institute of Technology - www.ait.ie
BSc Veterinary Nursing (DK784)
Entry into 1st Year on completion of Level 5 and Level 6
Dundalk Institute of Technology - www.dkit.ie
BSc Veterinary Nursing (LY847)
Advanced entry into 2nd Year on completion of Level 5 and Level 6
Letterkenny Institute of Technology - www.lyit.ie
Career Paths
Graduates may seek employment in veterinary clinics, dog grooming parlours, pet shops, catteries/ dog kennels, animal welfare organisations, agricultural, science industries, farms (including petting farms), zoos, wildlife parks, and self-employment (both in Ireland and abroad).
Further information
Courses commence in September 2023.
The following standard fees apply to all courses within DFEi
Non-Refundable course acceptance fee €40
Non-EU Nationals fee €3,653 with relevant visa
The following variable fees apply to all courses within DFEi.
Student Services fee to cover course ID card, materials, photocopying, equipment, licenses etc
Examination fee to cover professional examination certification
Other costs to cover books, field trip expenses or additional certification.
Exemptions may apply.
Sources of Funding
PLC Maintenance Grant Scheme
The Department of Education and Skills (DES) provides a means-tested maintenance grant scheme for those attending full-time further education. All applications for grants are made on-line through SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Refer to www.susi.ie.
VTOS (Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme)
This scheme applies to all courses within DFEi and is designed to assist unemployed people over 21 with an opportunity to return to full time education without losing benefits. Early application, directly to DFEi, for this funding is required, as there are a limited number of places. Refer to www.vtos.ie.
BTEA (Back to Education Allowance)
This scheme is run by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and allows people in receipt of certain social welfare payments to retain those payments whilst participating in full-time further education course. Refer to www.welfare.ie.
SOLAS Fund for Students with Disabilities
The Fund for Students with Disabilities allocates funding to further and higher education colleges for the provision of services and supports to full-time students with disabilities. Applications to the fund are made on behalf of an eligible student by DFEi. Submissions should be made to the Guidance and Disability Officer in DFEi.
Other Funding Sources
Students are advised to check Local Partnerships including Southside, Bray, Northside and Wicklow Working Together for any funding that maybe available.
Admissions for the academic year 2023/2024 are now open
Applications are only accepted online
Five Step Admissions Process 2023/2024
Step 1 - Apply online. No application fee charged.
Step 2 - Offer: You will be notified by DFEi with an offer of a course place. Please check your junk mail.
Step 3 - Acceptance: To secure your place, you must submit additional data required through your individual online account and pay your €40 non-refundable acceptance fee (only payable online). Failure to complete this process will result in you not securing your place on the course.
Step 4 - Registration: This is done through your online account. This involves paying all of your course fees in full and uploading all of the relevant documentation below on or before Friday 25th August 2023
Step 5 - Induction and Commencement: Induction is provided before course commencement. You will be notified in due course of the relevant dates.
No application fee.
Overview
This one year course is designed as a follow on from the QQI Level 5 Animal Healthcare course and is tailor-made to students who wish to progress in the animal area into a working life with animals. This course caters for experience with pet and farm animals. The farm animal aspect of the course is taught in DFEi but also on-site on a working farm in Dundrum.
Students also complete a one-week placement at an agricultural college in Tipperary to gain large animal farm experience. This is to ensure that students leave with practical hands-on experience with these species and will have the versatility to gain employment in either equine or farm animal businesses.
Students gain a much greater understanding of the small animal industry in Ireland, including dog behaviour and advanced grooming. This means that students are ready for employment or equipped to set up their own animal enterprise. Although Level 6 courses are directed more at employment/setting up your own business etc.
Higher education opportunities are also options for students who complete and achieve full certification through the CAO, in a variety of third level Institutes, with studies in wild animal management, marine biology, zoology, agriculture and associated areas. It is important that the students consult with the individual third-level college websites for more information on admissions processes, or may refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website at www.cao.ie
Special Features
Technology Enhanced Learning with iPads
Utilising technology to deliver course work and enhance teaching and learning is particularly important for scientific subjects. DFEI's Animal Healthcare department has been successfully using iPads since 2015 to help their students gain a fuller understanding of their subject matter through the multimedia features of the iPad. This innovative practice has proved to be very effective and is now a central aspect of the learning experience for all Animal Healthcare students in DFEi.
All DFEi students are provided with an M365 account, which gives them access to the tools and resources needed to deliver assessment work while attending their course. M365 Apps include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, outlook and OneDrive.
Work Experience
Students will be required to undertake a period work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year. Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 6 courses. Students are required to source their own work placement but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher. Students as part of this programme must complete six weeks' work placement: five weeks' in a veterinary practice and one weeks' compulsory residential course in an agricultural college (to gain large farm animal experience). Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.
Animal Science and Health
Large Animal Husbandry
Wild Animal Management
Animal Grooming
Canine Obedience and Training
Work Experience
Customer Service
Kennel and Cattery Management
Horse Conformation and Evaluation
Humans, Animals and Society
Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:
Student Record
Portfolio/Collection of Work
Assignments
Examinations - Written or Practical
Project
A full major award is granted on passing the relevant eight components. On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details
6M5153 - Animal Science.
Certification: Level 6 QQI Award Animal Science (6M5153).
Tel: 01 280 9676
Email: info@dfei.ie
www.dfei.ie