Expand+Minimum Entry Requirements
Minimum Five O6/H7
Maths F2/O6/H7
English or Irish O6/H7

Special requirements

Garda Vetting: Everyone who joins this course will have to be vetted by the Garda (police). If the Garda raise an issue it will ha...

Hide-Minimum Entry Requirements
Minimum Five O6/H7
Maths F2/O6/H7
English or Irish O6/H7

Special requirements

Garda Vetting: Everyone who joins this course will have to be vetted by the Garda (police). If the Garda raise an issue it will have to be addressed satisfactorily. If it is not, you will not be able fulfil your course requirements, in which case you will be asked to leave the course. Specific placements will require additional individual vetting immediately prior to placement.

Please note that all courses requiring Garda vetting will only have places for non-EU candidates if there are not enough qualified EU candidates available to fill the course.

Mandatory training: as outlined by course schedule. This is required by students going on placement.

Work Placement: Students may be required to complete a medical self-assessment declaration form and be subject to a medical assessment/screening and vaccination programme for placements in specific areas.

Expand+Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20th January 2018 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1st February 2018 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1st May 2...

Hide-Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20th January 2018 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1st February 2018 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1st May 2018 at 5:15 pm

Change of Mind - restrictions apply: Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1st July 2018 5:15 pm

Exceptional online late application - see page 14 of the 2018 CAO Handbook: Fee €60 Closing Date: 22nd July 2018 at 5:15pm

You should avoid submitting an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all fees are non-refundable.

LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5:15pm on 1st February 2018 and will be accepted up to 5:15pm on 1st May 2018, subject to the restricitions listed on page 3 of the 2018 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5th March 2018 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.

Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the Timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22nd of July at 5:15pm applies only to applicants who are currently undergraduate students in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system.

If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.

Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.

Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, Maynooth University and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.

Refer to page 15 of the 2018 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.

Restricted-category Applicants
Mature applicants – most HEIs will require mature applicants, who wish to be assessed on mature grounds, to have applied to CAO by 1st February 2018 at 5:15pm. (This restriction does not apply if the applicant wishes to be considered on the basis of school leaving qualifications only.) For more information about applying to CAO on the basis of mature years go to www.cao.ie/mature.

Applying for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes – to be considered for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes applicants must have registered on the CAO system by 1st February 2018 at 5:15pm and must have completed the HEAR/DARE application form by 1st March 2018 at 5:15pm – supporting documents must be sent to CAO offices before 1st April 2018 at 5:15pm.

Expand+Is this course for you?
Do you enjoy caring for infants and young children? Would you like a career where you are responsible for the health, education and care of young kids? If so, then look no further than this course. It will give you the knowl...

Hide-Is this course for you?
Do you enjoy caring for infants and young children? Would you like a career where you are responsible for the health, education and care of young kids? If so, then look no further than this course. It will give you the knowledge and skills that are essential to build your career in this fun, exciting and rewarding area. You will enjoy a mix of academic and practical learning including the developing child, children’s behaviour, curriculum studies, creativity and imagination, child protection, child health and practical methods of engaging children through play. Placement is an integral part of the course and students will undertake placement in childcare settings located within the County of Donegal.

Expand+What will I study?

Year 1
Semester 1
Introduction to Psychology & Sociology M 10
Professional Scholarship M 5
Introduction to Irish Law M 5
Education & Play M 10

Semester 2
Curriculum Studies M 5
Child Protection and Safeguarding Vulnera...

Hide-What will I study?

Year 1
Semester 1
Introduction to Psychology & Sociology M 10
Professional Scholarship M 5
Introduction to Irish Law M 5
Education & Play M 10

Semester 2
Curriculum Studies M 5
Child Protection and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults M 10
Early Years Environment M 10
Understanding Children's Behaviour M 5

Year 2
Semester 1
Creativity in the Early Years M 5
Child Health & Disability M 10
Children & Families Support M 5
Curriculum, Pedagogy, & Assessment M 10

Semester 2
Practice Placement 1 M 30

M = Mandatory

Expand+Career opportunities
Successful graduates find themselves working in the following sectors:

• Childcare
• Health Services
• Education
• Other Public Services

Graduate careers typically include:
• Child-carer in facilities such as crèches, ...

Hide-Career opportunities
Successful graduates find themselves working in the following sectors:

• Childcare
• Health Services
• Education
• Other Public Services

Graduate careers typically include:
• Child-carer in facilities such as crèches, nurseries, playgroups, pre-schools, homework clubs • Health Services – special needs services, family support services and community services • Classroom Assistant • Specialist Advisor • Researcher

Follow-on courses
• Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Early Childhood Care, Health & Education (Year 3)