Expand+Grade 06 at ordinary level in five subjects in the Leaving Certificate examination. Two of these subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish).

Note: An FL2 in Foundation Level Mathematics will be accepted as meeting the minimum ...

Hide-Grade 06 at ordinary level in five subjects in the Leaving Certificate examination. Two of these subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish).

Note: An FL2 in Foundation Level Mathematics will be accepted as meeting the minimum Mathematics requirements for entry to this course.

Mature applicants are not required to meet the minimum entry requirements. However, an interview may form part of the selection process.

Foundation Level Subject
Foundation Level Irish at grade FL2 meets the minimum language requirement. No points are awarded.

Foundation Level Mathematics at minimum grade FL2 will be accepted as meeting the minimum Mathematics requirements for entry to the following courses:

AL765 Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care
AL860 Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Care Practice
AL763 Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design
AL764 Bachelor of Arts in Early Years Care and Education
AL861 Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Animation & Illustration

Scoring System for Foundation Level Mathematics

Grade FL1 Points 20
Grade FL2 Points 12

Maths Bonus Points
25 bonus points will be awarded for higher level mathematics for H6 grades and above. For example, if an applicant receives a H6 grade an additional 25 points will be added to the 46 points already awarded for a H6 grade i.e. higher level mathematics now carries a points score of 71 for this applicant. Click here to view a more detailed description of the Bonus Points Scheme for Higher Level Leaving Certificate Mathematics, with some examples.

National Vetting Bureau
All students on this programme will undertake National Vetting Bureau procedures prior to commencing their work placement. Failure to disclose previous convictions will result in students being dismissed from the programme. Previous convictions, depending on their nature, could result in student dismissal from the programme.

Expand+Candidates should also note that for high demand courses at AIT, there is a limit to the number of places reserved for QQI applicants. Random selection may apply in certain circumstances.

For further information see www.ait.ie/fetac.

For entry ...

Hide-Candidates should also note that for high demand courses at AIT, there is a limit to the number of places reserved for QQI applicants. Random selection may apply in certain circumstances.

For further information see www.ait.ie/fetac.

For entry to year 1 programmes at AIT, all QQI level 5 and QQI level 6 awards will be scored to deliver a maximum of 390 CAO points.

A QQI Component Certificate/Record of Achievement is not sufficient to gain entry to courses at AIT; candidates must have achieved a full QQI Certificate (Major Award). A major award may be accumulated over more than one academic year. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the applicant to apply to QQI for a major award where courses are taken over more than one year.

Due to the competitive nature of both General and Psychiatric Nursing, scores will only be calculated when the appropriate award is presented in a single sitting, together with all the required modules and grades.

For programmes having a specific QQI quota (i.e. General Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Heath Science with Nutrition, Sports Science with Exercise Physiology, Athletic and Rehabilitation Therapy, Dental Nursing, Pharmacy Technician, Veterinary Nursing, Early Years Care and Education, Social Care Practice, Applied Social Studies), the QQI results are considered in Round 0 (early August). Your QQI scores will not normally be considered after Round 0 where a quota applies.

For programmes where no specific quota applies, QQI scores are included in the order of merit list of all applicants presenting school leaving examinations, and initial offers are issued in Round 1. QQI results will not be added to Leaving Certificate results. If you have taken both exams, the exam in which you have achieved the highest points will be used for non-quota places.

Graduates of QQI Level 6 awards intending to apply for a place at AIT should contact the institute in advance for more information in relation to the exemptions available to award holders.

Expand+Mature Applicants
The institute considers applicants who are 23 years or over on 1 January in the year of entry to be mature applicants. Such applicants may not be required to have the minimum entry requirements. However, the institute will look for...

Hide-Mature Applicants
The institute considers applicants who are 23 years or over on 1 January in the year of entry to be mature applicants. Such applicants may not be required to have the minimum entry requirements. However, the institute will look for satisfactory evidence of the applicant’s ability to pursue and benefit from the course. Knowledge and skills gained through experiential learning will be taken into account, having regard to the course for which the mature applicant has applied. Such applicants should apply through the CAO system, and may be required to attend for interview at AIT as part of the selection process.

Expand+Trade Qualifications
A trade applicant, seeking admission to the first year of a course, should do so through the CAO. Such application may be on the basis of National Craft Certificate, Senior Trades or Advanced Tourism Certification Board (NTCB)/...

Hide-Trade Qualifications
A trade applicant, seeking admission to the first year of a course, should do so through the CAO. Such application may be on the basis of National Craft Certificate, Senior Trades or Advanced Tourism Certification Board (NTCB)/QQI qualifications, instead of, or in addition to, Leaving Certificate results. AIT welcomes applications from such candidates.
Possession of these awards at advanced level normally qualifies an applicant for entry to the institute.

Other Qualifications
Applicants with qualifications other than those listed above (including EU and overseas qualifications) should apply in the normal way, giving full details of their qualifications/application category on their application.

Certification of Examinations Results and/or Work Experience
Where an application is being made on the basis of qualifications other than an Irish Leaving Certificate, and/or experience, the relevant certificates showing dates, subjects and results of examinations, as well as duration and details of employment/experience, must accompany the application to CAO. Where the relevant certificates are not available at the time of application, these must be submitted as soon as they are available. English translations of qualifications not issued in English must be supplied. Applications will not be considered without the appropriate certificates.

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+AIT offers a three-year Level 7 Ordinary Degree in Early Years’ Care and Education and a one-year add-on Level 8 BA (Hons) in Early Years’ Care and Education.

The aim of the level 7 degree programme is to equip students with the theory and hands-...

Hide-AIT offers a three-year Level 7 Ordinary Degree in Early Years’ Care and Education and a one-year add-on Level 8 BA (Hons) in Early Years’ Care and Education.

The aim of the level 7 degree programme is to equip students with the theory and hands-on experience and practical skills required to provide quality supports for children’s development (0-6 years). You will experience the variety of the early years’ sector through placements in different childcare settings, thus providing the opportunity to link classroom learning with work-based practice. The programme takes account of wider policy developments, which highlight the importance of both care and education for pre-school children. It promotes a child-centred and holistic approach and understanding of how young children develop, play and learn in diverse early years’ settings. You will gain an insight into their physical, social, emotional, cognitive and educational needs. You will learn to plan and evaluate curriculum in the early years’ environment. You will also understand the influence of the family and society on child development and an appreciation of the value and ways of working with parents, and of inter-professional collaboration.

Expand+What will I study?
You will cover the following core areas: child development; education and play; social environment; health, hygiene, nutrition and safety, personal professional development and communication, management and administration.

Ye...

Hide-What will I study?
You will cover the following core areas: child development; education and play; social environment; health, hygiene, nutrition and safety, personal professional development and communication, management and administration.

Year 1
Learning & Development for HE, Sociology for Early Years, Principles and Practices in the Early Years’ Setting, An Introduction to Curriculum in the Early Years, Foundations of Child Development, Creative Skills in Art and Drama in the Early Years, Personal Development and Leadership, Promoting Health and Wellbeing in the Early Years.

Year 2
Creative Skills and Play in the Early Years’ Setting, Social and Emotional Development of the Child, Early Childhood Law 1, Models of Education: Applying High Scope and Montessori in the Early Years’ Environment, Play and Physical Skills in the Early Years Setting, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in the Early Years’ Setting, The Political Context of Childhood, Language and Cognitive Development, Applied Curriculum in the Early Years’: A Dialogic Approach, Practice Placement.

Year 3
Pedagogical Approaches, Early Years’ Social Policy, Business Management in the Early Years’ Setting, Second Language Acquisition, Children’s Rights – A political perspective, Introduction to Research Methods, Inclusion in the Early Years’ Setting, Early Childhood Law 2, Practice Placement.

Expand+Progression
As a graduate of the Level 7 programme, students will be eligible to progress to the Level 8 BA (Hons) in Early Years’ Care and Education. Subsequently, graduates will also be eligible to join postgraduate programmes such as the MA in C...

Hide-Progression
As a graduate of the Level 7 programme, students will be eligible to progress to the Level 8 BA (Hons) in Early Years’ Care and Education. Subsequently, graduates will also be eligible to join postgraduate programmes such as the MA in Child and Youth Studies at AIT. Full details of all postgraduate programmes at AIT are contained in the postgraduate prospectus.

Career Opportunities
As a graduate with a Level 7 ordinary degree, you will be qualified to be a practitioner and leader in a wide variety of early years’ settings including: crèche; sessional preschools; naíonraí (with Irish language); parent and toddler groups; and ECCE services and after-schools. This role may include such responsibilities as the development and evaluation of programmes of care and education which support learning and development; to work as part of a team to develop quality improvement strategies to enhance the quality of experience for all children and staff. Students may progress to leadership and managerial positions.