A full career guidance service is available to all students to enable them to make informed subject choices and career decisions. Every year, a high proportion of students continue their studies in FETAC courses and at third level. Information for 6th year students and parents on CAO events and Career Events (Open Days) - Important dates for college applications can be found below.
What is Guidance & Counselling?
Guidance is a service provided in schools by guidance counsellors in the areas of Career Guidance, Educational Guidance and Personal Guidance (or Counselling).
Personal Guidance
Guidance counsellors are specially trained in counselling. We can help you see problems from a different perspective. You can talk to us about any personal difficulties that you might have at home, with friends, with your parents, at school or socially. We guarantee you that we will not disclose anything you tell us in confidence to anyone else, unless you are doing something illegal, or dangerous, or something that could be harmful to yourself or to others.
Career Guidance
This includes helping you choose the right career, college course or training course. Note the word 'helping' is underlined, we do not make career decisions for you!!
Educational Guidance
This covers advice and help on things like choosing subjects, choosing higher or ordinary level in the Leaving Certificate, difficulties with studying and with exam preparation.
For CAO information click here
Career Guidance News 2018
Grants and Finance
The Irish League of Credit Unions reports that nine out of ten parents support their child through third-level education, contributing an average of €428 a month. When tuition and registration fees are added into the mix, the average cost of going to college in Ireland is reported to be almost €10,000 a year. The latest Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) Cost of Living Survey found that the average cost for students living away from home is Dublin is €11,766 per year.
Every year around 20% of students drop out of college, often due to financial pressure, yet, only one-third of students are eligible for the full SUSIstudent grant.
It is well worth taking a look at the other opportunities available to supplement costs in some way. In this area, you will find useful information onStudent Finance, Disability and Financial Support, and Scholarships and Award Schemes.
The list of scholarships and other awards that are offered by colleges and universities in Ireland.
https://careersportal.ie/parents/index.php?ed_sub_cat_id=56&menu_parent_id=16&parent=16#.Ws9hAfaG_IU
CareersPortal.ie - Parents - Scholarships & Award Schemes
Careers rarely develop the way we plan them. Our career path often takes many twists and turns, with particular events, choices and people influencing our direction.
Latest News April 2018
Student finance - SUSI
SUSI is now open for applications for the 2018-19 academic year.
Student Universal Support Ireland [SUSI] : SUSI
Student Universal Support Ireland [SUSI] is Ireland’s national awarding authority for all higher and further education grants. Applications for student grant funding can be made from early April to early November for an academic year.
DCU - Open Day Saturday 1st May 2018
Useful Links
www.headstrong.ie website exploring issues of mental health
www.spunout.ie magazine exploring health and media
www.sosadireland.ie website raising awareness of suicide in Ireland
www.loveforlife.org.uk Website for young people in making informed healthy choices about themselves, relationships, sex
www.outcomers.org Dundalk Outcomers is a social and befriending support group for gay, lesbian and bi-sexual people.
www.mentalhealthireland.ie Website supporting positive mental health
www.samaritans.org Samaritans provides 24-hour emotional support to anyone experiencing distress, despair or suicidal thought.
www.barnardos.ie/what-we-do/specialist-services/bereavement-counselling.html Barnardos Bereavement Counselling for Children is a service for children and young people who have lost someone close to them - like a parent or a sibling - through death.
www.rainbowsireland.com a registered charity, is a peer-support programme to assist children, youth and adults who are grieving a death, separation or other painful transition in their family.
www.youngminds.org.uk YoungMinds is the UK's only national charity committed to improving the mental health and emotional well-being of all children and young people.
www.bodywhys.ie Website on eating disorders
www.wellwomancentre.ie Website on healthcare services for both men and women
www.canteen.ie CanTeen Ireland is a nation-wide support group for young people who have or have had cancer, and for their brothers, sisters and friends.
www.womensaid.org.uk Website on domestic violence
www.qualifax.ie Irish national database of all 3rd & further education courses
www.cao.ie List of all CAO courses & links to all HEI colleges
www.careersportal.ie Irish website with lots of links & information on skills shortages
www.studentfinance.ie Information on financial supports available for higher & further education
www.ucas.com Application to UK 3rd level colleges _ contains links to colleges and assistance for course searching
www.citizensinformation.ie Advice on 3rd level education including fees
www.ofi.ie Information on PLC courses
www.dife.info Information on PLC courses
www.qqi.ie Information on QQI links scheme
www.gov.uk/student-finance/overviewInformation on UK University fees
www.careerdirections.ie FAS career guidance website
www.nqai.ie National Qualifications Authority of Ireland
www.susi.ie comprehensive source of information about student grants Ireland
www.accesscollege.ie Irish Higher Education and Government are committed to the objective of promoting 'equality of access to higher education, irrespective of social class, age or disability'.
www.examinations.ie Examinations Papers and Marking Schemes