Postgraduate Skills Provision Courses

Eligibility criteria for returners, the employed, formerly self-employed and recent graduates for the Postgraduate Skills Provision Courses is below.

Note: All applicants must meet the academic entry requirements for their chosen course.

The Employed 

Applicants who are employed will need to meet the residency requirements, i.e. that the applicant has been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to the programme. 

This category of applicant will also be required to provide a copy of their most recent ‘Employment Detail Summary’ or other relevant revenue documentation. 

Applicants will be required to pay 10% of the course fee. 

Unemployed

People in receipt of PUP or a jobseekers payment can participate on approved  July Stimulus part time postgraduate courses.  However, participants must remain available for employment while attending the course. 

Formerly Self-employed 

To be eligible those who are formerly self-employed must provide a letter/statement from Revenue confirming that the applicant is no longer trading or a similar letter from the applicants (former) accountant should be sufficient. 

Alternatively, a participant can swear a declaration stating that they are no longer self-employed. Applicants will be required to pay 10% of the course fee. 

Returners 

Returners are those who are not in receipt of a payment from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection but who have been out of the work environment for a number of years due to childcare or other caring obligations. They have a previous history of employment but may require upskilling, reskilling or cross-skilling to transition back to the workforce. 

To be eligible the applicant must have been: 

• A Homemaker or on other caring duties for a minimum period of 9 of the previous 12 months prior to their application 
• Ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to the programme 
• In addition, the applicant will need to provide supporting documentation to confirm their status as a Homemaker. 
• Applicants must swear a declaration before a Commissioner for attesting to their status. 

It should be noted that acceptance on to a postgraduate course does not confer any entitlement to DEASP payments or childcare supports. Returners will not pay any course fees. 

Recent graduates 

Full and Part time Postgraduate courses are open to recent graduates. However, to participate in these courses, 2020 graduates will be required to pay 10% of the course fee. 

Eligible participants must have at least a level 8 qualification or equivalent prior to acceptance onto a course. 

Modular Skills Provision Courses

Eligible participants for the Modular Skills Provision Courses will include the unemployed, returners, those in employment and formerly self-employed. 

Eligibility and other requirements in respect of modular skills courses will align with Springboard+ eligibility criteria.