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ATU Donegal is now accepting applications for the Certificate in Access Studies. This programme is the perfect course for people keen to kick-start their third level journey, particularly for those who may lack the confidence to take the first step on the education ladder.
The Certificate in Access Studies is geared towards adult learners, mature students, early school leavers and LCA students interested in progressing to third level study. It is essentially a bridging course to a university degree where learners on this programme will have an opportunity to get back into the swing of education by studying subjects such as Information Communications Technology, Learning Skills, Mathematics along with modules of your choosing such as Computing, Law, Science, Business, or Engineering.
This part-time course is designed for those who have to balance family and life commitments and/or part-time employment, but who would still like to dip their toe back into education. Students choose between attending the course in-person at our Letterkenny campus or through blended learning online, which gives all students flexibility with their learning.
To take away any obstacles or barriers to access third level education, ATU Donegal offer this programme free of charge. It is the ideal gateway programme that is designed to support adult learners with their transition into third level education. Students who successfully pass this course with an overall average of 50% or over will have the opportunity to progress to any course of their choice at ATU Donegal. Quotas will apply in some instances.
The Access Studies programme has been the foundation for many student success stories. Over the last twenty years, thousands of students have come through the Access Studies programme at ATU Donegal. The majority of these students then progressed into third level programmes of study at ATU Donegal and have gone on to achieve great success in their chosen careers.
Anna Marie Kelly, current 4th year student in Early Childhood Care, Health, and Education, chose to join ATU Donegal’s Access Studies when her son started playschool. She had always known that Early Childhood was the area for her, but never really got the chance to study it before 2018. The Access Studies course was the perfect stepping stone for her, which allowed the progression into the Higher Certificate and subsequentially on to the final two years of the BSc (Hons) in Early Childhood Care, Health and Education programme.
“Once I finished the Higher Cert, a lecturer asked if I thought about going on to the honours degree. Of course, the thought was very daunting, but now I am in my last semester of my honours degree, and I am looking forward to getting the last of the assignments in with the hope of graduating at the end of this year so that my son can be sitting down in the crowd and see that you’re never too old to go back to education.”
ATU Donegal is now accepting the final applications for the Certificate in Access Studies, with the closing date for applications, Friday, 27 January 2023 for a February start.
To find out more about the Certificate in Access Studies programme at ATU Donegal, visit www.atu.ie/access-studies or email Brian.mcgonagle@atu.ie
The future is here.
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