As the world changes, so too must education. That’s the central philosophy behind the development of Ireland’s new Tertiary Degrees – providing diverse and progressive pathways from Further Education to Higher Education, outside of the traditional Leaving Certificate points-based system.

Through the tertiary education system, talented students can now embrace their full potential, without letting points get in the way of their career goals. As part of the Tertiary Degrees – developed by the National Tertiary Office – students kick off their journey in a local Education and Training Board (ETB) campus, before progressing on seamlessly to a Higher Education Institution, often in their second or third year of study.

The first part of the programme, at the ETB level, requires no tuition or student contribution fees. Students can also apply for the SUSI Higher Education grant throughout the Tertiary Degree – including while they’re studying at their ETB campus. In addition, students get to avail of the facilities, and the various supports, of both campuses.

Although the entry process is different from courses on the traditional points system, Tertiary Degree students ultimately graduate from their Higher Education Institution with the same Level 7 or Level 8 NFQ degree as everyone else.

Demo from Immersive Media Production students

Evian Holt is a current Tertiary Degree student, studying for a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Immersive Media Production. He began his studies in Bray Institute of Further Education (Kildare Wicklow ETB), before continuing on to the Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Dun Laoghaire.

“I chose this Tertiary Degree because of its close proximity to my house, and the lack of fees,” he explains. “I enjoy the collaboration between the two colleges. You get to go in everyday, and get to know everybody – it’s a close-knit group.”

A groundbreaking Level 8 programme – and one that’s likely to interest Hot Press readers – the Immersive Media Production degree is designed to equip learners with the necessary skills and knowledge to produce immersive and engaging media experiences, through virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, and 360-degree video.

Noel Mac Aoidh, the co-ordinator of the course, notes that “students are part of the ETB and IADT from the beginning, with smaller class sizes meaning you can get more attention.”

There are also currently exciting Tertiary Degree courses available in areas such as Business, Tourism and Hospitality Services, Nursing, Information Technology Management, Mobile and Web Computing, Public Health, Software Development, Sustainable Engineers Technologies, Industrial Laboratory Science, Social Work, and more. With 2025 course applications opening on February 1, there will also be new offerings available in Arts and Media Studies, Health Sciences, and IT & Technology – as well as various other pathways to careers in hospitality, psychology, sport, business, and politics.

Students speak at NTO Conference in Croke Park. October 2024

In addition to school leavers, Tertiary Degrees are a great option for people returning to education. Tracey Calpin, for instance, always wanted to be a nurse – but had to turn down a place on a nursing course in her early 20s, as she had young children at home. When she was 45, however, she heard about the Nursing Tertiary Degree – and, after studying for a year in Donegal ETB, she has now entered her first year of Nursing in Atlantic Technological University.

“There’s a lot of information thrown at you, but because we had that foundation in the ETB, we are able to cope, and we’re enjoying it so much,” she reflects. “I am now officially a member of the NMBI as a student nurse, and am out on placement in March – which is so exciting!”

The National Tertiary Office was established in 2022, to co-ordinate and support the development of policy relating to Further and Higher Education pathways for students – and find fresh new ways of expanding access to Higher Education for all.

“In 2024, there was an increase of 68% on previous year in student enrolment into Tertiary Degrees,” says Tanya Jones, Deputy Director of the National Tertiary Office, “with over 220 students across 19 different Tertiary Programmes starting their journey to their dream degree.”

Applications for 2025 Tertiary Degree courses will open on February 1 on NTO.ie, and will remain open until September.