Frequently Asked Questions

Assessment

All applicants are invited to complete an assessment prior to being offered a place on a course. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that you are offered a place on a course which is at the right level for you and appropriate to your needs.

This assessment will help identify an applicant’s level of literacy, numeracy, language and IT Skills.

The assessment will include:

  • Reading and Comprehension
  • Writing
  • Maths
  • IT Skills

The process takes approximately 2- 2:30 hours. The results of the assessment will indicate options open to learners.

 

Option/Results of Assessment

There are a number of possible outcomes/options to the assessment depending on individual results.

  • An applicant is deemed suitable for the course and is invited to register or attend interview prior to placement on the course they applied for or
  • An applicant is identified as requiring to build their skills at a lower level to their original application. These applicants are informed of their options and invited to register for a different course at a lower level to develop their capacity to progress to a higher level or
  • Applicants are identified as having a literacy issue (Reading, Writing or Maths). These applicants are invited to meet with the Adult Literacy Co-ordinator to discuss their learning options or
  • Applicants are identified as having an English Language issue as English is not their first language. These applicants are referred to our ESOL service to access a course to suit their learning needs regarding English Language. or
  • Referred to Adult Education Guidance and Information Service to explore options

What is BTEI?

The Back To Education Initiative (BTEI) provides part-time further education courses mainly for people with less than upper second-level education.

It gives individuals the opportunity to combine learning with family, work and other responsibilities. Anyone who has left fulltime education can take part in a course, but priority will be given to those with less than upper second-level education.

The BTEI allows people to study part-time (up to 400 hours per year). It is possible to obtain a major award at NFQ levels 1-6 where parttime courses are undertaken on a modular basis over time and combined to complete a major award.

A full award means completing 8-9 individual modules. These modules can be completed in 1-5 years depending on your availability, your skill level and course schedule. Please be aware that all modules are scheduled subject to a minimum number of suitable applicants. All applicants’ skills are assessed prior to placement on the course to ensure the level of the course is suitable.

The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) provides part-time courses for adults and young people aged over 16 who left school with few or no formal qualifications or low literacy levels.

* Applicants to Dublin College Balbriggan and Swords must be 18 or over before they commence a course.

The participants eligible for free tuition are people who (or their dependants):

  • Have less than upper-second level education or
  • Are getting a jobseeker’s payment or means-tested social welfare payment (See: List of Eligible Payments)
  • Are getting Family Income Supplement or
  • Have a medical card or GP visit card
  • Are eligible to participate on VTOS or Youthreach
  • People signing for credits

All other participants are charged a fee. For information about fees, you should contact the BTEI Coordinator in the Adult Education Service in Balbriggan on 01 8417763 or in Swords on 01 8408946

If you are getting a social welfare payment, you may keep your payment and participate in BTEI as long as you continue to satisfy the conditions attached to your payment. If you are getting a jobseeker’s payment you will need to apply for the Part-Time Education Option.

As per our How to Apply guidelines Here. Please note placement on a course is subject to an English Reading and Writing Assessment. If you do not meet the specified assessment requirements you may be offered a course at a lower level to develop your skills.

The social welfare payments, other payments and health board benefits to be covered by this arrangement will include persons who hold the benefits outlined below and their dependants:

  • Medical Card
  • Supplementary Welfare Allowance
  • Job Seekers Benefit (Unemployment Benefit)
  • Job Seekers Allowance (Unemployment Assistance)
  • Family Income Supplement
  • Farm Assist
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • One-Parent Family Payment
  • Back-to-Work Allowance
  • Community Employment
  • Part-time Job Incentive Scheme
  • Widow’s and Widower’s Non-Contributory Pension
  • Blind Person’s Pension
  • Pre-retirement Allowance
  • State Pension (Non-Contributory) (Old Age Non-Contributory Pension)
  • Guardian’s Payment Non-Contributory (Orphans Non-Contributory pension)
  • Illness Benefit, where this has been held for a continuous period of at least 6 months (Disability Benefit)
  • Disability Allowance
  • People signing for credits.

View the participant funding categories Here.

Adult Literacy

All courses run under the Adult Literacy Service are free to all students regardless of income or social welfare status.

ESOL

ESOL Beginners, ESOL literacy and ESOL Reading and Writing are free to all students regardless of income or social welfare status.

ESOL level 3, ESOL level 4 and ESOL level 5 and Cambridge English have the same eligibility criteria as courses provided under BTEI. Fees may apply if you do not meet the BTEI eligibility criteria.

Childcare Supports

Students who are returning to education may be in a position to access Childcare Support for the duration of their course. There is a new childcare scheme due to be implemented in October 2019, The National Childcare Scheme, Early Learning and Care.

Applications for the National Childcare Scheme can be made online at www.ncs.gov.ie/apply

To apply online you require the following information:

  • A verified MyGovID account (www.mygovid.ie)
  • Your Children’s Information such as date of birth and PPSN
  • Your employment, social welfare and income related details
  • Your partner’s PPSN (If you are a member of a couple)
  • Your partner’s employment and income related details (If you are a member of a couple)

For further information on the scheme go to www.ncs.gov.ie

What is the National Framework of Qualifications?

The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is the ten level system (1-10) giving an academic or vocational value to the qualifications obtained in Ireland. NFQ levels help to indicate how an award can be used for training, education and employment opportunities. Dublin College Balbriggan and Swords offers a range of certification from Level 2 to level 6. See below National Framework of Qualifications.

View the national framework of qualifications graphic Here.

 

Most of the certification delivered by Dublin College Balbriggan and Swords is awarded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). QQI is responsible for the quality control for Further Education colleges and other providers.

All courses accredited with QQI awards deliver continuous assessment throughout the year. Assessment may include assignments, projects, presentations and examinations. The assessment process is continuous, with individual learners given on-going assessment throughout the year.