Free part-time and conversion courses

Springboard+ offers a choice of 208 free, part-time and intensive conversion courses in higher education from certificate, to degree, to post-graduate level. See Search courses for full details. Applications can also be made for one year full-time and two year part-time ICT Skills Conversion courses.

In 2017/18 courses are now open to the following categories of applicants:

• Homemakers (all courses are open to Homemakers)
• People in employment
  • who wish to take a course in the manufacturing sector (e.g. Bio-pharma or medical devices technology) or
  • who wish to take an ICT Conversion course or
  • who already hold a Level 7 (Ordinary Degree) IT qualification who wish to upskill to a Level 8 IT qualification
• The unemployed or formerly self-employed (all courses are open to these category of applicants, with the exception of the two year part-time ICT conversion courses which are not open to those in receipt of a Jobseekers-related payment)

Graduate with skills in growing sectors

All courses lead to qualifications in enterprise sectors which are growing and need skilled personnel, including information and communications technology (ICT); manufacturing; international financial services; and key skills for enterprise to trade internationally. Qualifications are also available in cross-enterprise skills such as innovation, enterprise/entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and project management.

Keep your social protection supports

Most Springboard+ courses are part-time, enabling you to keep social protection supports. However, a number of the courses available are ICT Conversion courses, which can be one year full-time or two year part-time. In relation to the one year full-time courses those who are in receipt of a Jobseekers payment and satisfy Department of Social Protection criteria of being in receipt of a payment for 9 of the previous 12 months can apply for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA). In relation to the two year part-time ICT Conversion courses, those who are in receipt of a Jobseekers payment, or a Farm Assist payment, or a Qualified Adults of Working Age payment are not eligible for these two year courses. Please see Am I Eligible? for more details.