Pre-Apprenticeship - Construction Technology

Commencement of Course
Courses begin in mid-September with a Welcome & Orientation Session.

Participants who do not attend the first day of the course my forfeit their place unless written notice is received to the college admissions office beforehand.

International Students
Cork College of FET welcomes applications from eligible international students. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they meet Immigration and Visa requirements prior to applying for a place on a course. Post Leaving Certificate courses DO NOT feature on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes which lists the courses for which an overseas, non-EU/EEA applicant may apply for a study visa to enter the country.

Applications from citizens of EU/EEA countries are not liable for tuition fees, however other course fees may apply.

Mature students are welcome to apply.

€400
Student Charges
Materials: €100
QQI Fee: €50
Student Services: €250

Courses in the college are funded by the Department of Education and SOLAS (the Further Education and Training Authority, with support from the European Social Fund. There are no tuition fees for PLC courses for EU/UK/EEA students.
Course fees are made up of:
• Student Services fee
• Examination fees
• Course Specific costs

Exemptions may apply - contact the college or view the college website.

As part of the course fee, the college campus includes a Student Services Fee. This part covers the supply of additional classroom and study materials, some field trips, industrial site visits, guest lecturers on certain courses, access to college campus IT and printing supports for students, the availability of many college campus leisure and recreational opportunities and support for college campus teams and societies.

This charge applies to ALL students and no exemptions apply; however a student who takes up a confirmed VTOS place will have the charge refunded.

QQI (Quality & Qualifications Ireland) examination fees are €50 for Level 5 courses, or €80 for Level 6 courses.

Some courses incur additional costs for course related items, e.g. student’s kits and uniforms, manuals etc. The Student Services fee includes all these costs. The costs associated any such items apply to all students, including VTOS.

A full breakdown of the fee per course is shown at the individual
campus fee web page.

https://ams.enrol.ie/stjohnscollege/2023/

https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A//www.douglasstreetca…

Maintenance Grant (SUSI)
Learners attending full-time Further Education PLC courses may be eligible for a means-tested maintenance grant. Information regarding eligibility and application details is available at
www.susi.ie

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Cork College of FET understands that learning takes place throughout life and in many settings, such as work or voluntary activities, sporting and participation in community events. We also know that learners may dip in and out of formal education throughout a lifetime depending on their needs. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is when formal recognition is given for the learning you have already achieved prior to starting on a course.

Relevant prior learning may allow a learner to gain accreditation for a component award that forms part of a programme of study. Cork College of FET provides support to learners to apply for RPL.
RPL is available for certain component awards in Cork College of FET. If you feel that RPL may be relevant to you, please contact the campus where you intend to study to discuss further.

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme – VTOS
The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) provides a range of supports to allow individuals who are unemployed to return to education or training. The scheme allows successful applicants to keep their Social Welfare Allowances while attending their course in the college. All full-time day courses in each campus are eligible for VTOS.

Applicants must be in receipt of one of these qualifying payments immediately before starting the scheme:
• Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit
• Jobseekers Transitional
• One Parent Family Allowance
• Blind Pension
• Deserted Wife’s Allowance; Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension;
Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Non-Contributory Pension
• Prisoner’s Spouse Allowance
• An Adult Dependent on a person in receipt of Unemployment Assistance
• Disability Allowance
• Illness Benefit (you must apply to the Exemption Section, Dept of Social, Community & Family Affairs, Store St. Dublin 1 for an exemption to attend the course)

Places are Limited on the VTOS programme and are prioritised on the basis of:
i. Educational need
ii. Period of time in receipt of Social Welfare payments

To apply for VTOS:
1. Complete the Cork College of FET Enrolment Procedure as above.
2. A VTOS application form is also filled out with a passport size photograph included. Do NOT complete the back page of the form.
3. Return the form to the campus VTOS Office.
4. The closing date for receipt of VTOS applications forms is September, 8th, 2023.
Application Forms received after this date will be treated as a late application.
Further information and enquiries regarding VTOS should be made to the campus VTOS contact person.

Back to Education Allowance- BTEA
The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a scheme for unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities who are getting certain payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP). DEASP are the decision makers in relation to who will be awarded BTEA.

The allowance can be paid to people who wish to undertake approved second or third level courses of education. BTEA is not an unemployment payment. This weekly allowance is not means tested and you can work part-time without affecting your BTEA payment.

Any full-time day course provided by the Cork College of FET is eligible for BTEA as long as the applicant is progressing their level of education qualification i.e. if an applicant has a Level 5 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) they must undertake a course that leads to a Level 6 qualification at least.

Further Information is available at www.studentfinance.ie

Yes

How to Apply
Full Time Day Programmes
Applications are invited from early January of each year or once the college’s Online Admissions System becomes live.

Step 1
An online application form (only in exceptional circumstance should a hard copy application form be completed) and submitted through the college’s Admissions System accessed through the college website www.stjohnscollege.ie All applications are acknowledged by an automated email.

Currently the college operates three round of offers in March, May and late August/early September, however some programmes alternate interview arrangements posted on individual programme pages on the college website.

Step 2
Places are offered subject a satisfactory interview and meeting the requirements of the programme as laid out in the individual course outlines as displayed in the college website.

Once the criteria above are met a Letter of Offer is issued outlining the registration process and charges to be paid. Upon receipt of a Letter of offer, a successful applicant may secure a place on the programme by paying within 5 working days a minimum deposit. Applicants will forfeit their place of offer if the registration process as laid down is not adhered to.

The procedure for online payments is as follows:
• A minimum deposit as outlined in the Letter of Offer must be paid online by the applicant using his/her username and password on the St John’s Admissions System and the balance of charges must be paid before class commences.
• Applicants are requested to present a Birth Certificate or Passport and a certified copy of their Leaving Certificate results if available.

Medical Card Holders & Vocational, Training and Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), New Directions and Applied Computer Training applicants:
• Medical Card Holders may exempt from exam fees and reduce the balance of their charges.
• There are no charges to VTOS applicants, and funded programmes such as New Directions and Applied Computer Training applicants

Refund of Payments
• Where a student subsequently does not take up their place on a course they may apply for a refund. Refunds will not be paid after October 31st in any year.
• In the case of all Refunds, a charge will be retained by the College to cover Administration Costs incurred.
• Should there be a difficulty with any of the above; the college will help in any possible.

Overview
Construction Technology is an introductory course for those who want to find out whether a career in the construction industry is the right fit for them. It is ideally suited for students who aspire to apprenticeships in the construction industry, with particular emphasis on woodworking skills. It is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills associated with environmentally sustainable building and construction technology. The course enables students to develop practical skills in the areas of building construction and wood fabrication. This course will enable students to develop life skills including effective communication techniques, teamwork and independent learning.

Work Placement/Experience
Participants will be required to undertake 300 hours of work-based learning in a relevant location.

The Work Based Coordinator will assist participants in identifying suitable placements.

Core Components
5N1999: Wood Fabrication
5N0690: Communications
5N1356: Work Experience

Integrated Components
5N0764: Combined Materials
5N0784: Design Skills
5N1862: Drawing
5N1833: Mathematics
5N1794: Safety and Health at Work

5M5010 - Construction Technology.

Certification: QQI Level 5 Construction Technology 5M5010.

Admissions office
t: +353 21 425 5500
e: douglasstreetcampus@corketb.ie
e: constructiontechnology@stjohnscollege.ie