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Fashion & Textiles

PLC Post Leaving Cert
DF DC

Learners create a portfolio of work suitable for entry into third level colleges or industry. The course consists of academic and practical workshops in the field of fashion and textiles, providing the opportunity for learners to develop and expand their fashion and textile design skills in addition to developing their confidence and own unique style identity.

Award Name BTEC Higher National Certificate at UK Level 4
NFQ Classification
Awarding Body Pearson
NFQ Level
Award Name BTEC Higher National Diploma at UK Level 5
NFQ Classification
Awarding Body Pearson
NFQ Level
Award Name NFQ Classification Awarding Body NFQ Level
BTEC Higher National Certificate at UK Level 4 Pearson
BTEC Higher National Diploma at UK Level 5 Pearson
Alternate Provider:
Location:
Bray
Attendance Options:
Full time, Daytime
Qualification Letters:
Cert / Dip
Apply to:
Course provider

Duration

One or Two Years (option of a second year to achieve a Higher National Diploma).

Entry Requirements

One of the following:
• Leaving Certificate or equivalent with fashion design experience Extenuating circumstances may be considered

• Full QQI Level 5 with a merit profile

• Mature Applicants - experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications

Places are offered following a successful interview. Applicants must bring a portfolio/ collection of work to the interview.

Careers / Further progression

Career Opportunities
• Fashion Design
• Costume Design for Film & Theatre
• Fashion Styling
• Fashion Buying
• Fashion Retail
• Textile Design

Higher Education Progression*
Examples of potential courses include:
• NCAD
Fashion and Textiles (AD101)
• IADT
Costume (DL829)
• UK and Northern Ireland Universities:
Final year of an Honours Degree in Fashion Design (Apply through UCAS system)
• Irish Universities & IT’s:
Learners may proceed through advanced entry to Honors Degree courses

*Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria. Please consult the individual college websites for more information on application. Information available also at www.cao.ie

QQI FET Links to CAO Courses

Course Web Page

Further information

Course commences in September 2024.

Enrolment Procedure

Step 1:
Applicants must apply online at www.bife.ie.

Step 2:
In some cases, applicants may be invited to attend for interview at the Institute. Applicants will be selected on suitability and a first come/first served basis. You should bring the following to the interview:
• A copy of Leaving Certificate results (if applicable)
• A brief Curriculum Vitae
• A Portfolio of Work (where necessary)
• References (where necessary)

Step 3:
Successful applicants will be offered a place by post, subject to them achieving the basic entry requirements laid out in the prospectus/website and must secure their place by paying an acceptance fee of €50. All fees must be paid by Friday 30th August 2024. The €50 acceptance fee is non refundable. All other fees will be refunded if the applicant subsequently decides not to take their place before Friday 27th September 2024. Failure to pay the relevant fees may result in a lapse of your offer. All candidates who accept an offer agree to abide by the policies and procedures of the Institute.

Step 4:
All learners must register at the Institute or on-line by the designated registration date.

International Applicants
The Institute welcomes applications from International Learners. Non EA applicants (applicants outside the European Area, i.e. outside EU & Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) must comply with Irish immigration requirements. Such applicants will have to secure a visa from the Immigration Section of the Department of Justice. As all courses are delivered in English, International students will be required to provide a certified qualification of proficiency in English where English is not the applicants first language.

Non-EU students will be required to pay the economic cost of the course as determined by the Department of Education.

International applicants should apply directly to the Institute office for further information.

Fees
Courses at Bray Institute of Further Education are funded largely by the European Social Fund. Tuition costs are covered for Irish or EU citizens undertaking PLC courses. There is no application fee, however all learners are required to pay the following:

• An Acceptance Fee of €50, to be paid when offered a place on a course.
• A Resource contribution fee of €150 for learner services*, paid annually.

There is also a cost of registration with professional bodies for a small number of courses such as Accounting Technicians Ireland (ATI).

*Resource fees are used as a general fund to provide learner resources for PLC courses including library services

Maintenance Grant
Learners on full-time approved courses at the Institute are entitled to apply for Maintenance Grants. The Grant is means tested. Learners should apply to SUSI, the online grant application system, through www.studentfinance.ie.
Learners in receipt of the maintenance grant must pay all the usual costs of the course.

Back to Education Initiative & VTOS
The Department of Social Welfare and The Department of Education and Skills administer these two schemes. In 2024, these schemes will become fully integrated into the college. These schemes offer unemployed adults an opportunity to return to full-time education while retaining their full social welfare entitlements and in some cases to receive extra benefits. Payments from DEASP normally establish eligibility. Previous educational level can also contribute.
To check your eligibility log onto www.studentfinance.ie or talk to the VTOS Co-ordinator. Some extra benefits may apply.

Yes

Yes - Applicants must bring a portfolio/collection of work to the interview.

You can only apply online on the BIFE website by clicking on the "Apply Now 2024/2025" button at the top of any page on the college website Or
Click on the Application Weblink above.

Applications usually begin in mid December of the proceeding year of application. Early applications are always advisable to avoid classes filling up and increase your chances of getting a position.

Programme of Study
Year One - HNC
• Professional Development
• Contextual Studies
• Individual Project
• Techniques and Processes
• Computer Aided Design
• Fashion and Textile Practices
• Pattern cutting and garment making
• Surface Design

Year Two - HND
• Professional Practice
• Applied Practice Collaborative Project
• Advanced Fashion Studies
• Material Selection and Specification
• Art Direction
• Trend Forecasting
• Styling

Components subject to change

Certification:
BTEC Higher National Certificate in Art & Design - Fashion Design Level 6+ equivalence on the NFQ achieved after year 1 BTEC
Higher National Diploma in Art & Design - Fashion Design Level 6+ equivalence on the NFQ achieved after year 2 (603/0909/X)

Students will also exhibit their work at the annual Graduate Show.

Head of Department:
Karen Ryan

Course Co-ordinator:
Annette Vella & Lisa Marron

Bray Institute of Further Education,
Tel: 01 282 9668
Email: bifeenquiries@kwetb.ie
Web: www.bife.ie

Alternate Provider:
Location:
Bray
Attendance Options:
Full time, Daytime
Qualification Letters:
Cert / Dip
Apply to:
Course provider