What is Springboard+?
Springboard+ provides free higher education courses for people who are unemployed. You can also apply for a Springboard+ course of you are working, but you must pay a 10% contribution towards the course fee.
There is a range of part-time courses from certificate to master's degree levels - levels 6 to 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). Most of the courses are part-time and last for one year or less, but there is an increasing number of full-time courses.
Courses are offered in a range of areas including information and communications technology (ICT), construction, hospitality, business start-up and international financial services.
Why study with Springboard+?
Every single Springboard+ course qualifies students in a growing industry sector with a high demand for new personnel, such as Information Communication Technology (ICT), Industrial Engineering, or Web Development.
Since Springboard+ courses cater specifically to the unemployed, homemakers and other non-traditional students, a variety of study options are available. Part-time courses and blended learning options give jobseekers and working individuals the flexibility to continue pursuing their work endeavours as they expand opportunities with practical new skills. Likewise, full-time courses are available for students seeking to quickly qualify for new positions, many taking place over a single academic year. For homemakers, Springboard courses can lead to work from home jobs opportunities in exciting, lucrative fields.
To qualify for free courses through Springboard+, you must be unemployed, be actively seeking work and available to take up work.
- Jobseeker’s Benefit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Disability Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Farm Assist/Fish Assist
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension
- Blind Pension
- Deserted Wife’s Allowance.
You can also apply for Springboard+ if:
- You are a qualified adult of working age (under 66) on someone else’s social welfare payment
- You are signing for social insurance credits
- You are not eligible for a 2-year part-time ICT conversion courses if you are getting a jobseeker’s payment (including Farm Assist) or you are a qualified adult of working age on someone else’s social welfare payment.
Many people believe they have to have been unemployed for a certain amount of time to qualify for programmes like Sprinboard+, however, there is no limit on how soon unemployed individuals may apply. While those who have been employed for longer periods receive preference, there are nearly 6,500 spots available in over 200 courses across Ireland, providing plenty of opportunities during any stage of the job search or upskilling.
Another exciting aspect of Springboard+ is the ICT Skills initiative. The Information Communications Technology initiative offers ICT Conversion courses to specially qualified students according to Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policies and to those with relevant past experience.