Educational Requirements

You must have a minimum academic achievement of five passes in the Leaving Certificate including English and Mathematics or five O Level/GCSE passes including English Language and Mathematics. Candidates may have achieved degree or diploma qualifications previously. The programme allows those with primary degrees and higher to acquire a specialist additional qualification.  Candidates should provide details of all previous educational awards as part of the application process. Exceptions may be made to the minimum academic requirements for adult learners who have gained extensive equivalent experience in employment.

Employment Status

To be eligible for a place on a Springboard 2012 programme a person must be:

- Unemployed with a previous history of employment AND satisfy one of the following three criteria:

1. be in receipt of one of the following payments from the Department of Social Protection*:

• Jobseeker’s Benefit
• Jobseekers Allowance
• Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
• One Parent Family
• Disability Allowance
• Qualified Adults of Working Age
• Carers Allowance
• Farm Assist/Fish Assist
• Widow(er)s Contributory or Non-contributory Pension
• Blind Pension
• Deserted Wives Allowance

OR

2. be signing for social insurance contribution credits

OR

3. be previously self-employed

AND

4. be actively seeking employment 

* There is no requirement to be in receipt of a payment for a particular period of time prior to the commencement of the programme. Participants in receipt of an eligible payment at the time the Springboard course commences are eligible to apply for a place on that course.

Developed Skills and Experience