Eligibility
People in the following categories are eligible to apply for courses in the 2020/2021 academic year (subject to the applicant meeting all residency and nationality/visa requirements and any academic requirements):
Returners (Formerly referred to as Homemakers)
Courses are fully funded for these applicants. They may apply to all courses if they meet the nationality/visa requirement, the residency criteria and the course specific criteria.
People in Employment/Self-Employment
Please note that under the Springboard+ 2020/2021 initiative, 90% of the fees are covered by HEA and 10% of the fees are payable to the college for this category of applicants. They may apply to all courses if they meet the nationality/visa requirement and residency criteria.
Either the applicant or their employer can pay the 10% fee for this programme. Should your employer be paying your fees, please contact us and we can forward you a copy of our company sponsorship form in order for us to invoice your employer.
The fee for the Higher Diploma in Science in Computing (Software Development) is €7,250 of which you pay 10% = €725
Note: These fees must be paid prior to enrolling on your Springboard+ programme.
People signing for contribution credits
Courses are fully funded for these applicants. They may apply to all courses if they meet the nationality/visa requirement, the residency criteria and the course specific criteria.
Please note these two-year part-time ICT conversion courses are not open to those in receipt of Jobseekers-related payments.
Please visit the Springboard+ website for further information on participant eligibility and funding eligibility requirements.
All applications must be submitted online via the Springboard+ website. Please note that documentation supporting the applicants status will be required as part of the application process.
Documents Required:
All applicants are required to provide the following documentation;
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Academic Transcripts (this is the yearly breakdown of the modules studied and results received) and we require the transcripts for each year of study completed from any previous studies/courses attended. If these transcripts are in a language other than English, than please be aware we require official translated copies as well as the originals.
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Recently updated CV including your education and experience to date.
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If applying through APEL, we require a personal statement outlining your reasons for applying for the course and why would you be a suitable candidate. Please be aware that your personal statement should be sent as a word document and the average length should be between 500 - 700 words.
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Copy of your passport or driver’s licence.
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For applicants whose first language is not English and who have not previously undertaken a degree taught through English, evidence must be provided of proficiency in English language equivalent to B2+ or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). This must be evidenced through a recognised English Language test such as IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, PTE or DBS English Assessment. Test certificates should be dated within the last two years to be considered valid
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For Non-EU applicants currently residing in Ireland - a Copy of your Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) Card or proof of residency is required, to demonstrate that you have been residing in the EU for 3 of the last 5 years.
Note: The period of residency for holders of Stamp 4 or Stamp 4 EU FAM is calculated from the date of receipt of the Stamp 4. Any period of residency in the state before this date will not be taken into consideration.
For applicants who are in employment (including self-employment), we require the following documentation;
Copy of their Tax Credit and Universal Social Charge Certificate 2020, or a letter from their current employer/accountant to confirm employment/self-employment
For applicants who are signing for contribution credits, we require the following documentation;
A letter from DSP confirming your social protection status (signing for credits)
For applicants who are homemakers, we require the following documentation;
Letter/statement signed by a Commissioner for Oaths confirming their status. Please see Springboard+ form on the Springboard+ website.
Please note that there are limited places available on all programmes. Those applicants who provide all the relevant supporting documents will be allocated places on their chosen programme on a first come-first served basis, subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria.
Should we not receive all of the above information, your application will not be progressed and you could potentially miss out an offer of a place.
In the meantime, should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the DBS Admissions Office on 01 4177500 or by email on springboard@dbs.ie
Springboard+ is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020
For further information please visit: ESF Information and Communication guidelines.