Your Options 2022

options 2022

Letterkenny Youth Information Centre

Introduction

02 CAO offers 03 Leaving Cert results 04 Points calculator 05 SUSI grants

TABLE OF CONTENTS

01

06 Third level education 07 Further education courses 08 Apprenticeship 09 European and international oppotunities 10 Tenancy agreement- your rights and responsibilites 11 Tips on budgeting 12 Mental wellbeing

Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

Welcomeback! back!

Welcome We truly hope that our wee booklet

Your Options 2022

will help you finding all the necessary information,

maybe a little bit of inspiration but first of all- a courage to follow your dreams and never doubting in your own abilities!

We wish you best of luck, no matter what decision you'll make.

Letterkenny YIC team

1st July (17:00) Change of Mind closes

CAO OFFERS

7th July (10:00) Round A offers for certain NonStandard categories of applicants applicants receive an offer by email and SMS text

I M P O R T A N T D A T E S

13th July (15:00)

5th August (10:00)

Round A acceptances closing date

Round 0 offers for certain NonStandard categories of applicant applicants receive an offer by e-mail and SMS text

22nd July (17:00

10th August (15:00)

Exceptional closing date for late applications for those already attending a participating HEI

Round 0 acceptances closing date

2nd September Current year Leaving Certificate results issued

8th Sept. (14:00)

For more information and all the updates, please check The Central Applications Office website regularly.

Round 1 offers available from 14:00 online - also issued by e-mail and SMS text.

Applicants who have not received an offer will receive a `Statement of Application` e-mail.

Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

LEAVING CERT EXAMS The Leaving Certificate exams will run from Wednesday, 8 June 2022, until Tuesday, 28 June 2022. The results will be issued on the 2nd September 2022.

You can find the timetable for Leaving Certificate 2022 and other information on the State Examinations Commission (SEC) website: https://www.examinations.ie/ Deferred Leaving Certificate exams will run from 30 June 2022 until 16 July 2022 for students affected by: COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 Family bereavement Serious medical condition – accident, injury or illness

APPLYING FOR A DEFERRAL

APPEALING THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE RESULTS

If you are absent for an exam and think you might be eligible to access the deferred exams, you must immediately notify your school. Your school will apply to the SEC on your behalf to access the deferred exams- no later than the date of the first missed exam. Evidence is required to be submitted to the SEC within 4 working days of the date of the initial application. There is no fee to sit the deferred Leaving Certificate exams.

Students who are not satisfied with the marks they get in one or more subjects of their written Leaving Certificate examination can appeal those results to the State Examinations Commission. Before you appeal your result(s), you can view your examination script and then decide if you still want to appeal.

If so, your script will be sent to an appeal examiner for re-marking. This will not be the same person who originally marked your work.

If you have viewed your script and believe there is a clear discrepancy between the mark awarded and the subsequent grade awarded, you also have means of redress. You should ask the Organising Superintendent at the viewing session for a Rectification Outside of the Appeal Process Form (Form ROAP1). Information about appeal fees for 2022 will be published on the State Examinations Commission website.

For queries, you can contact the Deferred Examinations Section in the SEC on 090-6442783 or email deferredexaminations@examinations.ie

There is no exam fee for the Leaving Certificate 2022. There is no fee to sit the deferred Leaving Certificate exams.

You may be asked for evidence that you have completed State examinations when you apply for a job or for further education. It is always useful to have a copy of your results as well as the original Certificate, especially if you plan to work or study outside Ireland.

The State Examinations Commission can provide you with a certified statement of your results.

Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

POINTS CALCULATOR MARKING SYSTEM FOR EXAMINATION GRADES The examination scale has 8 grades, the highest grade is Grade 1 and the lowest grade is Grade 8.

The 8-point grading scale replaced the 14-point scale at both Higher and Ordinary levels in 2017.

Marks between 100% and 30% are divided into seven grade bands (1-7). Each band is 10% wide.

The scheme means that the Common Points Scale used by the CAO to determine entry into higher education institutions, was also revised in 2017.

You can read more on transition.ie

Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

HOW TO APPLY FOR A SUSI GRANT: TIPS FOR APPLICANTS Make your application as early as possible after the opening date The priority closing date is 7 July for new applicants. You can still apply for funding after this date but students who submit their application on or before 7 July will receive priority processing Make sure the information you supply in relation to dates of birth, PPS numbers, etc. is correct, to avoid delays in the processing of your application It is important that you supply SUSI with all of the documentation that they request from you, correctly first time and on time You can use the application tracker in your online account to check the progress of your submitted application at any stage

FIND OUT WHAT CLASS OF APPLICANT YOU ARE

Independent

Dependent

Mature Dependent

As an Independent Student you must be: 23 years of age or over on January 1st of the year when you first enter/re-enter further or higher education.

You must have been living independently from your parents/legal guardians from the October in the year prior to your first point of entry/re-entry into further or higher education and will be required to provide evidence of this.

If you were under 23 on the 1st of January 2022, you are automatically classed as a Dependent Student. This means you must supply your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) information as well as your own when filling out your application and your own income (if applicable) and the income of your parents/legal guardian(s) will be used when assessing you for grant funding.

If you were over 23 on the 1st of January 2022, and still residing with your parents (or cannot supply any of the documentary evidence listed above to support independent residency) you will be classed as a Mature Dependent Student. You must supply your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) information as well as your own when filling out your application and your own income (if applicable) and the income of your parents/legal guardian(s) will be used when assessing you for grant funding.

SUSI Support Desk Opening Hours: Monday to Friday (9.00am – 5.30pm), excluding public holidays.

Email: support@susi.ie Phone: 0818 888 777 or +353 1 524 2257 if calling from abroad Facebook: Susi Support Twitter: Susi Helpdesk All documents/correspondence should be sent to P.O. Box 869, Togher, Cork.

Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

THIRD LEVEL education

Universities

University students qualify with Ordinary Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 7) or Honours Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 8). You can choose from 4 universities that include: The National University of Ireland (NUI), which is the umbrella university covering University College Dublin, NUI Galway, University College Cork, and St. Patrick's College in Maynooth.

The NUI also has recognised colleges including the National College of Art and Design and the Royal College of Surgeons, The University of Dublin, which is generally known as Trinity College Dublin, The University of Limerick & Dublin City University. Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is one of the largest multi-campus universities on the island, serving a diverse group of learners, staff, communities and organisations from our region and further afield.

ITs

Institutes of technology are located around the country. Students generally qualify with Higher Certificates (NFQ Level 6) or Ordinary Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 7). Honours Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 8) are also available.

Colleges of education

There are several colleges of education providing specialised training for primary school teachers.

Private colleges

There are a number of fee-paying third-level educational institutions offering courses, mainly in professional vocational training and business. Some of these colleges are linked to universities or professional associations and their qualifications may be accredited accordingly. It is important to check out the accreditation on offer before you choose your course.

Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

FURTHER EDUCATION COURSES

Post Leaving Cert (PLC) courses

PLCs are full-time and last for one to two years. They offer a mixture of practical work, academic work and work experience. Courses are deliv-ered in a wide range of subjects, such as business studies, childcare, community care, computing and technology, e-commerce, horticul-ture, sport and leisure, multimedia production and tourism. The courses generally lead to major awards at Na-tional Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Levels 5 and 6.

Youthreach

Youthreach is a full-time programme, usually over two years, for young people, aged 15 to 20, who left school early and are not working. It leads to awards typically at levels 3 and 4 on the NFQ. Learners are supported in setting individual learning plans aimed at increasing their selfesteem, skills and knowledge and ability to get a job.

Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)

The VTOS Scheme provides a range of courses to help people who are unemployed to re-enter the work-force. The courses are full-time and are usually delivered over two academic years on a full-time basis of 30 hours per week. Some examples include ICT, Art and Design, Business Administration, Childcare and Digital Media. The courses lead to a range of awards across NFQ levels.

Traineeship

A Traineeship typically takes from 4-9 months full-time to complete. They provide occupationspecific training and integrate formal class-room training and workplace coaching with a host employer. Courses are full time and all year round to facilitate those entering the labour market for the first time and per-sons wishing to up-date or acquire new skills. All programmes lead to accreditation at levels 4-6 on the NFQ or certification from a recognised external accredited body. Courses include: Beauty Therapist, Outdoor Activity Instructor, Business Systems Service Technician and Software Development.

Community Training Centres (CTCS)

CTCs are independent community-based organisations, which provide training and education for early school leavers, primarily aged be-tween 16 and 21. Examples of programmes offered include employability skills, personal and social employment skills and science skills. All programmes offer personal and social skills development through modules such as communications, personal effectiveness, teamwork, career planning and literacy and numeracy support which are integrated with the vocational training modules. Courses are generally one year in duration and are full-time and lead to major awards on the NFQ at levels 3 and 4.

Back To Education Initiative (BTEI)

The BTEI provides part-time Further Education programmes for young people and adults. It aims to give participants an opportunity to com-bine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. Programmes are offered in partner-ship with a number of agencies throughout the country on a flexible part-time basis. Classes are offered throughout the year in the morning, afternoons, evenings or weekends. Courses lead to a range of accreditation at levels 1-6 on the NFQ.

Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

APPRENTICESHIP An apprenticeship is a career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a nationally recognised qualification in a trade like plumbing, carpentry etc.

Learning and earning on the job has served the test of time in areas such as engineering, construction, motoring, carpentry and plumbing but apprenticeships have moved into new areas including finance, information and computer technology (ICT) and hospitality. There are also future plans to expand the apprenticeship system into areas like auctioneering and property, logistics, integration engineering and sous chef.

The new apprenticeships are attracting significant interest. You can get 600 points in your Leaving Cert and still go on to do an apprenticeship in carpentry or insurance practice, because that is what interests you.

They offer varied paths, and people who do them need skill and talent to successfully complete them.

How can I apply for an apprenticeship?

An applicant must be at least 16 years of age and have a minimum of grade D in any five subjects in the Junior Certificate or equivalent. However, higher educational qualifications and other requirements may be sought by employers.

To begin an apprenticeship, an applicant must be employed by an approved employer. Apprentice employers manage their own recruitment, with many using online recruitment channels such as Ire-land.ie, JobsIreland.ie, indeed.ie, IrishJobs.ie and other recruitment sites.

The Construction Industry Federation has a dedicated recruitment site for construction apprentices, see Apprentices.ie.

Some apprenticeships have ongoing intakes, while some of the newer courses have a single annual intake.

For more, check out www.apprenticeship.ie

Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteering

The European Solidarity Corps is the European Union initiative which creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects in their own country or abroad that benefit communities and people around Europe. You can register for the European Solidarity Corps when you are 17 years old, but you cannot start a project until you are over 18. European Solidarity Corps projects will be available to people up to the age of 30 years old.

After completing a simple registration process, European Solidarity Corps participants can be selected and invited to join a wide range of projects, such as helping to rebuild after natural disasters, assisting in centres for asylum seekers, or ad-dressing different social issues in communities.

For more information talk to our Youth Information Officer Kasia.

Work & Learn

Conducting an internship or a traineeship is a great way to kick off your professional career, to gain relevant knowledge, skills, and experience while establishing important connections in the field.

Jobs

Your first EURES job is a European Union job mobility scheme to help young people aged 18-35 find work across the EU. Your first EURES job can give you information and help you search and apply for a job in another EU country.

Through the programme you can get financial support for an interview trip and/or for moving abroad to take up your new job.

Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

1 Read it!

Always read the tenancy agreement whether you are renting from a reputable letting agent, private landlord or campus accommodation. The lease will inform you of what you can and cannot do on the property. Some may have restrictions on how many people are allowed in the apartment at any one time. Not signing the tenancy agreement does not mean that you don’t agree with it, you need to inform the landlord/letting agent/accommodation provider if there is any part of the agree-ment you have an issue with.

TENANCY AGREEMENT Y O U R R I G H T S A N D R E S P O N S I B I L I T E S

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3

Pay on time!

Keep the evidence!

Pay your rent (and other bills) in full and on time - you may need to ask the landlord for a reference at a later date.

Once you move in, take note if there is any damage to anything, take a photo of it and report it straight away. The photo will show the date the picture was taken to ensure that you are not liable for the damage.

4 Mutual respect!

Always report any repairs that need to be done as soon as possible. Being in a good relation with landlord/ letting agent will help you to go smoothly through the whole process of renting the accommodation.

pn Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

TIPS ON BUDGETING Make a Budget Make a list of ALL the money you get on a weekly/monthly basis and ALL the outgoing bills you have.

Learn how to cook You will save so much money if you can cook from scratch. Eating healthy and having a healthy sleep pattern will keep you healthy and avoid too many trips to the doctor.

Make a meal plan Before you go shopping - make a list of what you need and stick to it.

Store your food properly to get the most out of it - learn what foods can be frozen and there-fore can be bought in bulk. Learn how to defrost foods properly to avoid any ill-ness.

Check your bank account Student Accounts have no transaction fees!

Letterkenny YIC, Your Options 2022

MENTAL WELLBEING Finishing secondary school and moving on with your life into adulthood can be daunting and sometimes scary. You are not expected to do this alone.

Looking after your well-being and your mental health is a very important part of becoming an adult. This means looking for support when you need it, when things become too much. Find out where the campus doctor, nurse and councillors offices are. Check out what student support options are at the institution you chose to go to and you can always contact us at Donegal Youth Service for more information on well-being and one to one support.

In the meantime, here are some tips on keeping your wellbeing in check.

01.

04.

It is completely normal to have days when you’re feeling low or sad. If this goes on longer than a week, seek support from someone you trust.

If you are worried about your course and think it is not what you thought it was, speak to someone. Do not struggle through it. You may be able to switch to another course.

02.

Make sure you have some balance, take time out from studies, and try to get quality sleep and eat as well as you can.

03.

Poor diet, alcohol and other substances can have negative effects on your mental health.

Signs and symptoms that you may need support: Feeling sad or down Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt.

Extreme mood changes of highs and lows.

Withdrawal from friends and activities.

Significant tiredness, low energy or trouble sleeping.

LETTERKENNY YOUTH INFORMATION CENTRE

16-18 Port Road, Letterkenny 074 91 29630 yicletterkenny@donegalyouthservice.ie WhatsApp: 085 250 9635 Social Media Handle: @yicletterkenny