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The two most important questions that you'll need to think about if you're studying for your leaver's cert and want to go in to third level education.
There are a few things to consider when choosing what courses to apply for and where to study. Here’s our guide to the Universities and Colleges across Ireland and making your final decision.
Choosing which subject, you want to continue or what you want to get in to can be a very tough decision for some students. Unless you’re someone who knows exactly what they want to do, making a final decision on what you’ll work hard on for at least the next three years can be stressful. Of course, the main factors in your decision are what you’ve enjoyed so far in your education (what you’re interested in) and what your talents are or which you’re good at (which subject you’re predicted to do best in on your Leaver’s Cert).
However, what’s more important than ever and will affect most students' decision is which course will give you the best job opportunities when you finish your degree course. Choosing a more vocational course will make it a lot easier to get certain jobs when you finish college. However, if you're not entirely sure what you want to do in your career, choosing a broader subject like English, History or Chemistry, leaves your job prospects more open and will give you the skills that are relevant to all kinds of graduate jobs.
Most courses will give you the chance to specialise within the course; as you decide which modules you want to take and where your main interests lie within the subject you’re studying, Medicine for example, is a prime example of a degree which introduces to a wide range of different topics of study and then asking you to specialise and decide what about the course you enjoy and want to focus on. As with medicine and most degrees, there are lots of different routes you can take when you graduate because degrees don’t just teach you the course material or leave you with knowledge from your reading list; but give you skills that are transferable to all kinds of jobs and careers.
This can be split into 2 areas. (1) Within In Ireland or (2) To Study abroad
Living at home can be a great way to cut down on costs and get your degree without getting in to debt; especially if there’s a college nearby that offer courses, you’re interested in. However, for a lot of students, moving away from home and living on your own for the first time is one of the main reasons for going on to higher education.
Where you decide to study if you are moving away will be affected by what you want to study and where offers the best courses. There may be a certain college you want to study at or a certain course, so maybe you’ll already have your mind made up.
There are many colleges across Ireland which have a particular specialism and will offer you the best education in that field of study. For example, if you are interested in hospitality and leisure and are thinking of a career in this field the Shannon College of Hotel Management will be where you’ll want to study, so it is important to Search for courses
One thing you might want to consider is to go to a foreign country to study for your degree. The UK has some of the best universities in the world and there are active Irish Communities in most cities and large Irish Student Communities. However, after a raise in tuition fees recently, studying in the UK can be quite an expensive option.
More and more students are going even further afield, studying in countries across Europe and beyond. As many European institutions offer lectures and seminars in English, studying abroad is now more accessible and can be a great way to gain experience of a different culture. Also, recent studies show that employers value graduates with international experience and especially those who have learned another language; so, studying abroad can be a great way to boost your future career prospects.
Thinking of studying abroad check out these links:
Whether you have decided to study at home or abroad you should consider taking out an insurance policy to protect yourself.
We can offer a Student Contents and Possessions Insurance, if you are studying in Ireland which can provide cover for valuable items such as your laptop and mobile phone in case they're stolen or accidentally damaged.
Or if you've decided to study abroad, we can provide a Study Abroad Insurance, which can cover you for your medical expenses and travel costs as well as your possessions while you are away.