College Choice – a different pathway with BIFE
BIFE staff and students visiting IT Tallaght. (BIFE have signed a formal “Access to Higher Education” agreement with IT Tallaght and a number of other IT’s).
While in many cases students, schools and parents see the CAO as the ‘ be all and end all’ for those seeking third level education, nothing could be further from the truth according to Gabriel Allen, deputy principal at Bray Institute of Further Education (BIFE). “Over recent years many new avenues have opened up to students to enable them pursue their dream career via a different route.”
He added, “Further Education offers a learner, who may not have achieved the required CAO points, the opportunity to gain advanced entry onto honours degree programmes, both in Ireland and abroad.”
The huge range of courses available at BIFE offers learners fabulous opportunities, not only for those looking for additional skills or hoping to go directly into employment, but also as an alternative route on to a college course in a university or institute of technology in Ireland or abroad.
“Many of our students” he said “who complete a one-year level 6 programme have been successful in gaining advanced entry to year 2 of a relevant degree programme in The Institutes of Technology. For example, if a student wanted to study Business Management in DIT (DT324) but did not get enough points in the Leaving Certificate (330 in 2018), they could do a one-year post-Leaving Cert (PLC) level 6 course in Management (6M4587) in Bray Institute of Further Education and gain direct entry into the second year of that same degree in DIT.
Over the past few years, graduates of BIFE have achieved honours degrees across a wide range of programmes, opening up a myriad of career opportunities from graphic design to performing arts to psychology.
This year BIFE will offer Higher National Diplomas in the following:
Fine Art - Art Practice Acting
Dance
TV & Film (Moving Image) Music Production Music Performance Applied Social Studies Graphic Design Fashion Design
As Gabriel Allen explained, “These nine courses will allow graduating students to proceed to the final year of an honours Degree Programme in Ireland or Britain if that is their ultimate ambition.”
Bray Institute will offer a number of new courses in September ‘19:
Architectural Technology HND Level 6
Restaurant & Bar Operations Level 5
Occupational Therapy Assistant Level 5
Dietetics, Nutrition & Food Science Level 5
Animation & Motion Graphics Level 5
Construction Technology with Sustainable Energy Level 5
Mobile Technologies & App Design Level 5
Entrepreneurship & Digital Marketing Level 5 Pharmacy Technician Level 6 Estate Agency Practice & Auctioneering Level 5
Smart Building Technologies Level 6
Beauty Sales Consultant Level 5
All of the above courses will offer progression routes to higher education.
Allen assured that there are many opportunities for mature students to study and progress at BIFE. “All courses have valuable certification and offer progression routes to Higher Education, yet you don’t need CAO points to study at Bray Institute.”
Bray Institute will be holding a Career / Open day on Friday 18th January from 10am to 4pm. Potential students, parents, and career guidance teachers will have the opportunity to speak to the staff who, with their educational knowledge and specialist industry experience, can guide you in the right direction. Workshops, demonstrations, presentations and career lectures will run throughout the day and visitors can speak to students and get their views on the courses.
Applications for September 2019 Courses are now open. Apply on-line at www.bife.ie or call the Institute any day during office hours on 01-2829668 for further information.