Going to College
WHEN you are leaving school you may be intending to start work or you may be planning to go to college. Many young people go onto to third-level or higher education after they have obtained their Leaving Certificate. Some people work for a number of years and then go to college as mature students. If you are interested in doing a third-level course, you need to start thinking about it before you leave school. Their is a wide range of information available about higher and further education courses, from university degrees to certificates and diplomas in further education colleges and institutes of technology. You need to check the application procedure for third-level college before you start your last year at school. If you have a disability or you are a school leaver from a socially disadvantaged background there are supports to help you to access third-level education.
You should check whether you have to pay fees for your college course. Most students doing undergraduate courses do not have to pay the fees. If you do have to pay fees you may claim tax relief on the fees for most third-level courses. There are means tested grants for students doing third-level courses. Somewhere to live
Many students live at home while at college but you may live too far away to travel there every day. Many colleges have residences for some students but you may have to rent accommodation near the college. You may be looking for a house share or a flat to rent and, if you find one, you should be aware of rights as a tenant.