Support & Guidance
Find answers to questions about completing your online application by browsing this page. Click any question to view the answer. Please use the contact details below if you need any further help.
A range of documents are required to support your application. These need to be submitted online. This section explains how to prepare your documents for electronic submission.
Application document packs are provided as zip files. Most modern computers can open zip files directly. A short video on the original Application Help page explains a number of different ways to unzip a file.
You can scan a document with just about any modern printer. Each model handles scanning slightly differently, but the process is generally the same — place the document on the scanner, choose ‘scan to file’, and save the resulting image or PDF to your computer.
Using your smartphone or a camera to take photos of your forms and transcripts is a very easy way to assemble the documents for your application. Perhaps the simplest method is to email the photos from your phone to yourself, then download them onto your computer and upload them to the application centre. There are also a number of dedicated scanning apps for mobile phones, but a clear, well-lit photo of the whole form or transcript is usually sufficient.
The application form is organised into eight short sections. Any field marked with a red asterisk (*) must be completed before we can register your application. You don’t have to complete the form in one go — as long as you register your application and pay the fee, you can submit supporting documents or amend details up until the application closing date.
Begin by identifying the course you are applying for using the two drop-down menus. Choose the course category — Social Care, Management or CPD — from the first drop-down menu, then select the name of the course you are applying for from the second drop-down menu.
You must provide your preferred salutation, name, gender, date and place of birth, and nationality. You will also need to enter your PPS number if you have one. As well as a scanned copy of photo identification, we will also need contact details for another person we can contact in case of emergency. To upload a copy of your photo ID, click the Choose File button, select the appropriate file on your computer, then click OK.
You will need to provide your home address plus a mobile number and email address. We’d also like your work number, but it’s up to you to decide if you want us to contact you using it. Identifying how you first heard about the course also helps us understand better how we can serve the educational needs of our sector.
This section is used by people applying to courses with specific educational prerequisites — Advanced Entry to the BA in Professional Social Care (Disability), the Honours BA in Professional Social Care (Disability), the Higher Certificate in Arts in Applied Management (Human Services), and the BA in Applied Management (Human Services). To upload your transcripts, click Choose File, select the appropriate file, then click OK. The same process is used for both second-level (Leaving Certificate) and Further/Higher Education transcripts. You can enter additional information in the Education text box (up to 2,000 characters or about 300 words) — for example, to support a request for specific exemptions.
All applicants who are either working or volunteering in the sector should tick the Yes radio button. This will expand the form and provide space for you to enter details of your employment history or upload a copy of your Volunteer Document. Applicants to our Social Care courses will also need to provide a copy of their Employer Verification Form. To upload it, click Choose File, select the file, then click OK.
This section is optional but should be completed if you have specific requirements or medical needs. Tick the Yes check-box if you have any medical condition or specific needs. Any information you provide will be treated in strictest confidence but can be shared with your tutors if you feel it is appropriate.
Applicants to the Honours Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies (Disability Service Management) will need to provide contact information for two referees.
The personal statement is a key part of your application — it should explain exactly why you want to enrol in the course. We provide a Word document with four prompts: tell us a little about yourself; where are you currently working or volunteering; what do you hope to achieve in your career; and why do you want to take the course and how will it help you achieve your goals. Replies should be short — your personal statement should be around 300 words. Once written, copy and paste your answers into the Personal Statement text box on the application form. You do not need to have prepared your statement before beginning your application — you can modify it at any time before the closing date.
Once you’ve entered the information required to register your application, you will need to agree to the College’s terms and conditions. These are there to protect your privacy. You can then pay your application fee by clicking the Proceed to Payment button. The application fee is €110 if you pay by debit card.
After payment has been received, an email will be sent to the address you provided. This contains a username and password for your application management account, which can be used to add additional information (such as transcripts or forms), monitor the progress of your application, and pay fees if you are offered a place. It is therefore very important that you keep your application management account information safe and secure. Once your application is registered, we’ll review it and provide any assistance you need to ensure it’s ready for assessment and discussion.