Leaving Certificate courses obtained at Institutes of Technology. Examples of subject areas include Design, Engineering, Science, Business Studies, and Nursing. Students study a specific aspect of a subject area, for example, Mechanical Engineering or Food Science. They can progress to Degree level study if they obtain the requisite grades. National Certificate Two-year post leaving Certificate course also obtained at an Institute of Technology.
Students can progress onto Diploma level on obtaining specified marks.
These courses, typically of one-year duration, combines work placements and academic study. Most courses lead students into specific job areas for example Hairdressing, Travel and Tourism, Tele-services, Accounting, Secretarial Studies. Some courses may allow entry to Institutes of Technology. This is a two-year post Junior Certificate with subjects studied at Higher and Ordinary levels. Leaving Certificate grades are weighted for entry to third level education, see Table 1.