student walking TU Dublin

Why Part Time Study

Part time study at TU Dublin – A flexible pathway to lifelong learning 

Each year we enroll more than 3,000 students onto our part-time and continuing education courses. Many of these students are professionals already working in industry, undertaking part-time study to upskill and to further develop their career prospects. Other students will take a part-time course in order to achieve a personal goal in their lifelong learning, enrolling as a mature student. Whatever stage you're at and wherever you want to go, TU Dublin will help you get there. 

Across a broad range of disciplines, TU Dublin offers flexible learning options to meet both your individual and professional needs.

These include: 

Higher Certificate

The Higher Certificate is typically a two-year course at Level 6. These courses will provide the student with the core fundamentals of their chosen subject and will serve as a pathway into employment, and a route into further study at degree level. Students with Higher Certificate awards have established themselves in key roles in local industries and many now work in multinationals located in Ireland. Some now manage their own businesses. 

Bachelor Degree

The the next step on the ladder of progression is the Bachelor Degree. This is a one-year add on to the Higher Certificate and takes the students' qualifications up to Level 7; it is thus another step up on the ladder of opportunity. This award certifies that you possess an extra layer of knowledge and proficiency in your chosen discipline and entitles you to apply or be promoted to jobs that require more expertise and some management skills.  

Honours Bachelor Degree

On completion of your Level 7 qualification, you may decide to progress to the Level 8 Honours degree. This is normally completed within one year of additional study and it completes the students undergraduate journey. An honours graduate has the potential for a wide range of employment/promotional opportunities at management level and will also have the requisite skills to progress on to Postgraduate study, should they wish to do so. 

As well as these three routes of entry, we also offer a range of ‘ab initio’ (direct entry) Honours Bachelor Degree courses. These are completed in four years and are ideal for students who feel ready to commit themselves to an Honours course from day one. 

Post Graduate Study 

Due to an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing employment market, more Irish people than ever before are pursuing postgraduate courses. Graduates know that specialising at postgraduate level is a definite way to prepare for a job market that is continuously evolving. Postgraduate education will not only boost your earnings and employability potential but will also expose you to innovative ideas and fresh perspectives, which will be readily applicable to your chosen career. Providing an industry-focused postgraduate curriculum in state-of-the-art facilities, we offer a broad range of full time, part time and conversion courses to suit your needs. See more at https://www.tudublin.ie/study/postgraduate/  

Minor, Supplemental and Special Purpose Award

TU Dublin offers a number of accredited awards that recognise the successful completion of smaller parcels of learning in a range of subject areas. These are particularly relevant to those who may not be able to commit to longer courses. 

Springboard+

The Springboard+ upskilling initiative offers free and subsidised courses at certificate, degree and masters level leading to qualifications in areas where there are employment opportunities in the economy. 

Springboard+ courses are available to the unemployed, returners (formerly homemakers), formerly self-employed, the employed and recent graduates. Most of the courses are offered on a part-time basis for a maximum of 12 months and are open to all eligible applicants regardless of their employment status. Further information on eligibility, courses available and details on how to apply are available at https://www.tudublin.ie/study/springboard/ 

Flexible & Manageable Modular Learning 

Our part time programmes are delivered as a series of modules. A module is a discrete unit of learning. When individual modules are completed, you gain credits towards your award. In most cases, successful completion of a module will earn you five credits towards an award. To gain a major award (such as a Higher Certificate) 120 credits are normally required; for a minor award, fewer credits will be needed. All of the programmes offered by TU Dublin has gone through a consultation process with business and industry to ensure that the modules making up each programme are really relevant and will give you the skills you need to be able to work successfully in that field. Some of the programmes in TU Dublin offer the opportunity to pursue your own particular interests by allowing you to choose ‘elective’ modules to suit your needs. 

Flexible Course Delivery

Most part-time courses at TU Dublin run over two semesters in the academic year; September to January and February to May. This approach takes the pressure off students who do not like the idea of a single examination measuring the entire year’s work. Students will also be continuously assessed through course work and assignments as they complete their studies. Many courses will combine a mix of both online and on-campus learning, allowing the student to balance their studies with their real-life commitments.  

A qualification from TU Dublin is one that will help you to grow academically, personally, and professionally. We look forward to welcoming you as you embark on your educational journey and we invite you to discover our full range of part time courses at www.tudublin.ie/part-time 

Contact Us

If you have any questions about commencing a part time course, please contact our Department of Lifelong Learning by email at lifelonglearning@tudublin.ie