[ClaireK]

I was wondering if anyone can tell me the difference between a Higher Diploma level 8 and an honours degree level 8 ? I am currently studying Human Resources degree in cit by night i am in 2nd year of a 3 year course which will lead me to a level 7 ordinary bachelors degree. I decided that i really would love to become a primary school teacher last year so i decided to repeat my irish leaving cert in order to get the c3 in honours so i will be doing that this june. Initially CIT said that they were going be doing a 4th year in Human Resources which would lead to a honours degree level 8 which would qualify me to do the H dip in Arts in Primary Education in Hibernia college. So i was very disappointed to discover that they are not going to be going ahead with this 4th year now. So i then found a course called a H dip in Arts in Public Relations in Cit by night which takes one year. On their leaflet they say that that this is a hetac level 8 course and level 8 is the equivalent to honours degree level.

I rang Hibernia College yesterday as i found this on their website on entry requirements for the course "Please note an NFQ Level 8 higher diploma on its own does not fulfill this requirement ". They seemed to be unsure and couldnt give me a straight answer if this course would qualify me or not! I am so confused now as to what is the difference between the h dip level and the level 8 degree. I am living 60 miles away from Cork city so it is already very hard travelling up and down to college 2 times a week and studying irish !! I would love if i could find out first if the H Dip level 8 in PR in cit would qualify me for the hibernia course or if there was another course which i could do by night or by distance learning to top my level 7 degree in hr to get me the level 8 degree. I am anxious to qualify for the hibernia course as soon as possible. I am 27 and working full time in administration and really want the career change. I am married with a mortgage so am fairly limited on my options as i cant do any course full time. I am open to do any type of course to top up my level 7 to a level 8 it doesnt necessarily have to be Human resources

[Minitonka]

I can understand your confusion. I would check with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (www.nqai.ie) or /and HETAC (www.hetac.ie) to clarify the position. It may also be wise to check with one of the other Teacher Training Colleges to see what they say about it. According to the website of St.Patricks, Drumcondra (www.spd.dcu.ie), the entry requirements for their postgraduate conversion course for Primary Teaching would require: an honours Bachelor degree (level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) or a qualification at level 9 or 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications, and
(b) one of the following sets of second level qualifications:
(i) in the Leaving Certificate Examination from 1969 onwards: a grade C3 or above in Higher Level Irish; a grade D3 or above in Mathematics (Ordinary or
Higher level); and a grade C3 or above in English (Ordinary level) or grade D3 or above in English (Higher level). The Institute of Public Administration offers an honours NUI degree in HR by distance learning or part-time in their regional centres. See www.ipa.ie/content.asp?id=192 for details.

[ClaireK]

Hi Minitonka
Thanks a million for your advice.I have got more information on h dip level 8 and it has been confirmed that this will not qualify for the hibernia course it would have to be h dip level 9 to be the equivalent of a level 8 honours degree. Well at least i found out now before it is to late.
I am wondering now am i wasting my time its such a long way about getting the primary school teaching I am definitely sitting the irish exam in june now anyway as i have put alot of work into it. I have been studying for that since last june and i have the oral exam in 2 weeks. I have the rest of the requirements in the leaving cert.
Im just afraid that
1) the conversion course may be stopped due to the lack of demand for teachers
2) i may not even get accepted for hibernia as they are so much competition to get into the course
3) if i do the hibernia course there is no guarantee of a teaching position afterwards !
I have a secure job with good pay at the moment. I really would love to become a teacher though but by looking at this site it seems that there are loads of people who are trying to the same thing as me . I did ring the institute of public Administration and they do have HR Degree course they said once i have completed my level 7 course to send the transcripts to them and hopefully i will be exempt from the first 3 years of the course and i could go straight into 4th year and do it through distance learning. Its costs €3800 a year though and i would have to go to Dublin for a few weekends throughout the course. At least i know there is another option now. Studying through cit is very handy for me though as i find that even by talking to the other students you learn alot from each other and its great to have the extra support. My husband is also studying there by night and costs about €750-900 per semester. They arent very helpful when it comes to career advice though. I know there is another option in cit that i could go into a business level 8 degree which would take almost 2 years and i would get the level 8 but i dont think i could bare the thought of adding on another year to my plan of becoming a teacher !!! The cost of all the courses adds up as well. €3800 is alot to pay for one year and then to have to try and pay the money for the hibernia course as well the year after. I did enquire with the open university as well and there were a few things i could do through them as well but again it was very expensive and im not sure if i would have the discipline to study all on my own !!! I dont know what to do.

[ClaireK]

Hi Minitonka
I have investigated a bit further into how to top up my level 7 degree to a level 8 and i have discovered that i could do a few subjects through the open university. I would have to do 2 modules at a level 3 level which would be 60 points each and i would then qualify for a open university honours degree. I contacted Hibernia college and they said that this would qualify me.There are couple of modules that i found of interest that would be geared toward working with young people. "Working together with children" , " Youth Perspectives and Practise" and " Social Psychology" Im not sure if these courses would be to hard to study if you have not studied them previously though, they do recommend that you do these topics on a level 1 or level 2 basis before going straight into a level 3 course. Do you know of anyone that has studied through the open university before ? You would have to be very self disciplined i presume !

[Minitonka]

That sounds promising. Sorry I do not have any first or second hand knowledge about anyone who has studied with OU. Distance Learning always requires a certain amount of self-discipline but I am sure you would manage it as you are very motivated. I will not be answering any further questions for the immediate future so good luck!

[mathewstuart]

All the matters go for change that creates some problem here.

[EMMA1986]

Hi everyone, i need your help.

I have done a 3 year full time Montessori Diploma in A.M.I in Milltown. This gives me recognition to work in a special school or a resource teacher in a primary school. I have been working as a resource teacher in a primary school for two years and i have been probated in this setting. I am now thinking of doing a pgce course in the UK to get full recognition as a primary teacher. I dont know what additional qualifications i would need. PGCE courses do state that you need a degree or equivalent qualification. I dont know if being probated adds to my chances of getting in.

Anyone been here??