FULL TIME ENTRY-SEPTEMBER 2012 

CIT holds a Mature Student Information Evening on Wednesday 30th November from 6.00-9.00pm in the Library (Berkeley) Building, Bishopstown Campus. Each year, CIT welcomes a new cohort of mature students and is continually working towards wider entry routes in order to increase participation of adult learners. Returning to education as a mature candidate after a break, or entering it for the first time can be a very daunting prospect. However, it can also be a very exciting and life changing experience. Now is the time to consider your options if you are thinking of pursuing a programme of study in Cork Institute of Technology in 2012.

A Mature Student is defined as anybody who is 23 years or older by 1st January on the year of entry to a full time course. The closing date for receipt of applications for mature applicants is 1st February 2012.

Sinéad O'Neill, Mature Student Officer in CIT is encouraging anybody who is thinking about returning to education to come along to the Information Evening to view what’s on offer in CIT for Mature Students. “This event will provide people with an opportunity to have their questions answered on specific courses. It will provide important information on how to apply for a course in CIT and the cost implications of returning to full time education. People can find out about the range of options that are available to them. It will also give them an insight into the various supports available in CIT specifically for mature students’. These include the Mature Student Support Network, academic support workshops, financial assistance etc.”

There is an array of courses at certificate, diploma, degree, and honours degree level to choose from within CIT. Mature Students comprise of approximately 10% of the overall student population in CIT. Mature applicants represent a wide variety of backgrounds including those studying Further Education courses (FETAC), people who have worked in an industry for a number of years and are now looking for a career change, people who are currently out of work and wish to re-train or upskill. Previous educational experience varies hugely among mature applicants. Some applicants may have left school after junior cycle and may have been out of education for 20 years or more, and some may have returned to full time education in recent years, perhaps coming back to complete the Leaving Certificate or undertaking a FETAC course in an area of interest and are now ready to pursue a course at third level. All of our courses in CIT are open to mature applicants. At the Information Evening, representatives from a broad range of courses will be available to answer your questions at the Information Stands from 6.00pm - 7.30pm. From 7pm onwards, there will be a choice of presentations to attend, covering topics such as; the application process, fees and grants, taking steps to third level, the mature student experience.

Marion Gaffney, a 2nd year student in the Bachelor of Business in Business and Management, talks about returning to education as a mature student.

“I left school at 15. After major back surgery in 2008, I decided to go back to college; something I wanted to do for years but never thought that I was capable. I studied a FETAC Level 5 course and then applied to CIT in 2010 which is the best thing that I’ve done.

The support here is fabulous even starting with the Orientation days you met people of a similar age. That was great as I was anxious about that. I thought that I may have been too old’. CIT runs a two day Orientation Programme for mature applicants who have accepted a course in CIT. The aim of the programme is to ease the transition into CIT for mature students by inviting them into the college prior to the commencement of their course. During the programme, participants are provided with a tour of CIT campuses, introductory support workshops, and information on student services.

Meeting people my own age made it a lot easier for me to settle in. As part of the Orientation days I loved the fact that students who started off like I did here at my age, are now doing their Masters! They came to speak to us which I found very inspiring and I thought ok, I can do this! The Orientation days for me were the encouragement to stay, you walked out of here and couldn’t wait to come back and study here. They showed us where the gym was, where the library was, they showed us how to set up our email which was quite good for someone like me who is not very technical. It made you feel like you had started already and that you were part of the place.

I have found the mature student supports fabulous. When we were having problems with certain modules they put on extra tutorials especially with the economics, which I find a very hard subject, but I found with the extra tutorial classes, I’m absolutely flying at it now and I love it!

I am really enjoying studying and I'm so glad that I eventually plucked up the courage to go back to complete my education. I passed with a 1st last year and am doing very well this year so far and hoping for another 1st at the end of 2nd year.  I intend to carry on and do a Masters in Business Information Systems, all going well, as I am now enjoying all of the IT (studies) and that was my weakest skill when I started.  I also love learning Spanish, as I always wanted to learn a language. I hope to get a job in the technology side of business in the future, where I can use my new language and hopefully get to travel and see the world as it has always been a dream of mine.”

If you want to do what Marion did and return to education why not call Christine on 021-4335138 or Sinéad on 021-4335109 to explore your options.