European Schools

The Department of Education and Science (DES) provides funding for access to appropriate guidance for the children of Irish parents who are enrolled in the European Schools. This service is coordinated by the National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) and is delivered by guidance counsellors who are employed in Irish schools. It is intended to supplement, but not replace, the guidance support already available to students in the European Schools. It is geared specifically to the needs of  Irish students who may be considering applying to Irish third-level institutions and who have questions regarding general entry requirements, particular course requirements and application procedures and deadlines.

There are two models of delivery:

• In European Schools with larger numbers of Irish students (usually the schools in Brussels and Luxembourg), an Irish guidance counsellor visits the school annually. The guidance counsellor generally meets with each Year 7 student individually, and, as appropriate, with groups from Years 5 and 6. In some cases, the guidance counsellor also meets with parents of Year 7 on a designated evening during the visit.

• In the case of schools with smaller numbers of Irish students, an Irish guidance counsellor provides a service by means of telephone contact and/or webcam session as appropriate, by prior arrangement with the school.

Useful Websites:

www.cao.ie

www.nqai.ie

www.hetac.ie

www.careerdirections.ie

www.studentfinance.ie

www.learning.ie

www.careersportal.ie

www.qualifax.ie

www.trainingvillage.gr

and

www.fetac.ie