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Graphic Design & Illustration

PLC Post Leaving Cert
5M1995

Graphic design is a vehicle for communication as well as self-expression. It is about communicating visually in order to inform, educate, entertain or persuade. Graphic designers provide creative, visual solutions for anything from magazine layout to packaging design.

Award Name Level 5 Certificate (Level 5 NFQ)
NFQ Classification Major
Awarding Body QQI
NFQ Level Level 5 NFQ
Award Name NFQ Classification Awarding Body NFQ Level
Level 5 Certificate (Level 5 NFQ) Major QQI Level 5 NFQ
Location:
Cork City
Attendance Options:
Full time, Daytime
Apply to:
Course provider

Duration

1 year full-time.

Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP or LCA) or equivalent

For mature applicants appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications.

Students should present samples of drawing or design work at
interview.

Careers / Further progression

Education Progression Opportunities
MTU Cork: MT823 Visual Communications
TUS Limerick: LC110 -Art and Design (Common Entry)
TUS Athlone: AL863 Graphic and Digital Design
WIT: WD137 Design Visual Communications,
IADT: DL826 Graphic Design
NCAD: AD101 Art and Design (Common Entry), AD102 Graphic Design, AD217-Illustration
UCC: CK101, CK105, CK107, CK108, CK109, CK113, CK117, CK118, CK210, CK301, CK307
WIT: WD137; WD211
Dún Laoghaire, AIT: DL826, AL861
NCAD: AD101; AD102

We advise you to consult the CAO website – www.cao.ie and http://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=fetac_ to confirm specific entry requirements for Higher Education Institutions.

QQI Level 6 awards may have advanced entry options into some Higher Education Institutions

Career Opportunities
Graphic designers work in design firms, publishers and advertising agencies. Self-employed.

QQI FET Links to CAO Courses

Course Web Page

Further information

Commencement of Course
Courses begin in mid-September with a Welcome & Orientation Session.

Participants who do not attend the first day of the course my forfeit their place unless written notice is received to the college admissions office beforehand.

International Students
Cork College of FET welcomes applications from eligible international students. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they meet Immigration and Visa requirements prior to applying for a place on a course. Post Leaving Certificate courses DO NOT feature on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes which lists the courses for which an overseas, non-EU/EEA applicant may apply for a study visa to enter the country.

Applications from citizens of EU/EEA countries are not liable for tuition fees, however other course fees may apply.

Mature students are welcome to apply.

€400
Student Charges
Materials: €100
QQI Fee: €50
Student Services: €250

Courses in the college are funded by the Department of Education and SOLAS (the Further Education and Training Authority, with support from the European Social Fund. There are no tuition fees for PLC courses for EU/UK/EEA students.
Course fees are made up of:
• Student Services fee
• Examination fees
• Course Specific costs

Exemptions may apply - contact the college or view the college website.

As part of the course fee, the college campus includes a Student Services Fee. This part covers the supply of additional classroom and study materials, some field trips, industrial site visits, guest lecturers on certain courses, access to college campus IT and printing supports for students, the availability of many college campus leisure and recreational opportunities and support for college campus teams and societies.

This charge applies to ALL students and no exemptions apply; however a student who takes up a confirmed VTOS place will have the charge refunded.

QQI (Quality & Qualifications Ireland) examination fees are €50 for Level 5 courses, or €80 for Level 6 courses.

Some courses incur additional costs for course related items, e.g. student’s kits and uniforms, manuals etc. The Student Services fee includes all these costs. The costs associated any such items apply to all students, including VTOS.

A full breakdown of the fee per course is shown at the individual
campus fee web page.

Maintenance Grant (SUSI)
Learners attending full-time Further Education PLC courses may be eligible for a means-tested maintenance grant. Information regarding eligibility and application details is available at
www.susi.ie

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Cork College of FET understands that learning takes place throughout life and in many settings, such as work or voluntary activities, sporting and participation in community events. We also know that learners may dip in and out of formal education throughout a lifetime depending on their needs. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is when formal recognition is given for the learning you have already achieved prior to starting on a course.

Relevant prior learning may allow a learner to gain accreditation for a component award that forms part of a programme of study. Cork College of FET provides support to learners to apply for RPL.
RPL is available for certain component awards in Cork College of FET. If you feel that RPL may be relevant to you, please contact the campus where you intend to study to discuss further.

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme – VTOS
The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) provides a range of supports to allow individuals who are unemployed to return to education or training. The scheme allows successful applicants to keep their Social Welfare Allowances while attending their course in the college. All full-time day courses in each campus are eligible for VTOS.

Applicants must be in receipt of one of these qualifying payments immediately before starting the scheme:
• Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit
• Jobseekers Transitional
• One Parent Family Allowance
• Blind Pension
• Deserted Wife’s Allowance; Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension;
Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Non-Contributory Pension
• Prisoner’s Spouse Allowance
• An Adult Dependent on a person in receipt of Unemployment Assistance
• Disability Allowance
• Illness Benefit (you must apply to the Exemption Section, Dept of Social, Community & Family Affairs, Store St. Dublin 1 for an exemption to attend the course)

Places are Limited on the VTOS programme and are prioritised on the basis of:
i. Educational need
ii. Period of time in receipt of Social Welfare payments

To apply for VTOS:
1. Complete the Cork College of FET Enrolment Procedure as above.
2. A VTOS application form is also filled out with a passport size photograph included. Do NOT complete the back page of the form.
3. Return the form to the campus VTOS Office.
4. The closing date for receipt of VTOS applications forms is September, 8th, 2023.
Application Forms received after this date will be treated as a late application.
Further information and enquiries regarding VTOS should be made to the campus VTOS contact person.

Back to Education Allowance- BTEA
The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a scheme for unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities who are getting certain payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP). DEASP are the decision makers in relation to who will be awarded BTEA.

The allowance can be paid to people who wish to undertake approved second or third level courses of education. BTEA is not an unemployment payment. This weekly allowance is not means tested and you can work part-time without affecting your BTEA payment.

Any full-time day course provided by the Cork College of FET is eligible for BTEA as long as the applicant is progressing their level of education qualification i.e. if an applicant has a Level 5 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) they must undertake a course that leads to a Level 6 qualification at least.

Further Information is available at www.studentfinance.ie

Yes

Students should present samples of drawing or design work at interview.

How to Apply
Full Time Day Programmes
Applications are invited from early January of each year or once the college’s Online Admissions System becomes live.

Step 1
An online application form (only in exceptional circumstance should a hard copy application form be completed) and submitted through the college’s Admissions System accessed through the college website www.stjohnscollege.ie All applications are acknowledged by an automated email.

Currently the college operates three round of offers in March, May and late August/early September, however some programmes alternate interview arrangements posted on individual programme pages on the college website.

Step 2
Places are offered subject a satisfactory interview and meeting the requirements of the programme as laid out in the individual course outlines as displayed in the college website.

Once the criteria above are met a Letter of Offer is issued outlining the registration process and charges to be paid. Upon receipt of a Letter of offer, a successful applicant may secure a place on the programme by paying within 5 working days a minimum deposit. Applicants will forfeit their place of offer if the registration process as laid down is not adhered to.

The procedure for online payments is as follows:
• A minimum deposit as outlined in the Letter of Offer must be paid online by the applicant using his/her username and password on the St John’s Admissions System and the balance of charges must be paid before class commences.
• Applicants are requested to present a Birth Certificate or Passport and a certified copy of their Leaving Certificate results if available.

Medical Card Holders & Vocational, Training and Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), New Directions and Applied Computer Training applicants:
• Medical Card Holders may exempt from exam fees and reduce the balance of their charges.
• There are no charges to VTOS applicants, and funded programmes such as New Directions and Applied Computer Training applicants

Refund of Payments
• Where a student subsequently does not take up their place on a course they may apply for a refund. Refunds will not be paid after October 31st in any year.
• In the case of all Refunds, a charge will be retained by the College to cover Administration Costs incurred.
• Should there be a difficulty with any of the above; the college will help in any possible.

Overview
Graphic design is a vehicle for communication as well as self-expression. It is about communicating visually in order to inform, educate, entertain or persuade. Graphic designers provide creative, visual solutions for anything from magazine layout to packaging design.

Students will produce a portfolio of design work, including posters, magazine layouts, logo design, book illustration, drawing and more.

You will be encouraged to explore and express your ideas through a variety of media while developing your own unique and individual approach to visual problem solving.

Work Placement/Experience
Participants will be required to undertake 10 days of work placement in a relevant location. The College will assist participants in identifying suitable placements.

Work Placement/Experience
Participants will be required to undertake 10 days of work placement in a relevant location. The College will assist participants in identifying suitable placements.

5N1978: Graphic Design Skills
5N1288: Illustration
5N0784: Design Skills
5N0785: Desktop Publishing
5N1929: Computer Illustrated Graphics
5N3485: Typography
5N1862: Drawing
5N0764: Combined Materials
5N1356: Work Experience
5N0690: Communications

5M1995 Graphic Design

Certification: Graphic Design Level 5 5M1995

Facilities
Fully equipped iMac room with packages including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and In-Design.

Admissions office
t: +353 21 425 5500
e: douglasstreetcampus@corketb.ie

Course Co-ordinator:
Sinead O’Halloran
e: graphicdesign@stjohnscollege.ie

Location:
Cork City
Attendance Options:
Full time, Daytime
Apply to:
Course provider