Further Education

Further Education Courses

Some of An Cosán’s accredited Further Education programmes take place face-to-face in our community education centre in Jobstown, some are delivered online and some blended (some face-to-face sessions and some online).

Please contact us at courses@ancosan.ie for further details about courses, costs, financial support, laptop loans and additional supports.

Why study at An Cosán?

Gain a professional qualification in a warm welcoming environment
Work with a dedicated education team who will provide guidance and supports throughout the duration of the programme
Excellent wraparound services, including early years’ education places for your children (when available)
Regular workshops in writing, IT skills and English
Family-friendly timetable
Access to counselling services
Expert tutors to guide you on your learning journey

Community Care

Are you interested in working in health care, community care, residential care, or childcare? Perhaps you are already working in this area? Either way, this is the ideal course for you! You will learn about the roles and responsibilities of a care worker and will develop the practical skills needed to work in a caring environment.

Once you’ve completed the course, you will have the skills and confidence to work either independently or under supervision in a community setting. A variety of roles in social care will be open to you – in social services, respite or residential care and voluntary services. You might choose to work as a carer or a home help, or you might decide to use the Level 5 Certificate as a stepping stone to further education.

By taking part in this course, participants also find they develop their communication skills and further their personal development. It is delivered part-time to allow for an appropriate work/life balance for learners with additional commitments and limited resources.

The modules on offer are:

Care Provision & Practice
Human Growth & Development
Safety and Health at Work
Social Studies

- Work Experience
- Communications
- Care of the Older Person
- Care Support Skills

Entry requirements:

Level 4 or Junior Certificate; mature students with a suitable level of learning
Good level of English language proficiency
No previous work experience required

QQI Level 5 Certificate
(5M2786)

Days: Mondays 09:30 – 12:30, Saturdays 10:00 – 16:00

Duration: 2 Years

Fees: €250 per module (8 modules in total)
(Talk to us about possible funding options)

Community Development

Are you interested in working in community development, community service or addiction services? If so, then this is the course for you!

You will gain the skills needed to work in a multicultural society and ensuring equality and diversity in the community sector. You will also learn how to empower young people and adults to make positive changes in their lives.

You will gain an understanding of important values in community development, including community, collective action, poverty, social change participation, equality, social justice, power and consciousness raising.

The course is delivered part-time to allow for an appropriate work/life balance for learners with additional commitments and limited resources.

The Modules on offer are:

Understanding Community Development
Community Development Practice
Community Addiction Studies
Working with Groups

Work Experience
Communications
Social Studies
Working with Young People

Entry requirements:

Level 4 or Junior Certificate; mature students with a suitable level of learning
Good level of English language proficiency
No previous work experience required

QQI Level 5 Certificate
(5M3050)

Days: Tues/Thurs, 9.30am – 12:30pm

Duration: 2 Years

Fees: €125 module (8 modules in total)

(Part-funded by the DDLETB)

WorkAbility - Business Administration with Digital Skills

Are you interested in working in an administrative role? If so, this is the perfect course for you! Completing this certificate will help you develop IT, administrative communication and organisational skills and will open up exciting job opportunities for you across a variety of organisations.

Learners on this course gain transferable skills for flexible employment so that they can work in an administrative role in any industry they choose. Learners may also choose to progress to higher education and training in a related field. This course is delivered by an online tutor with learners attending class in An Cosán’s learning hub. To gain a full Level 5 Major Award, learners need to complete 8 modules.

The modules on offer are:

Personal and Professional Development
Word Processing
Business Administration
Reception & Office Skills

Communications
Spreadsheet Methods
Manual & Computerised Bookkeeping
Marketing Practice

Entry requirements:

Level 4 or junior certificate, mature students with a suitable level of learning
Good level of English language proficiency
No previous work experience required

QQI Level 5 Certificate
(5M2468)

Days: Tues/Thurs, 09:30 – 12:30

Duration: 2 Years

Fees: €250 per module (8 modules in total)
(Talk to us about possible funding options)

Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care (previously ECCE Level 5)

The Level 5 Certificate in Early Learning & Care is Stage 1 of a two-stage programme leading to a Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care for those who complete both Stages 1 & 2. Learners who complete Stage 1 will receive a Level 5 Certificate in Early Learning and Care.

An Cosán plan to offer this Level 5 Certificate in Early Learning and Care (Stage 1) on a part-time basis over two academic years, which is the equivalent of a one-year full-time programme. The programme is designed to meet the QQI professional award standards for early learning and care at NFQ level 5 and is advertised subject to QQI Validation.

QQI Level 5

Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care (previously ECCE Level 6)

The Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care is Stage 2 in a two-stage programme leading to an Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care at NFQ level 6.

An Cosán plan to offer the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care (Stage 2) on a part-time basis over two academic years, which is the equivalent of a one-year full-time programme. This programme is designed to meet the QQI professional award standards for early learning and care at NFQ Level 6 and is advertised subject to QQI Validation.

QQI Level 6