January 2009 Information Evening for Prospective Mature Students at NUI Galway

(Leagan Gaeilge) NUI Galway will hold an information evening for mature students considering undertaking a full-time undergraduate degree programme. The event will be held on Thursday, 15 January, at 8pm, in the Colm Ó hEocha Theatre, Arts Millennium Building, NUI Galway. Information will be provided on the programmes available to mature students, on entry requirements and on the application and selection procedures. There will also be a focus on financial and other supports. Each year at NUI Galway, a quota of places on most programmes is reserved for mature students, who are deemed to be those aged 23 and over. Applications for degree courses are made in the normal way for University entrants through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February. Trish Hoare, Mature Students Officer at NUI Galway, has noticed a growing interest in returning to formal study: "With the economic downturn, many are looking to develop new employment opportunities by studying for a degree. There has been much interest in Nursing and in the Health Sciences programmes such as Occupational Therapy. There will be a representative at the open information evening to take questions relating to these programmes". Trish Hoare points out that there are various financial supports for mature students: "Tuition fees are free for first-time undergraduates. There are also higher education grants to avail of if an individual is eligible and meets certain criteria. Social Welfare recipients may be entitled to back to education allowance, again, if they meet certain criteria. We hope to provide further information on all of these and other supports in the advisory session". A presentation will also be given on the University's special Access Programme for socio-economically disadvantaged mature students and on the pre-University Foundation Courses in Science and Engineering, and in Commerce. For further information on the information evening contact Trish Hoare on 091 492695 trish.hoare@nuigalway.ie

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Oíche Eolais do Dhaoine ar Spéis leo Freastal ar OÉ Gaillimh mar Mhic Léinn Lánfhásta (View in English) Tionólfaidh OÉ Gaillimh oíche eolais do dhaoine atá ag smaoineamh ar thabhairt faoi chlár fochéime lánaimseartha mar mhic léinn lánfhásta. Eagrófar an ócáid i dTéatar Choilm Uí Eocha, Áras Dán na Mílaoise, OÉ Gaillimh Déardaoin, 15 Eanáir ag 8i.n. Tabharfar eolas faoi na cláir atá ar fáil do mhic léinn lánfhásta, faoi na riachtanais iontrála agus faoi na nósanna imeachta iarratais agus roghnaithe. Díreofar chomh maith ar an tacaíocht airgid agus ar chineálacha eile tacaíochta atá ar fáil. Gach bliain in OÉ Gaillimh, coinnítear cuóta áiteanna ar mhórchuid na gclár do mhic léinn lánfhásta, ar daoine iad atá 23 bliain d'aois nó níos sine ná sin. Déantar iarratais ar na cláir chéime, ar an ngnáthbhealach a ndéanann iontrálaithe Ollscoile é, tríd an Lár-Oifig Iontrála (CAO) faoin 1 Feabhra. Tá sé tugtha faoi deara ag Trish Hoare, Oifigeach na Mac Léinn Lánfhásta in OÉ Gaillimh, go bhfuil an spéis atá ag daoine filleadh ar an staidéar foirmiúil ag méadú: "I bhfianaise na géarchéime eacnamaíochta tá go leor daoine ag iarraidh deiseanna nua fostaíochta a thapú trí chéim a bhaint amach. Tá an-spéis ag daoine san Altranas agus sna cláir Eolaíochtaí Sláinte ar nós na Teiripe Saothair. Beidh ionadaí ag an oíche oscailte eolais a bheidh in ann ceisteanna faoi na cláir seo a fhreagairt". Deir Trish Hoare go bhfuil cineálacha éagsúla tacaíochta airgid ar fáil do mhic léinn lánfhásta: "Ní bhíonn aon táillí teagaisc le híoc ag daoine atá ag tabhairt faoi bhunchéim den chéad uair. Bíonn deontais ardoideachais ar fáil chomh maith dóibh siúd a bhíonn ina dteideal agus a chomhlíonann critéir áirithe. D fhéadfadh lucht faighte liúntas Leasa Shóisialta a fháil chomh maith chun filleadh ar an oideachas ach critéir áirithe a chomhlíonadh. Tá súil againn tuilleadh eolais a thabhairt fúthu seo ar fad agus faoi chineálacha eile tacaíochta atá ann ag an seisiún comhairleach". Déanfar cur i láthair chomh maith ar Chlár Rochtana Speisialta na hOllscoile do mhic léinn lánfhásta atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste socheacnamaíoch agur ar an mBonnchúrsa réamh-Ollscoile san Eolaíocht agus san Innealtóireacht, agus ar an mBonnchúrsa réamh-Ollscoile sa Tráchtáil. Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoin oíche eolais, déan teagmháil le Trish Hoare ag 091 492695 trish.hoare@nuigalway.ie -críoch-