Diploma In Foundation Studies: Access Courses For Higher Education School Leavers

Course details

The Access Course aims to provide school leavers with the opportunity to prepare personally and academically for an undergraduate course of full-time study of at duration at NUI Galway. The course is designed to meet the learning needs of the student and provide individual attention and assistance where appropriate.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Students will normally have a minimum of 2C (higher level) and 4 (ordinary level) grades to demonstrate their ability to manage academically. Students cannot always be guaranteed entry at this level. Students who have completed a post-leaving certificate course of study are eligible.

Course Outline

The course content consists of core subjects and academic options. The

core subjects include:

• Study Skills
• Applied Writing
• Information Technology
• Educational Guidance

The academic options provide students with introductory University

courses as a prelude to continuing their studies at a higher level. Students generally study four academic options, from the following subjects:

Arts: Philosophy, Sociology, Irish, English, Mathematics, Economics

Science/Engineering/IT/Health Sciences: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Commerce: Economics, Mathematics

Celtic Studies: Irish

The exact subjects on offer in a given year may vary, depending on the availability of specialist tutors. There may also be guest lectures in subjects such as Psychology, Classical Civilisation and Archaeology or on other subjects

Requirements And Assessment

The criteria for successful completion of this course involve satisfactory attendance and performance in all elements of the programme. Students’ academic progress is measured through a process of written and oral continuous assessment and examinations held at the end of each semester.

Personal (home) study is an integral and important part of the course.

Students also have the opportunity to attend some undergraduate

lectures on campus, by arrangement.