27-05-2025
The government is offering free college courses - we'll find out what they are today
THE MINISTER FOR Higher Education will today provide an update on Springboard+, a government initiative that provides free and heavily subsidised college courses.
The courses are provided 'at certificate, degree, and masters level leading to qualifications in areas where there are employment opportunities in the economy'.
This year, courses are available in areas aligning with national economic priorities such as infrastructure planning, sustainable building, renewable energy, digital skills, cyber security, and artificial intelligence.
Thirty of the courses will be new and available for the first time
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Minister James Lawless will provide the update on the rollout of
Springboard+
. The initiative is backed by €34.4m in funding from the National Training Fund.
It will deliver 7,719 places across 249 courses for the 2025/26 academic year.
Courses are flexible and accessible, with 96% delivered online or in blended format, designed to support working professionals, jobseekers, and those returning to further education alike, the department said.
Last year, 248 courses were made available under the initiative. Some of the universities offering courses that were covered included Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Cork, University of Galway, University of Limerick, and University College Dublin.
You can check your eligibility for the initiative
here
. You must have a valid PPS number and be living full-time in the Republic of Ireland.
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