For many people, school is nothing more than 12 years of interminable boredom, enforced dress codes and ridiculous rules only made bearable by friends. Third-level education, fortunately, is an entirely different proposition. Studying a course that interests you more than makes up for the fact that the work is demanding and time-consuming.

In the last few years universities and colleges have added new courses beyond the traditional science, engineering and humanities degrees, covering fields as diverse as nanotechnology, animation and contemporary culture. In addition, there are independent colleges and professional organisations offering courses in a variety of subjects from fine arts to creative writing to business leadership. This means that there is more to third-level education than students may have considered. It’s worth taking some time to investigate all your options, particularly if you were not offered your first choice by the CAO.
School-leavers, naturally, form the largest group of third-level students, but with the economy in tatters and a tough job market out there, many people are returning to education, either to retrain for new careers or to improve their chances of success in their existing field.
Adam Murphy, an architect with over 10 years’ experience, was made redundant by his firm last year.
“At first I felt despondent. I spent months looking for another job, but there was nothing out there. I was given a decent redundancy package, but I was terrified of what would happen when the money ran out. It took me a long time to accept that this was now my life, but at the beginning of this year, I began to look at it as an opportunity.”
For the last eighteen months, Murphy has been working behind a bar, but he has since applied for and been accepted into a Masters course in community development. “Development is something I’ve always been interested in, and I see this as a chance to do something worthwhile. I’m looking forward to studying again especially because I no longer feel like my life has hit a stand-still.”
While there is no doubt that the job market remains challenging and many graduates who are unable to find work are considering emigration, the government remains committed to developing Ireland as a “smart economy”. The thinking behind this is that investing in science, technology and innovation in areas such as environmental protection, health, agriculture, biotechnology, telecommunications, life sciences, information technology and sustainable energy will drag the country out of economic turmoil and into the future.
Figures vary, but according to reports, up to €3.8 billion will be invested between now and 2016. The funds will be channelled through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions. The aim is to support research by Irish companies and universities, encourage investment by international high-tech companies and help start-up companies get off the ground.
If all goes according to plan, then students studying a related field now should find themselves in high demand in the years to come.
Many school-leavers chose their courses based on parental expectations and recommendations, without really considering what it is that they want to do. Sometimes a ‘sensible’ option, like architecture, does not turn out to be a wise idea after all, and a career that may seem like ‘a pipe dream’, such as in the arts or music industry, may well be within reach.
While it’s no secret that the music industry is competitive, opportunities for graduates of the Sound Training Centre are pretty much unmatched anywhere in the world. This is in part due to the impressive facilities on offer including the Temple Bar Music Centre, Apollo, Sun, and Elektra Studios in Dublin, the Button Factory and Tripod music venues, Temple Lane Rehearsal Studios and the Grouse Lodge Residential Recording Studios in Westmeath. Students get hands-on working experience in these facilities and receive work placements at festivals such as Electric Picnic and Festival of the Fires as part of their training.
Success stories include James Durkin from Roscommon who recently recorded with the Black Eyed Peas and Rihanna in the STC studios; Owen Lewis from Limerick who has worked with REM, Robert Plant and Hole amongst others; and Dani Castlear from Spain who worked on Paulo Nutini’s Sunny Side Up album.
Other graduates have worked with artists such as Snow Patrol, N.E.R.D., Muse, Adebisi Shank, Republic of Loose, Bell X1 and Damien Dempsey as well as working behind the scenes at festivals, stadia and arenas all over the world. If you are interested in learning more, STC hosts open days for potential students to see what is on offer.
Another exciting option is Griffith College’s Faculty of Journalism and Media Communications which offers short-term, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in TV and video production, photography, sound engineering, digital media, journalism and media communications.
Lecturers are professionals and equipment is state of the art, so it’s no wonder that Griffith College has an excellent reputation both at home and abroad. Former students have gone on to work with directors such as Ridley Scott and picked up awards such as the European Parliament Prize for Journalism, Best Feature Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh and Winner of the National Age Action Photography Competition.
Returning to third-level education is not necessarily about changing career direction, retraining to take advantage of the smart economy if it ever materialises, or following a long-held dream — sometimes even a little extra education can go a long way.
Obtaining extra qualifications in your existing field can make a huge difference to your long-term employability and career prospects, whether this is by doing post-graduate studies or short-term courses designed to help you ‘up-skill’.
Griffith College offers educational opportunities in a range of disciplines such as business, accounting, law, computing science, interior and fashion design, including a number of short and part-time courses designed to give professionals the extra edge. These include courses in business, arts, technical training for IT professionals and even short-courses on effective public speaking.
What’s more, if you are moving up to the capital to study, Griffith College’s Halls of Residence offer accommodation to all students, not just their own. Prices start at a very reasonable €89 per week. Single and shared bedrooms are available and each apartment has a kitchen, a living area and two bathrooms. Campus facilities include internet access, a fitness room, free parking, 24 hours a day security guards and a campus bar and restaurant.
For some mature students, retraining for a new career is sometimes more about quality of life. Gareth O'Shea holds a doctorate from Trinity College, but has decided to return to education, this time to obtain a teaching diploma.
“I don’t want to take over the world anymore. I thought I was destined to become a CEO tyrant in a global, potentially evil multinational, working all the hours God gave me and earning six figures, but I don’t want that anymore. The bosses in my company have nothing. They put in all the hours, have little social life that I can see, few have partners and they look worn out. I look at it like an investment and they are getting a crap return.”
For students like O'Shea, the recession has brought about a change in values and has forced them to consider what is important to them. Some people dream of earning an impressive salary, but for others, a great remuneration package is of less importance than a career that offers job satisfaction.
Money is useful, no doubt about that, but it’s rarely worth spending your entire career in a job you loathe. With so many educational options to chose from, the real question is not: What’s the ‘sensible’ choice? Instead it is: What do you want to do with your life? Once you know that, you will make the right move.