Education Special: Expand your horizons through these creative courses

It’s easy, when entering a brand new year, to feel overwhelmed by resolutions, plans and new challenges – especially for students who will soon be walking out of their secondary school gates for the final time, and embarking on this crucial next chapter of their lives.

Sunday, February 1, is the closing date for CAO applications – and that looming deadline, for many, comes with a sense of dread. But it’s important to spend this precious time weighing up your options, with a sense of both optimism and open-mindedness – and explore the many possibilities that await you after leaving school.

That’s why we’ve put together this special Hot Press feature – offering a fresh perspective on education, training, and pathways to careers, for both school-leavers and people at other stages of life who are looking to expand their horizons.

From insightful interviews with those who best understand the multi-faceted world of education, to fascinating contributions from students themselves, this guide highlights the fact that your options really are endless – all you need to do is take that leap.

With over 1,400 courses listed on the CAO website, there really is something for everyone – whether you consider yourself a dab hand at exams or not. But whenever you catch a free moment, it’s a great idea to spend some time looking beyond CAO codes, and finding out what your dream course actually entails – whether that’s through the college website, testimonials from graduates, or by heading off to the college’s Open Day.

During that research, you should also try to think realistically, and factor in practical things like cost, distance, and accommodation – particularly in the midst of cost of living and housing crises. Be sure to look into SUSI, which offers funding to eligible students at Post Leaving Certificate (PLC), undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

It can be easy to be overly influenced by others – including parents and friends – when you’re making these major life decisions. But it’s important to come to terms with the fact that your future is in no one’s hands but your own.

Putting the most impressive-sounding courses at the top of your CAO form is all well and good until you find yourself facing down the barrel of a four-year course that you have no real interest in. While it’s great to challenge yourself and expand your worldview during your time at college, it’s even more crucial to prioritise the subjects you’re truly interested in. After all, college is hard work – and you’re much more likely to find the drive to succeed if you actually want to be there.

While people assume that certain high-points courses are a guaranteed ticket to a high-earning job, why set off on that journey if you’re going to hate every moment of it? Instead, ask yourself what you honestly enjoy, and what subjects, hobbies or extracurricular activities you’d love to explore further.

The CAO, it’s important to remember, is by no means a life sentence. The course you enter after the Leaving Certificate can serve as a valuable stepping stone, presenting paths that you never could have expected.

That being said, the CAO deadline, and all your associated research, could also lead you down another road entirely – one far away from the traditional points-based system.

Attitudes towards education have undergone a major shift in Ireland over the past few years. Where the points-to-university route was once seen as the only real pathway to success, an increasing number of people have come to realise that there are countless other roads to a successful and fulfilling career.

There’s a huge variety of smart learning options available through Further Education & Training (FET). Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses, which are usually one to two years in duration, have become the preferred option for many. The courses cover a wide range of subjects, and serve as brilliant routes for direct entry into employment, or as a stepping stone into Higher Education.

Luckily, FET is available in every county in Ireland through the 16 Education and Training Boards – in areas such as healthcare, tourism, business, education, technology, and science, to name just a few.

Recent years have also seen the launch of Tertiary Degrees, which allow students to kick off their journey at ETB level, before progressing on seamlessly to a Higher Education Institution, and achieving their Level 7 or Level 8 qualification.

Apprenticeships have been developed in exciting new directions over the past few years too – with over 10,000 employers currently employing over 29,000 apprentices in Ireland, in areas like biopharma, engineering, finance, hospitality, and sales & marketing, in addition to  construction and electrical trades.

For burgeoning creatives, there’s also a huge range of options out there. Maynooth University, Dundalk Institute of Technology, City of Dublin FET College Ballyfermot, Pulse College, Trinity College Dublin and Carlow Institute all offer exceptional programmes in these creative areas, equipping students with the skills and insights they need to make their mark on the world.

Of course, with new challenges and technologies developing everyday, reskilling, upskilling and expanding your perspective are all becoming increasingly essential parts of modern life. So, be ready and willing to adapt – and embrace the joys of lifelong learning.

Former BCFE student Richie Baneham is a multi-Academy Award-winning VFX Supervisor, renowned for his work on the Avatar franchise

CITY OF DUBLIN FET COLLEGE, BALLYFERMOT

In an ever-changing world, being able to adapt, upskill, and stay at the cutting edge of your chosen industry are essential skills, no matter what career you’re pursuing. City of Dublin FET College, Ballyfermot (BCFE), continues to stand out from the pack by putting that emphasis on embracing change at the forefront of its learning programmes, allowing you to shape your own thrilling path into the future.

Uniquely, BCFE offers courses from Level 4 to Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications – meaning there’s space for everyone to follow their passions, and continue to progress, in this inspiring and supportive learning environment.

At Ballyfermot, you’ll find courses covering a remarkably wide range of areas – including Music; Art, Design & Illustration; Education & Learning; Animation; Business; Media; Games; Television, Film & Visual Effects; and Health & Science.

For those who want to gain relevant work experience during their studies, BCFE also offers a range of cutting-edge traineeships – in Instrument Making Repair and Maintenance; Logistics & Distribution; Certified Accountancy & Payroll Pathway; and Advanced Skills for Visual Effects, Video and Animation Post Production.

There’s been no shortage of Ballyfermot success stories over the years. Former student Richie Baneham is a multi-Academy Award-winning VFX Supervisor, renowned for his work on the Avatar franchise. His other credits include work on the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, the Chronicles Of Narnia films, and The Iron Giant.

Other creatives who’ve attended the college include the founders of the award-winning production studio Cartoon Saloon, as well as musicians Damien Dempsey, Lisa O’Neill, Junior Brother, and Róisín Barrett of The Mary Wallopers.

• bcfe.ie

DUNDALK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Located between Dublin and Belfast, Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) is home to an innovative range of programmes – with undergraduate, part-time, apprenticeship and postgraduate options across a wide range of subject areas.

DkIT’s programmes are designed not only to prepare students academically, but also equip them with the skills required to be work-ready and highly employable in their chosen industry.

The recent Higher Education Authority (HEA) 2024 Graduate Outcome Survey found that 76.5% of DkIT graduates surveyed were working full time. Of the graduates surveyed, DkIT had the highest percentage in full-time employment across Irish Third-Level Institutes.

Those interested in pursuing a creative path will find an exciting selection of courses, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in Creative Media, Film & Television Production, Music, Theatre, and Games Development.

Students at DkIT have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including TV and recording studios, performance spaces, and specialised computer labs.

• dkit.ie

MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY

Located just 25km from Dublin, this internationally recognised institution offers a thrilling range of programmes at undergraduate, Master’s and PhD level in the humanities, science and engineering, and social sciences, including business, law, and education.

For those with a particular interest in pursuing a career in music, Maynooth University can help turn passion into progression – whether you dream of producing cutting-edge soundscapes, composing original scores, or deepening your expertise in musicology.

In addition to the Bachelor of Music course, Maynooth University’s postgraduate programmes in music include: MA Creative Music Technologies; MA Music, Culture and Practice; MSc Sound and Music Computing; MA Contemporary Music Practices; M.Litt. (Research Masters); and PhD Music.

• maynoothuniversity.ie

PULSE COLLEGE

Dreaming of a career in music production or sound engineering? Pulse College, located right in the heart of Dublin City, is where creativity meets real-world industry skills. Pulse’s Ringsend Music Campus is based in the legendary Windmill Lane Recording Studios, blending hands-on studio experience with solid academic grounding – all taught by pros who know the industry.

You’ll find a range of BA (Hons) degrees in Audio & Music Technology, Music Production, and Music Production with Composition – as well as short courses in Avid Pro Tools, Music Production with Apple Logic Pro X, and Music Production with Ableton Live – with all programmes starting in September 2026.

Experience the studios, meet the lecturers, and get a feel for student life at Pulse by registering for an Open Day  – taking place at the Ringsend Campus on February 21 (for all things Music Production and Technology), and at the Smithfield Campus on February 28 (for all things Film, Games & Animation).

• pulsecollege.com

TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN

Dublin has always punched above its weight creatively – and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland’s leading university, keeps that tradition alive. Located in the heart of Dublin, TCD is home to 22,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students across all the major disciplines in the arts and humanities, and in business, law, engineering, science, and health sciences.

For those who want to join the next wave of digital creators, Trinity is also home to postgraduate programmes that fuse artistry, tech, and a good dose of bold Irish imagination: the M.Phil. in Music & Media Technologies, the M.Sc. in Augmented & Virtual Reality, and the M.Sc. in Interactive Digital Media.

If you’re looking to level up creatively while staying rooted in Dublin’s lively, inventive scene, these programmes aren’t just strong options – they’re launchpads.

Whether you’re composing new digital soundscapes, building immersive realities, or crafting interactive media, these courses give you the tools – and the confidence – to make something genuinely original.

• For more see tcd.ie/courses/postgraduate

Read the full Education Special in the current issue of Hot Press: