Listing Awarding Bodies
Postgrad.ie lists all of the awarding bodies in Ireland, the UK and abroad. Most major postgraduate awards are made by bodies with statutory powers, but there are also many professional organisations that make their own awards in relation to postgraduate study. While courses and educational programmes in Ireland lead to qualifications from Irish awarding bodies, it sometimes be the case that courses lead to non-Irish awards, for example awards from international bodies, or national awards from other countries.
Certain Irish institutions are both providers of courses and programmes and also awarding bodies for postgraduate certification in their own right: these are the Irish universities and the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT).
An award is an academic qualification (degree, diploma or certificate) conferred in recognition of the successful completion of a higher education programme of study, either at undergraduate or postgraduate level, and issued by a designated awarding body. The National Framework of Qualifications sets out the criteria for major and non-major awards. Non-major awards include, minor awards, special purpose awards
and supplemental awards.
Major awards are the principal class of awards made at a given NFQ level and reflect a significant volume of learning, e.g. Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ, Level 8), Master Degree (NFQ, Level 9), Doctorate Degree (NFQ Level 10).
In Ireland, following the changes in the qualifications system as a result recent legislation, the number of statutory bodies has been reduced as the new awards councils FETAC and HETAC have assumed the the awarding functions previously fulfilled by several other Irish organisations such as the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA), National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA), Solas, Teagasc, the National Tourism Certification Board (CERT) and Bord Iascaigh Mhara.
Postgrad.ie lists all of the awarding bodies giving postgraduate certification in Ireland and the UK below.
Founded in 1970, Institute of Technology Carlow offers undergraduate, postgraduate and part-time courses. Their higher educational programmes range from level 6 – 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. In addition, the Institute offers research programmes at level 9 and 10.
Traditional and niche courses
IT Carlow has a comprehensive portfolio of almost 100 Masters, Honours, Ordinary Degree and Higher Certificate courses. As well as traditional degree courses, they also offer niche courses. Many of these are the first of their kind in Ireland.
In 2015, IT Carlow launched its Centre for Aerospace Engineering. This comprises an avionics workshop and fleet of aircraft inside its own hangar. IT Carlow offers degree courses in aero engineering and pilot studies. Furthermore, the Institute's BEng in Aircraft Systems is the only one of its kind in Ireland.
IT Carlow was the first third-level institute in Ireland to offer a Bachelor of Science in Computer Games Development. This was developed with the assistance and endorsement of Microsoft.
Lifelong Learning
IT Carlow's Lifelong Learning Programme provides opportunities for adults to upgrade their skills and qualifications in line with current trends.
The programme offers accredited courses in several areas. These include
- Business
- Computing
- Science
- Engineering
- Humanities
Courses are available at the main campus at IT Carlow. They are also available in at Wexford Campus, Wicklow County Campus, Rathnew, Co. Wicklow and An Cosán, Tallaght, Dublin. Customised programmes for industry are also available.
