Who should apply?

To be eligible for a HCI Pillar 1 course, you will need to meet the following:

1. The academic entry requirements / Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) entry requirements AND
2. The employment eligibility criteria AND
3. The residency criteria AND
4. The nationality criteria AND
5. UCC’s English language requirements if applicable

Academic entry requirements:

Information on academic entry requirements can be found under the ‘requirements’ section of each individual course page. Please go to the ‘Courses’ section of the main HCI Pillar 1 webpage to search for individual courses.

Employment eligibility funding criteria:

• Employed - working either for yourself or someone else
• Unemployed - not currently working, receiving a qualifying welfare payment from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) for at least 9 of the last 12 months and actively seeking employment. A full list of eligible DSP payments can be found on the Springboard+ website.
• Formerly Self-employed
• A Returner - a Homemaker, on other caring duties, or economically dependent on a partner/spouse for at least 9 of the last 12 months. Returners are required to submit the following completed declaration form as part of their application.
• A Recent Graduate - a graduate who completed their studies in the year 2023 or 2024 (years of accepted graduates based on 2023 eligibility requirements and are subject to change for 2024)

Residency funding criteria:

All applicants must

• be living full time in the Republic of Ireland
• hold a valid Personal Public Service Number (PPSN)
• have lived in the EU/EEA/UK/Switzerland for 3 out of the past 5 years. If applying as a non-EU applicant, you must provide evidence of the correct visa stamp for 3 out of the past 5 years i.e., a stamp 1, stamp 1G, stamp 3, stamp 4, stamp 4 EU fam, stamp 5 or stamp 6. Please note a stamp 2/2A visa is not accepted.

Nationality funding criteria:

All applicants must meet the nationality/visa requirement i.e., 

• you must be an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss national OR
• you must have a current Stamp 4/Stamp 4 EU FAM, Stamp 5, or Stamp 6 on your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card or GNIB card if you are a non-EU national.

English language requirements:

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency. See our English language proficiency requirements for further information. 

Please note, all applicants are required to submit supporting documentation for each of the above criteria. Information regarding accepted documentation can be found on the Springboard+ webpage - EU applicants and non-EU Applicants. Full eligibility information is also available on the Springboard+ website. Please note the above criteria are subject to change.

How can I apply?

Applications for 2024 will open shortly. In the meantime, please fill out our expression of interest form and we will update you as soon as an opening date has been confirmed. 

Once open, applications should be made via Springboard+:

• If you already have a Springboard+ account - please apply here
• If you are new to Springboard+ - please register for an account here
• When you log in to your existing account or register for a new account, go to the courses tab at the top of the page and search for the course you are interested in applying for. Further instructions can be found in the 'How to Apply' section of the Springboard+ webpage.

Please note, you will be unable to access the Springboard+ website if applying from outside of the Republic of Ireland.

What will it cost? 

Eligible applicants will receive 100% or 90% funding depending on their employment status.

• 100% funded - No course fees are applicable for:

- Unemployed and in receipt of an eligible Department of Social Protection (DSP) payment for 9 out of the past 12 months 

- Returners i.e a Homemaker, on other caring duties, or economically dependent on a partner/spouse for at least 9 of the last 12 months. Returners are required to submit the following completed declaration form as part of their application.

- Formerly Self-Employed

• 90% funded – You only pay 10% of the course fee if:

- Employed

- Self-Employed

- Recent Graduates 2023 or 2024 (years of accepted graduates based on 2023 eligibility requirements and are subject to change for 2024)

Like most funding schemes, there are terms and conditions and exclusions do apply. Candidates should check the eligibility requirements and carefully read the FAQ section on the Springboard+ website to make sure that they qualify for funding.

University College Cork Contacts:

General admission/eligibility queries:

• Please email Niamh at hci@ucc.ie or by phone 086-0676013
• MicroCrediential queries, please email microcreds@ucc.ie 

For course specific queries please contact the Course Directors/Team listed below:  

• Higher Diploma in Languages and Global Software Business – Dr Marco Amici (amici@ucc.ie) and Jeremy Hayes (J.Hayes@ucc.ie)
• Higher Diploma in Design and Manufacture of Biopharmaceuticals – Dr Eoin Fleming (J.Fleming@ucc.ie)
• Higher Diploma in Sustainability and Climate Action for Enterprise – Siobhan Consenheim (S.Consenheim@ucc.ie) and Dr Marguerite Nyhan (marguerite.nyhan@ucc.ie) 
• Postgraduate Certificate in Offshore Renewable Energy and MicroCredential Offshore in Wind and Ocean Energy Conversion - Paul Leahy (Paul.Leahy@ucc.ie)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation through Design Thinking – Jennifer Crowley (j.crowley@ucc.ie), Dr Paidi O'Reilly (P.OReilly@ucc.ie) and Dr Briony Supple (briony.supple@ucc.ie)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Bioanalytical Chemistry – Dr Eric Moore (e.moore@ucc.ie)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Sciences – Dr Patrick O’Dwyer (patrick.odwyer@ucc.ie)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Energy Innovation for Zero Carbon - Jorge Oliveria (j.oliveira@ucc.ie)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy - Justin McCarthy (jv.mccarthy@ucc.ie)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) - Paul Holloway (paul.holloway@ucc.ie)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing - John Morrissey (J.Morrissey@ucc.ie) 

Springboard+ Website 

• Am I eligible for a HCI Pillar 1 course? https://springboardcourses.ie/eligibility  
• HCI Pillar 1 FAQ’s - https://springboardcourses.ie/faq
• Examples of supporting documentation - EU Applicants / Non-EU Applicants
• Log in here if you already have a Springboard+ account 
• Create a Springboard+ account here if new to Springboard+

Useful links: 

• Request an online statement of social welfare payments received here 
• Intreo - the public emplyment service
• Department of Social Protection
• Back to Education Programme and Back to Education Allowance
• EU Funds Website