The Department of Adult and Community Education in Maynooth University takes a very different approach to teaching and learning than a lot of people will have encountered through their previous educational experiences. We value the knowledge that people bring with them from their everyday life and work with the student to bring them through the learning process. Mature students have life experience that can be very valuable. Anyone who has been working, either formally or as a full-time parent learns skills along the way. These could be budgeting, time management or conflict resolution. In addition, being older gives you a different way of approaching problems. All of this can be very useful when returning to education.
The Maynooth University Return to Learning certificate encompass Skills for Learning in Higher Education, Introduction to Programmes, Sociology and First Steps to Social Research and English Literature. Students will sample subjects from the faculties of Arts and Social Sciences with lecturers who have years of experience in a wide range of academic settings. The Return to Learning course is aimed at people who have been out of formal education for a number of years and who want to experience a university education without having to commit to a full degree. Students who do progress onto undergraduate degrees, often excel in their chosen subjects due to the solid foundation of academic research and writing skills that the course had given them.
Fee €1150, an Easy Payment Option is available upon request.
| College | Maynooth University |
| Course ID | 106019 |
| Course Location | Maynooth, Kildare |
| Course Type | Classroom Based |
| Course Qualification | Special Purpose Award / Certificate |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| Awarding Body Details | Certificate in Return to Learning Day Time |
| Course Start Date | 23rd September 2026 |
| Course End Date | 5th May 2027 |
| Course Duration | 100 hours |
| Course Time | There are a number of options for students to take this course. Running times are Wednesdays 10-1 and 2-5pm |
| Course Fee | €1150 |
| Entry Requirements | Participants need to be 21 years of age or over on 1st January of the year in which the course commences. As courses are delivered in keeping with adult education practice, participants will be expected to: be willing to engage with group activities and group learning; be willing to learn through dialogue and reflection on experience; have a level of literacy that is sufficient to complete the assessment requirements. NB please be aware that the age to access Full-time undergraduate study remains at 23 years of age on 1st January in year of application. |
| Career Path | A large number of students who complete this course progress on to Full Time or the Part-Time Evening degrees in Maynooth University or other institutes of Higher Education. |
| Course Code | RL1 |
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