Overview

Advanced entry is a system used by the Open Training College to give applicants credit for relevant courses they have previously studied.

Eligibility

Applicants who have successfully completed a relevant and accredited course that is recognised by the College. Those who have completed such a course may be invited to undertake a bridging assignment. If this is completed successfully, the student is given exemption from certain modules of the Open Training College course.

For more information on Access, Transfer and Progression on

• BA (Ordinary in Applied Social Studies, click here
• BA (Honours) in Applied Social Studies, click here
• Certificate in Applied Management (Non-profit/Human Services), click here
• Higher Certificate in Applied Management (Non-profit/Human Services), click here
• BA (Ordinary) in Applied Management (Non-profit/Human Services), click here

The bridging process

Entry to the bridging process does not mean automatic exemption from course modules. It allows the applicant access to a process through which they may gain exemption against modules of the course they are applying for.

The advanced entry applicant reads multiple sources of information provided by the College. They then complete an assignment associated with the information, and submit it electronically to the Open Training College. The Course Director assesses the work.

The granting of an exemption is conditional, and dependent upon 3 factors:

1. successful completion of the bridging work (60% must be achieved to be considered successful)
2. compliance with Quality Assurance and accreditation protocols (if successful)
3. payment of a bridging fee, which normally amounts to €295 (this varies according to the number of modules the student is exempted from)

Here is an example…

The College Registrar considers each case individually under its own merits. However, a recent example might help to further explain the process.

Mary Jones has been working for the past five years in a service for people with disabilities. Prior to working in her current position, she completed a BTEC Higher National Diploma in Social Care. During her studies she applied all of her assignments to the area of disability and undertook her placements in disability services. She achieved a distinction on completion.

Mary was accepted for advanced entry by The Open Training College and so was required to undertake a bridging module to ascertain:

1. her academic ability for the second year of a degree programme
2. her knowledge of the medical and social models of disability service delivery (as her understanding of the distinction between these two models of service delivery is crucial to second year studies)

Mary’s bridging work was assessed by College tutors at 65%. The College registrar made representation to the College Director, and Mary was offered an exemption against the first year of the Ordinary Degree in Applied Social Studies (Disability) and commenced her studies at Year Two of the programme.

During her studies she was required to carry out an additional assignment on Person Centred Planning (a core module of the course) as she had missed this by being made exempt from 1st Year.