Academic Year in Dublin, Ireland Public (Information Sheet)

Transcription

1 Academic Year in Dublin, Ireland Public (Information Sheet) CONTENTS : DESCRIPTION... 2 LOCATION... 2 TYPE OF SCHOOLS... 2 SCHOOL SYSTEM... 3 TERMS AND DATES... 4 ACCOMMODATION... 4 ORIENTATION MEETING... 4 LOCAL COORDINATOR... 4 POCKET MONEY... 4 ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE... 4 AGE... 4 REQUIREMENTS... 5 APPLICATION PROCEDURE... 5 STUDENT VISA... 5 TRANSFERS OF CREDITS AND TRANSCRIPTS OF GRADES... 5 PRICES... 6 PRICE CONDITIONS... 6 CANCELLATION POLICY

2 DESCRIPTION Nacel provides international students with school placements in Dublin: we have 5 voluntary secondary schools on offer (3 single sex schools & 2 mixed sex schools) located in the South of Dublin. A donation is paid to most of the schools but these schools are not private Colleges. Placements in private Colleges may be organized on request. Please note that non-european Union students are not eligible to this public school s program. LOCATION Dublin. TYPE OF SCHOOLS The Republic of Ireland's education system is quite similar to that of most other western countries. There are three distinct levels of education in Ireland: primary, secondary and higher education. In recent years further education has grown immensely. Most students attend and complete secondary education, with approximately 90% of schoolleavers taking the terminal examination, the Leaving Certificate. Secondary education is generally completed at a community school, a comprehensive school, a vocational school or a voluntary secondary school. A community school in Ireland is a type of secondary education school funded individually and directly by the state. Both academic and vocational programs are available and facilities are broader than at voluntary or vocational schools. The facilities are for use by the community and adult education in addition to normal programs of education at this level. Community schools are divided into two models, the community school vested in the Minister for Education and Science, and the community college vested in the local Vocational Education Committee. A "comprehensive" school is a school which teaches a comprehensive range of subjects across the academic and vocational spectrum. In order to achieve this it is commonly understood that the school will need to be of a large size and to take children from a wide ability range. The comprehensive school system is still relatively small and to an extent has been superseded by the community school concept. The comprehensive model generally incorporated older schools which were under Catholic or Protestant ownership and the various denominations continued, and continue, to manage the school as patrons or trustees. The State owns the school property, but it is vested in the trustees in perpetuity. A vocational school, providing vocational education and also sometimes referred to as a trade school or career college, was operated for the express purpose of giving its students the skills needed to perform a certain job or jobs. In recent years this has changed with vocational schools providing education at competitively high standards. A voluntary secondary school in Ireland is a type of school that is privately owned and managed, often by church authorities, especially in the case of the Roman Catholic religion. Like national schools they are funded to a large extent by the state, on a per capita basis, with the local community often topping up funding, whilst approximately 90% of teachers salaries are met by the state. The voluntary secondary schools are attended by about 60% of secondary education students and still form the largest part of the secondary school system. 2

3 Our schools in Dublin We have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with several secondary schools in South Dublin, where we have placed young foreigners for the past 10 years. We offer a choice of local day schools, 3 single sex schools & 2 mixed sex schools all located in the most sought after residential part of the Dublin suburbs. These schools are voluntary secondary schools. Our local coordinator is accredited by the Irish Department of Science and Education. It s generally possible to choose the host school. The preference of the student will be taken into account as far as possible. SCHOOL SYSTEM A typical secondary school will consist of 1st to 3rd Year, the usually optional Transition Year ( 16 Y.O.), the 5th (16/17 Y.O.) and 6th Year ( 17 Y.O.). The Junior Cycle builds on the education received at primary level and culminates with the Junior Certificate Examination. The Junior Certificate Examination is taken after 3 years of study and not before 14 years of age. The Transition Year is a one-year informal course which is taken by an increasing number of students. The content of this is left to the school to model on the local needs often focusing on work placement and related projects. The Senior Cycle builds on the junior cycle and culminates with the Leaving Certificate Examination. The Leaving Certificate Examination is taken after at least 2 years of study after the Junior Certificate Examination. Aprox. Age Junior Cycle Year Junior Cycle Year Junior Cycle Year 3 + Junior Certificate Examination Senior Cycle Year 1 (Transition Year) Senior Cycle Year Senior Cycle Year 3 + Leaving Certificate Examination Students who graduate from High School receive their Leaving Certificate School principals make the ultimate decision on the appropriate class for any student following a face-to-face interview. Courses on offer Art Biology Business Chemistry English Economics French German Geography History Home Economics Maths Music Physics Religion Computers Physical Education Some schools offer extra English classes to international students. If the student decides to take any examination during his/her time in Ireland, the exam fee is his/her own responsibility. Extracurricular activities vary in each school but usually sports activities are provided. 3

4 TERMS AND DATES Classes begin in early September and finish in early June. In Ireland, the school year is divided into 3 terms and is approximately 9 months long, from September to June. A typical school day begins at 9 a.m. and ends around p.m. There are 8 classes per day with one short break. All schools require uniforms and many schools were founded by religious orders, but welcome students of all faiths. School Holidays There are two annual school breaks, at Christmas and Easter, of approximately 2 weeks each. During the first and second term, there is also a mid-term break of one week in each case. School year dates for 2009/2010 as follows: School starts 1 st Sep. Mid term 26 th to 29 th Oct. inclusive Christmas School closes 22 nd Dec. January School opens 7 th Jan Mid term 15 th to 19 th Feb. inclusive Easter School closes 26 th March, reopens 12 th April ACCOMMODATION Paid host family, full board. This includes bed/breakfast, packed lunch & dinner. The families are long-term contact of our local coordinator and are visited regularly. Information on the host family is received 2 months before arrival. Please note that accommodation is not included during Christmas and Easter holidays. ORIENTATION MEETING An orientation program is usually provided the following day of arrival. PROGRAM START DATE END DATE Fall Term Late August Mid-December Spring Semester Early January Late May Academic Year Late August Late May LOCAL COORDINATOR We aim to place students in caring family environments where they will receive the support they need to make their experience in an Irish school a valuable one. We maintain regular contact with students, both by telephone and personal meetings. We also maintain regular contact with their host families and schools (at the beginning once a week, then every two/ three weeks; weekly telephone call). 3 reports sent to the family each term. POCKET MONEY At least 200 per month. ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE Transfer from Dublin airport to the host family (on arrival and departure only). AGE From 15 (on arrival) to 19 years old (on departure). 4

5 REQUIREMENTS This program is only open to European Union students. EU students are citizens living in the European Union and who have been resident and educated in the European Union for 3 years prior to the start of the course. Students must be interviewed in their home country before being accepted. A minimum of 2 years of English study and good academic results are required. School principals make the ultimate decision on the appropriate class for any student following the face-toface interview. Usually students under the age of 16 years go into 4 th Year Transition Year, students between years normally attend 5 th. Students older than that go into 6 th Year. At the end of the 6 th Year students sit the Leaving Certificate Exam but this is a 2 years exam course (commencing in 5 th Year), so it is very difficult for students to do it in one year. APPLICATION PROCEDURE Application deadline: March 31st for arrival in August, October 31th for arrival in January. Late application may be accepted, depending on availability. 1. Your application pack should include the following: Application form Student photo English teacher s recommendation School report, school grades Health form Letter to the host family and pictures 2. Send the complete application to Nacel International per mail and the original application documents by post. 3. We will assess the application, issue the Acceptance Letter and invoice you part of the cost of the stay. 4. We will contact you to confirm the school and accommodation arrangements. 5. As soon as you have arranged flights to Ireland please let us know the airport, date and time of arrival together with the flight number. We will then make the arrangements to meet the student at the airport. 6. We will invoice you for the full costs. STUDENT VISA No visa requested for European Union students. TRANSFERS OF CREDITS AND TRANSCRIPTS OF GRADES Please note that the student is not guaranteed placement in a certain grade level, or that transferable credits will be granted, or that a diploma will be awarded at the end of the academic program. These decisions remain at the entire discretion of the national educational authorities of the sending and of the receiving country. Nacel International is not responsible for the procedures and information needed in this process. Applicants must clearly be aware that they may have to pass again the corresponding grade in their home country after return. 5

6 PRICES Please note that this program is only available for European Union students; non-eu students should be placed in private schools for immigration policy s purposes. Please ask for a specific quotation. Country Program Dates Ref. Net Prices in EUR* (Commission not included) Ireland Fall Term (Dublin) September to December ZEIT EUR Ireland Spring Semester (Dublin) January to May ZEIS EUR Ireland Academic Year (Dublin) September to May ZEIY EUR * Prices in Euros per participant. **EU students are citizens living in the European Union and who have been resident and educated in the European Union for 3 years prior to the start of the course. They are placed in public schools. ***Non-EU students should be placed in private schools and pay tuition fees. Please ask for a quotation. PRICE CONDITIONS Included Administration fees School registration and donation to school Host family placement on a full board basis (packed lunches on school days); accommodation not included during Christmas and Easter holidays Orientation on arrival Airport pick-up and transfer on arrival and departure only Support, assistance and 24 hours emergency phone number during the whole program Medical and Emergency Repatriation Insurance. Not Included International airfare International Travel insurance Visa, passport and medical exam fees Extra activities organized by schools and others Daily transfers from family to school (bus passes might be necessary) School uniforms, sport uniforms and books Extra language courses Personal expenses and pocket money CANCELLATION POLICY A deposit of 600 euros is due for each application. Of the 600 Euros an amount of 500 Euros is a registration fee, which is non-refundable after the student has been accepted. The remaining amount, 100 Euros is a deposit which is refundable prior to the time we have notified the student of the host family s name and address and non-refundable after the student has been provided with this information. Final payment is due and payable 2 months prior to the student s arrival. For cancellations received after this date, a 50 % refund will be made. Following the date of departure from the student s home country, the program fee is totally non-refundable. 6