PLC Courses: The Smart Back Door to Your Degree

If the CAO didn’t go your way — or you never wanted the CAO route in the first place — a PLC course is one of the smartest moves you can make. Post-Leaving Cert courses are one-to-two-year QQI Level 5 and 6 programmes, applied for directly to colleges of further education, and many of them link straight into degree places through the Higher Education Links Scheme. Far from being a fallback, a PLC can be a faster, cheaper and more practical route to exactly where you wanted to go.

What exactly is a PLC course?

A PLC is a full-time further education course, usually one year long, that leads to a QQI Level 5 award (with some progressing to Level 6). Courses run in colleges of further education around the country and cover almost every field you can think of: nursing studies, business, computing, art and design, childcare, engineering, media, sport, animal care and much more.

PLCs are deliberately practical. You’ll typically do continuous assessment, projects and work experience rather than one big terminal exam. For a lot of students, that style of learning suits far better than the Leaving Cert ever did.

You can browse every PLC course in the country on fetchcourses.ie, the national further education course database.

How do you apply for a PLC?

You apply directly to the college running the course — PLCs are not part of the CAO system at all. Each college of further education has its own application process, usually a short online form followed by an interview or informal chat.

Two things make this route unusually flexible:

• No points race. Entry is generally based on your interest and suitability, not a CAO points score. Basic entry requirements vary by course, so check each listing.
• Late applications are normal. Many colleges are still accepting applications through late summer, and some fill places right up to the start of term in September. If you’re reading this after results day, you have not missed the boat.

Find the course on fetchcourses.ie, then apply on the college’s own website. If a course is full, ring the college — cancellations happen.

How does a PLC lead to a degree?

Your QQI Level 5 or 6 results can be used to apply through the CAO for higher education, thanks to the Higher Education Links Scheme. Under this scheme, universities and technological universities accept QQI awards as a basis for entry to a wide range of degrees, and many courses hold a number of places specifically for QQI applicants.

In practice, the route looks like this:

Step	What happens
Year 1	Complete a QQI Level 5 (or 6) PLC in a related area
Autumn	Apply through cao.ie using your QQI results
Following September	Start your degree, often better prepared than school-leavers

A few important details:

• Your grades matter. QQI results are scored for CAO purposes, so aim for distinctions.
• Course matching matters. Degrees usually specify which QQI awards and modules they accept, so pick your PLC with the target degree in mind. Qualifax lets you check progression routes for specific courses.
• Some competitive courses have limits. Always read the entry requirements on the college’s own site before committing.

For the 2027 CAO cycle, applications open on 5 November 2026 — so a student starting a PLC this September can apply for degree entry within a couple of months of starting.

Who suits a PLC course?

PLCs suit students who missed the points for their first-choice course, who aren’t sure a field is right for them yet, or who learn better by doing than by sitting exams. They’re also a strong option if you want a recognised qualification and work experience quickly — plenty of PLC graduates go straight into jobs rather than on to degrees.

Common profiles include:

• The student who missed a nursing, business or science course by a margin of points and wants a linked route in
• The student who wants to “try before they buy” — a year of media, law studies or computing before committing to four years
• The mature applicant returning to education who wants structure and support
• The student who simply wasn’t ready for a big university campus at 18

What do PLC courses cost?

PLC courses are one of the lowest-cost options in Irish education, though exact charges vary by college and course, and supports exist for eligible students. Rather than relying on out-of-date figures, check the fee details on each course listing at fetchcourses.ie and read the overview of PLC costs and supports on citizensinformation.ie. Depending on your circumstances, you may also be eligible for a student grant — see susi.ie for eligibility rules.

Compared with repeating the Leaving Cert in a grind school, or a year of full higher education costs, the PLC route is remarkably good value.

Is a PLC really just for people who “failed”?

No — that myth needs to be retired. Every year, students with strong Leaving Cert results choose PLCs deliberately: for the work experience, for the smaller class sizes, or because the QQI route into their degree suits them better. Colleges of further education routinely send graduates into university courses where they perform well, because they’ve already spent a year working in the discipline.

The Leaving Cert measures one kind of ability on one set of days. A PLC gives you a full year to show what you can actually do — and for many students, that’s exactly the second chance, or the smarter first choice, they needed.

If you’re considering it, start on fetchcourses.ie today, shortlist two or three courses that link to where you ultimately want to end up, and contact the colleges directly. Places are still moving all summer.