Ireland
Online courses in Ireland with no Leaving Cert: the two routes to a degree
Start without the Leaving Certificate: a UK foundation diploma at EQF Level 4 from age 16, or a QQI Level 5 course at a college, and how each leads to a Level 5 diploma and a degree.
On this page
You can study for a recognised qualification online in Ireland without the Leaving Certificate: a UK foundation diploma at EQF Level 4, the level of the Leaving Certificate, takes 16-year-olds and adults with no prior qualification, costs €2,640 over 12 months, and leads straight into a Level 5 diploma and then a degree. The Irish route is a QQI Level 5 course at a further-education college or an ETB, often free or close to it, for those who can attend.
This guide sets out the two routes, what each needs at entry, how long each takes, and how they join up to a degree. The UK course facts are from the course pages on this site on 6 October 2026.
Where the Leaving Certificate sits
On the National Framework of Qualifications the Leaving Certificate is a Level 5 award, which the European framework reads as EQF Level 4. That is the same European level as a UK Level 3 award and as the Level 4 foundation diplomas below. So “no Leaving Cert” means starting at that level, not below it, and the first step takes about a year.
| Step | Irish route | UK online route | European level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start, no qualification | QQI Level 5 course (PLC or ETB) | Foundation diploma, Level 4 | EQF 4 |
| Second step | QQI Level 6 Advanced or Higher Certificate | Level 5 diploma, 120 credits | EQF 5 |
| Degree | Levels 7 and 8 at a college or university | One-year top-up to a bachelor’s | EQF 6 |
The UK online route
The foundation diplomas on this site are UK awards at EQF Level 4, regulated by Ofqual, studied online with assignments and a tutor. Entry is age 16 by the start date; no previous qualification is needed. Each costs €220 a month over 12 months (€2,640). They exist in business management, accounting, HR, IT, engineering, health and social care and employability and workplace skills.
After the foundation comes the Level 5 diploma in the same subject, 120 credits in 10 to 15 months, and after that a one-year top-up to a bachelor’s degree. Someone who starts with nothing can hold a degree in about three years, studying around a job the whole way.
The Irish route
A QQI Level 5 course, typically at a PLC college or through an Education and Training Board, is the standard Irish entry for an adult without the Leaving Certificate; most run one or two years full time or part time, and many are free or carry only a registration fee for those who qualify. From Level 5 the path is a Level 6 Advanced Certificate or Higher Certificate and then a degree, with Springboard+ funding available for part-time courses at Levels 6 to 9 for people who are unemployed, returning to work or in employment. The PLC guide and the QQI Level 5 guide cover that side.
Which route, and why
| QQI Level 5 at a college | UK foundation diploma online | |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance | Timetabled, in a college | None; self-paced online |
| Time | One to two years | About 10 months |
| Cost | Free or a registration fee for most eligible learners | €2,640, paid monthly |
| Entry | Varies by college; mature-student entry common | Age 16, no qualification required |
| Assessment | Assignments and some exams | Assignments only |
| Next step | QQI Level 6 | Level 5 diploma, then a degree top-up |
The Irish route is cheaper and the right choice for anyone who can be in a college during the week. The online route is for the adult in full-time work who cannot: it costs money, and it removes the timetable.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really start with no qualification at all?
Yes. The foundation diplomas ask for age 16 by the start date and nothing else; a short conversation with a course advisor checks that the subject fits.
Is a foundation diploma the same as the Leaving Certificate?
It sits at the same European level, EQF 4. It is a subject qualification, not a school-leaving certificate, and it is the usual entry to the Level 5 diploma.
Can I skip the foundation?
If you have the Leaving Certificate, A-levels or relevant work experience, you can enter the Level 5 diploma directly.
Are there exams?
No. The UK diplomas are assessed by assignments, marked by a tutor who tells you what to improve.
Is there funding?
Not for the UK online route in Ireland. Springboard+ and the college routes are the funded ones; for a self-funded course the monthly plan is the only help.
Sources
- The course pages on elephantcross.org, read 6 October 2026: entry at 16, the fee, the duration.
- Our comparison of the frameworks: the Leaving Certificate at NFQ 5 and EQF 4; the UK foundation diploma at EQF 4.
- Higher Education Authority, Springboard+: free for unemployed participants and returners, 10% of the fee for those in employment, read 6 October 2026.
Last verified: 6 October 2026.