FETAC (Level 5) What's it worth?

vedwards

Is a FETAC award a mickey mouse award or should I go for a more recognised National Cert/Diploma/Degree? I'm in leaving cert year and I have been accepted to do a FETAC level 5 (Cost ~€7k) in Sept 2010.

spurious

It's a nationally recognised award, about the same level as Leaving Certificate.
FETAC awards have replaced what were previously called National Certs and Diplomas. It's usually a stepping stone to a further qualification.
7k seems a lot to pay for a course. Is it very specialised?

dindinium

most fetac level 5 courses are free. The one i'm doing is anyway.

rainbowtrout

Leaving Cert is Level 4 on the National Framework of Qualifications, Post Leaving Cert is Level 5 although realistically some of the modules are about Leaving Cert Standard.

What course is it? 7k is a lot of money, PLC courses are usually free. You can use your FETAC Level 5 Cert to apply to college through the CAO. All ITs accept Level 5 courses and a range of courses in Universities accept them as an alternative qualification to the Leaving Cert.

randylonghorn

€7,000 for a FETAC Level 5?!

In what / where?

vedwards

randylonghorn wrote: »

€7,000 for a FETAC Level 5?!

In what / where?

Thanks for all the replies; I was starting to get worried if I had asked a silly question not worthy of a reply .
its 'gaming analysis and design' attached to a well known recording studio...I'll just say U2 .Full time course.
So doing the FETAC level 5 is the same as my leaving cert 'cos I don't want to finish my leaving cert. Entry to the course was interview based. There are similar courses in TipIT and Ballyfermot.

OctavarIan

vedwards wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies; I was starting to get worried if I had asked a silly question not worthy of a reply .
its 'gaming analysis and design' attached to a well known recording studio...I'll just say U2 .Full time course.
So doing the FETAC level 5 is the same as my leaving cert 'cos I don't want to finish my leaving cert. Entry to the course was interview based. There are similar courses in TipIT and Ballyfermot.

It might be on the same level as Leaving Cert but the Leaving Cert is a better qualification to have to be honest. €7k is way too much for a FETAC level 5.

Dunno about TipIT but Ballyfermot's course is free. There's a few videogame related courses in Ballyer actually, one is a level 6 which you'd probably be better off going for.

Careers in the industry are based mostly on your experience and portfolio instead of your academic qualifications. A guy with a degree will lose out to a guy who has no qualifications but has a portfolio showing he can design and code his own stuff.

Do more research is all I'm saying. €7k for a little known level 5 smells fishy to me. You could do a normal, free FETAC course in videogames and spend the €7k better elsewhere.

vedwards

OctavarIan wrote: »

It might be on the same level as Leaving Cert but the Leaving Cert is a better qualification to have to be honest. €7k is way too much for a FETAC level 5....Do more research is all I'm saying. €7k for a little known level 5 smells fishy to me. You could do a normal, free FETAC course in videogames and spend the €7k better elsewhere.

Sound advice...I think I've saved my folks 7g. Had a look at http://www.gamedevelopers.ie/courses/viewbylocation.php?location=leinster

spurious

For 7k there would want to be some sort of advantage to taking the course you mention over one of the free ones.
Are contacts of the studio used for work experience/work placements/internships/introductions?
Are you guaranteed work/progression after the course?

randylonghorn

^^ Octavarian and Spurious both asking good questions / giving good advice ...

Ok, there can sometimes be advantages to certain courses attached to real-life work environments, both in terms of access to practitioners and networking, but you should really investigate carefully to make sure you're getting something extra worth €7k.

Some people will trade on a rep, and name-drop to sell their product.

For example, ask yourself where the obvious connection is between game analysis and design and a recording studio?

I doubt that some tenuous connection to U2 will cut the mustard when applying for a job in the industry or even a progression course!

vedwards

randylonghorn wrote: »

^^ Octavarian and Spurious both asking good questions / giving good advice ..... but you should really investigate carefully to make sure you're getting something extra worth €7k.

Thanks guys and 'really investigate carefully...' is what I'm going to do.