Aged 19 years or over

You can continue your education by attending a college or institute of further and higher education and by attending a university. This is called third level or higher education. You should speak with your form teacher, year head or careers adviser in school regarding the range of courses that are available to you.

If you are no longer in school, you can get advice and information from an adviser at the Educational Guidance Service for Adults and from an adviser at the Training and Employment Service. The contact details are listed at the end of this section.

If you have decided a particular course that you want to do, you can also contact the course administrator or senior lecturer to find out more information.

Funding

You may receive some funding according to the course that you decide to do. You can contact the student adviser in the college/institute or University to find out more information about assistance with expenses such as books and equipment costs, travel costs and childcare costs.

You can contact the grants department in each of the Education and Library Boards to get information on the grants and student loans that may be available to you. There is an annual publication from the Department of Employment and Learning regarding advice for parents in higher education. You can get a copy of this by contacting the Student Support Branch in the Department of Employment and Learning. The contact details given at the end of this section.

Contact details

When you phone your local E.L.B. you should ask to speak to someone in the Students Grants Section.

Belfast Education and Library Board

40 Academy Street, Belfast

028 9056 4000

North Eastern Education and Library Board

County Hall, 182 Galgorm Road, Ballymena

028 2566 2558

Southern Education and Library Board

3 Charlemont Place, Armagh

028 3751 2384

South Eastern Education and Library Board

Grahamsbridge Road, Dundonald, Belfast

028 9056 6402

Western Education and Library Board

Headquarters Office, 1 Hospital Road, Omagh

028 8241 1411

Educational Guidance Service for Adults (E.G.S.A.)

6 Murray Street, Belfast 028 9024 4274

C/o The Central Library, Foyle Street, Derry

028 7127 1899

The Training and Employment Agency

Gloucester House, Chichester Street Belfast

028 9025 2222

Department of Employment and Learning

Student Support Branch, Adelaide House,

39-49 Adelaide Street, Belfast

028 9025 7777