How Further Education and Training (FET) Helped Anthony Discover a New Path to Success

With the CAO deadline fast approaching at the beginning of 2026, many Leaving Certificate students across the country are gearing up to plan their next steps after school.

Although direct entry into university was once seen as the main route after school, our education system recognises that each student has their own individual interests and abilities. Thankfully, there have never been more options for school leavers to pursue flexible learning pathways tailored to their needs.

Further Education and Training (FET) can provide pathways into studying at university, preparation for employment or even space to discover what interests you.

Anthony, a learner from Drogheda who had gone straight from Leaving Certificate into studying a Biopharmaceutical Science degree course realised after his first year that a career in science was no longer for him.

“I did have an idea of what I wanted to do.”

“I completed one year and then I realised the career progression after that is not what I wanted” Anthony says. “I did a Biopharmaceutical Science course and so I dropped out of that. I had it in my head that I wanted to be a pharmacist, but I was not happy with the career progression.”

A visit to a college in his local area changed everything. “The day I dropped out of the Biopharmaceutical course, I went straight into my local Further Education college, which is Drogheda Institute of Further Education (DIFE) and straight away I got talking to the career guidance counsellor.”  Together they looked at the courses available in the college and had a conversation about what he wanted to do. “I saw that they had a Pre-university Business and Accounting course and that is what I went with in the end.”

Further Education and Training (FET) courses provide flexible and practical opportunities to gain qualifications in areas like business, IT, healthcare, and more. Run by local Education and Training Boards (ETBs), these courses help learners build skills, explore options, and prepare for work or further study.

“I would say the year had a had a great impact on my life.”

Anthony enrolled in the course and quickly discovered that the environment suited him much better. He explains, “It worked better for me, and you still can have some of the elements of the Leaving Cert as in like being in the classroom and stuff like that.” Anthony adds, “The learning is very much on your own and the teachers there and the lecturers are great for guidance.”

“I was already kind of near enough 3/4 of the year ahead.”

After finishing his course at DIFE, Anthony applied and was accepted onto a Business Studies degree at DCU. This was a huge achievement, considering he hadn’t studied business or accounting for the Leaving Certificate, which made him especially grateful for the foundation DIFE had given him.

“What really stood out to me was the level of knowledge that I got throughout the year because when I started first year in the level 8 in DCU in Business Studies, I was already kind of near enough 3/4 of the year ahead of everybody else, because I have had a brief introduction to the majority of the modules by having taken the post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) course.”

Anthony’s course also included a yearlong paid work experience, which gave him the opportunity to apply what he learned in a real-world setting. He spent that year working at Enterprise Ireland as an Investment Analyst, a placement that gave him valuable industry experience and helped him to discover the right career path for him.

“I'm hoping that the experience I've gotten there, and the industry can definitely help me build up my banking skills and ultimately become a banker.”

“Would I recommend FET to other people? Uh, yes, absolutely.”

Now in his final year of his degree, Anthony encourages others to choose the FET route. “Explore all your options as well, so if that is taking two or three PLC courses over the next few years like that is also fine. It's very hard to know what you want to do when you leave the Leaving Cert system, which is generally around 18. It's a lot of pressure to be able to know exactly what you want to do, and it's a great opportunity to be able to try different things.”

Anthony’s journey shows us that there are so many different pathways into your dream career and just how important it is to find the course that’s right for you. If you are a recent Leaving Certificate student or a first year college student wondering if you’re on the right path, reach out to your local Education and Training Board (ETB) to explore your options or discover PLC courses near you at thisisfet.ie/localcourses.