Access to Apprenticeship

Access to Apprenticeship

How to Apply

The Access to Apprenticeship programme is funded by the Higher Education Authority in Ireland.

Applications for the TU Dublin Access to Apprenticeship programme are open for 2026.

The course will run from January to May. (Start Date January 26th)

Launch of €3000 access and inclusion bursary

The access and inclusion apprenticeship bursary announced by the Government in 2023 provides financial support for under-represented groups including Travellers to access apprenticeships. Successful applicants to the Access to Apprenticeship programme in Technological University Dublin are eligible to apply for bursary support from the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO). Applicants will complete an application form provided by the NAO. Up to €3000 per learner is available to support costs associated with travelling, accommodation, equipment, preparation for training.
 
Learners accepted onto the Access to Apprenticeship programmes will be eligible to apply for the bursary.
 
To find out more please contact the Access to Apprenticeship team via accesstoapprenticeship@tudublin.ie

Applications

Please click on link to complete application form: Access to Apprenticeship Application Form 

Deadline for submission is 5pm Thursday 15th January. Late submissions will not be accepted. The next course start date is January 26th. Any issues, please contact accesstoapprenticeship@TUDublin.ie

 

We have made short videos of three of our most recent graduates – Niamh, Shannon and Ellen.

Access to Apprenticeship (ATA) supports the transition of young people (16-24 years old) from disadvantaged backgrounds into an apprenticeship scheme. The full-time programme will run from January to May and is delivered by the School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering & Built Environment on the Bolton Street campus of TU Dublin.

Access to Apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to;

• Sample a range of apprenticeships in; Construction, Engineering, Electrical, Motor and Aviation industries
• Develop employability skills relevant to apprenticeship
• Prepare your CV, Interview Skills and Europass
• Undertake two weeks of work experience
• Health & Safety and Safe Pass Certificate
• Network with Erasmus+ students from European countries

Minimum entry requirements

• Aged 16 – 24
• Minimum grade 40% - 54% (New Junior Cert) or grade D (Old Junior Cert)
• Satisfying the following criteria:

1. Gross family income on or below €46,790

2. You or Your Parents/Guardians in receipt of:
(a) a means tested social welfare payment OR
(b) A medical card/GP visit card holder in 

3. You:
(a) Attended a designated disadvantaged school (DEIS) OR
(b) Live in an area of disadvantage. Verified using the Eircode for your address OR
(c) Are or have been in the care of the state OR
(d) Your Parents/Guardians have not gone to college (higher education)

Further Information

For further information, email accesstoapprenticeship@tudublin.ie

Women in Apprenticeship

A key objective of the Access to Apprenticeship programme is to increase the participation of women in craft apprenticeships. National statistics indicate that women make between 1-2% of registered craft apprentices. We have progressed 83 young people into craft apprenticeships and 16% of those are female. Year on year we have more talented women who want to explore craft apprenticeships applying to the programme. We have gone from 4% female participation in 2018 to 29% in 2021. We are proud of our female graduates who are now forging careers as Electricians. Carpenters, Metal Fabricators, Motor Mechanics and Refrigeration & Air Conditioning technicians/craftspersons. The Access to Apprenticeship Programme has developed a suit of activities to promote craft apprenticeships to young women:

Women in Apprenticeship Open Day

In March of each year, to coincide with International Women's day, we host our Women in Apprenticeship Open Day. Our last event in 2019, was attended by the then Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor and included several employer stands. Over 145 young women attended the event.

Former Access to Apprenticeship students, Mykie and Mollie Northridge, DCC’s and Jones Engineering’s first female apprentices at the Women in Apprenticeship Open Day 2019.

‘Women Building the Future’ Lunches

The lunch supports female apprentices/students to develop their own network of female colleagues, share their experiences in an informal and relaxed environment. The programme held its first Women in Apprenticeship Networking Lunch in November 2019. After the success of the first lunch, the inaugural ‘Women Building the Future’ Lunch took place on the 24th of January 2020. We are planning to continue to run these lunches as it gives aspiring female apprentices and the female Access to Apprenticeship students an opportunity to develop a peer support group and to share advice and guidance with one another

Try a Trade’ Day for young women

This event provides interested young woman (between the ages of 16 -24 years old) with an opportunity to ‘have a go’ at craft based apprenticeships. The ‘Try a Trade’ event is free. The activities are interactive, informative and offer interested participants access to some of the basic skills needed for craft apprenticeships. If you are interested in participating in our upcoming Try A Trade Day's please complete this Expression of Interest form.

Try a Trade Event Nov 2019 - Woodcraft workshop delivered by TU Dublin Lecturer Jennifer Byrne

If you are interested in any of the above initiatives and would like more information; please email accesstoapprenticeship@tudublin.ie