SETU is broadening its existing catalogue of tertiary programmes, with nine new courses being offered for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Following an announcement from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, the first eight programmes will be open for applications as of 1 February 2025, with more programmes potentially on offer from March 2025.
Expanding the SETU catalogue
Speaking after the Minster’s announcement, SETU’s Vice President for Student Experience, David Denieffe said, “This is something that we at SETU, and our colleagues in KCETB, LOETB and WWETB have been working on for some time. We look forward to continuing to work in enhanced partnership to ensure that university and a degree is accessible to everyone.”
Dr Sarah Sartori, SETU’s Higher Education Strategic Project Lead said, “We are delighted to be continuing our collaboration with our regional ETB partners and providing pathways onto SETU degree programmes in the disciplines of Business, IT, Tourism & Hospitality and the Health Sciences for 2025. Tertiary provision in SETU has tripled since we launched our first degrees in 2023, and it is continuing to expand as the benefits become more apparent. We are finding that for some students, this route not only offers students a route outside of CAO and the Leaving Cert but is also a way back into higher education for those who may have tried university before.”
SETU partnerships and programmes
SETU is partnered with the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB), the Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) and the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) to bring tertiary education to students in the southeast.
The tertiary courses available from 2025 will be:
- Bachelor of Business in Tourism & Hospitality Services with the KCETB
- Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Information Technology Management with the KCETB and the LOETB
- Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Care with the KCETB
- Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Public Health and Health Promotion with the KCETB
- Bachelor of Business (Hons) with the LOETB
- Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Software Development with the LOETB
Advantages of Tertiary degrees at SETU
Students partaking in a tertiary degree can gain direct entry to start their studies on a smaller campus, at a partner further education college, before completing their degree at SETU.
By creating a smoother transition from further education to higher education, students are driven to look beyond their Leaving Certificate points and focus more on their talent, potential and desired career.
The future of education
By creating additional access routes to education, students will be able to pursue their dream career, free from traditional barriers, such as fees and the constraints of CAO points.
If you want more information on SETU’s tertiary programmes, please contact Sarah Sartori at [email protected] or visit www.nto.ie
