Primary and secondary education

Primary education is compulsory for children aged 6 to 12. Secondary education is for students aged 12 to 17 or 18. Compulsory education ends when they reach the age of 16.

There are 2 phases of secondary education:

• lower secondary education (junior cycle), concluded with exams for a Junior Certificate;
• upper secondary education (senior cycle), concluded with exams for a Leaving Certificate. Students have to choose 1 out of 3 programmes:
  • Leaving Certificate Established (LCE);
  • Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP);
  • Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA).

Please note: students in all programmes obtain a Leaving Certificate. The diploma name does not show in which programme the student has obtained the diploma. Below, we describe the content of the 3 programmes and explain to which Dutch diplomas you can compare a Leaving Certificate.

At the end of lower secondary education (junior cycle), students take exams for the Junior Certificate.

• Duration i : 3 years.
• Content: the junior cycle consists of a mix of general education subjects (Junior Cycle Subjects) and Short Courses.
• Diploma: Junior Certificate.

The Leaving Certificate Established (LCE) programme is one of the possible 3 upper secondary education programmes. Students who choose the LCE programme follow general secondary education.

• Duration: 2 years or 3 years (2 years + a voluntary orientation year, the Transition Year – TY).
• Content: students usually take exams in 6 to 8 general education subjects (Leaving Certificate Established Subjects). There are different levels for the subjects.
• Function of the diploma: access to higher education.
• Diploma: Leaving Certificate.

The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) is one of the possible 3 upper secondary education programmes. The LCVP programme consists of general secondary education with a small vocational part.

• Duration: 2 years or 3 years (2 years + a voluntary orientation year, the Transition Year – TY).
• Content: students usually take exams in at least 5 general education subjects at Higher, Ordinary or Foundation Level:
  • Irish;
  • 1 modern foreign language (not Irish or English);
  • 2 vocational subjects (Vocational Subject Groupings); and
  • 1 subject of their choice.
    Students must also complete the Link Modules. The Link Modules are practical assignments, not exam subjects. See also the Curriculum Online website: Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme.
• Function of the diploma: access to higher education in case of certain subjects and study results. The vocational part prepares students for work.
• Diploma: Leaving Certificate. At the bottom of the certificate, you can see the Link Modules. This shows that the student has taken the LCVP programme and not the Leaving Certificate Established programme.

The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) is one of the possible 2 upper secondary education programmes. The LCA programme consists of general secondary education with a large vocational part.

• Duration: 2 years.
• Study load i : 44 modules (each module stands for 30 hours of study).
• Content: students take general and vocational subjects, see LCA (Senior Cycle). They also do an internship. There are 2 clear differences with the Leaving Certificate established programme and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme. There are no different levels of subjects, and the grading system is different. The diploma shows 1 of the following 3 grades, from low to high: pass, merit or distinction.
• Function of the diploma: the vocational part prepares students for work. Students cannot continue to higher education in Ireland.
• Diploma: Leaving Certificate. Under the diploma name, it says 'Leaving Certificate Applied Examination'.