Early Childhood Care and Education at Portobello Institute

Get up to 90% of Your Early Years Degree Funded – NSLF Applications Now Open

Start your Level 7 or Level 8 Early Childhood Care & Education degree this October with Portobello Institute, with up to 90% of your course fees covered through the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF).

How it works:

  • Successful applicants receive 80% funding
  • Claim back an additional 10% after graduation
  • Begin your degree on October 3rd, 2026

Register your interest today to get:

  • Step-by-step guidance on applying for NSLF funding and your course
  • Support from our admissions team
  • Updates on course availability, delivery and key deadlines

Learn More: Join our free NSLF Information Evening on Wednesday, March 25th, 7–8pm.

Important: To access funding, you will also need to apply directly through NSLF via Pobal. From March 10th, 2026, you can request your application link by emailing NSLF@pobal.ie 

Need help? We’re here for you.
Speak directly with our Early Years Admissions Advisor, Limin Bai, at 01 233 8490 (9am–5pm), or book a call at a time that suits you. 

Complete the form below to get started!

Read below the form for more information and step-by-step application videos.

Register Your Interest with Portobello Institute
The Benefits of Choosing Portobello Institute
  • Portobello Institute has been delivering early childhood care and education qualifications for 45 years.
  • Complete your work placement in your current role and setting - no need to look for external work placement opportunities.
  • Enjoy blended online learning with a schedule designed to fit around your full-time job.
  • No stressful exams! Our degrees are entirely assessment-based, so you can focus on learning and succeeding.
  • Personalised support: Your tutor knows you by name, understands your busy schedule, and is here to help every step of the way.
  • Portobello Institute is proudly listed among the eligible institutions and courses for the NSLF, with your degree awarded by University of Essex, QAB-approved and  DCDE-recognised for Graduate Premium.
Applications for NSLF for Academic Year 2026/2027 Now Open

Application Process and Timelines

From 10th March, 2026, new applicants should email Pobal, at NSLF@pobal.ie to request a link to the NSLF Student Portal in order to create an account and upload employment details and complete the new application process.

Applicants who previously applied for NSLF and were unsuccessful, should make a new application for the academic year 2026/2027 through the NSLF Student Portal. Applicants should login to their NSLF account, upload employment details and complete the new application process.

Applicants should ensure that all elements of the application are filled out and required documents provided prior to completing the application process.

The Pobal/NSLF application process will close on 1st May 2026.

Please note, your application to study with Portobello Institute and your NSLF funding application are two different processes - you must complete both at the same time.

Support with Pobal's process can be found here.

Rules and conditions for Academic Year 2026/2027

Please read carefully prior to completing the application process:

Eligibility for NSLF 2026

Applicants for the NSLF must meet the following eligibility criteria for the NSLF:

  • Be working with children in a Tusla-registered Early Learning and Care (ELC) or School Age Childcare (SAC) service
  • The service in which the applicant is working in, must have a current signed Core Funding contract with DCDE
  • Applicants must have worked within an ELC or SAC service for the six months prior to their application
  • Applicants must have a current application/offer for 2026/2027 entry to a Level 7/8 Degree course approved by the Qualification Advisory Board (QAB) that is eligible for NSLF.
  • Be a new entrant to an Approved Course for the academic year commencing 2026/2027 (Autumn 2026).
For clarity purposes, at time of application an applicant must not hold (or be already undertaking) an Approved Course at level 7 or level 8 in Early Learning and Care.

Note: Only applicants who fulfil all the above Eligibility Criteria will be considered for NSLF funding in 2026.

Step-by-step How to Apply for Your Course at Portobello Institute

Choose the course you would like to study, select the date you wish to apply for if there are multiple options and click 'Apply' on either of these pages:

Follow the video below that applies to your previous experience with NSLF and Portobello Institute: 

1. How to Apply for NSLF-funded Courses at Portobello Institute as a First-time Applicant

 

2. How to Apply for NSLF-funded Courses at Portobello Institute as a Previous Graduate of Any of Our Courses

 

3. How to Reapply for NSLF-Funded Courses at Portobello Institute if Previously Applied, Rejected and Not Fully Enrolled

Selection Criteria for NSLF 2026/2027

The NSLF for the academic year 2026/2027 will be limited by the available funding. Where demand for funding is greater than the available budget, the selection of successful applicants is based on the following criteria in the following prioritisation order:

  1. The number of graduates in the applicant’s service, with priority for applicants from services with no graduates,
  2. Priority index (Equal Start Index, formerly EPM index), with priority for applicants from services supporting the most disadvantaged children
  3. The role of the applicant in a service, with priority for those in lead educator or manager roles.
  4. If, after the above prioritisation has been applied and not been decisive, random selection is applied.
How Much Does the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund Cover?

The fund was set up to assist in the financial costs for early year’s educators who wish to pursue early learning and care (ELC) qualifications at level 7 and level 8 while continuing to work in a core funded service.

The NSLF is designed to complement and add to other Government financial supports, such as the Free Fees Initiative and SUSI grants and the scheme will make a contribution of up to 90% of course fees over the course of the degree.

Funding is paid each academic year to an amount of 80% of the total cost of course fees (after discounting other governmental assistance such as Free Fees, SUSI etc..) to a maximum cap of €3,200 per academic year.

This funding is paid directly to the educational intuition on behalf of the successful applicants.

The remaining 10% (of the overall 90% contribution) will be refunded to the applicants after completion of the course and contingent on the successful applicants remaining working in the sector, in a Core Funded Service, for 6 months after completing. It is the responsibility of successful applicants to pay the remainder of their course fees plus student levies when requested by the course provider.

The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund fees at Portobello Institute are calculated as follows:
  • Cost of course fees per academic year: €3,600
  • NSLF Grant at 80% of fee: €2,880
  • Cost to student per academic year: €720
  • Further 10% you can claim back 6 months after graduating and remaining working in the sector: €360 per academic year
Students Who Received NSLF Funding in 2024/2025/2026

Continuing Students (existing students who successfully received NSLF funding in previous academic years and wish to continue to receive funding for NSLF)

Pobal will contact continuing students directly in early Summer asking individuals to verify their continuing eligibility for NSLF. Once eligibility is confirmed a new Letter of Conditional Funding will issue to the student for the new academic year.

Read More
Why Choose Portobello Institute?

Choosing Portobello Institute means that you will study 100% of your classes online around full-time work hours, you can complete the required work placement hours in your current role in an early years setting, and you can relax knowing our courses are assessment based with no exam pressure. We are the early years sector's leading education provider and our Institute was founded in early years education in 1981.

"The process through Portobello was super easy, the communication with staff made the process so much easier. I was a bit worried going back to education after taking some time off but the staff at Portobello are so reassuring." - Una Broderick, Early Childhood Care and Education Student

Details of the pilot NSLF rules and conditions for the pilot scheme can be viewed on the  Nurturing Skills Learner Fund website here.
The NSLF is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. NSLF has secured funding under the Irish Government’s Employment, Inclusion Skills and Training (EIST) scheme and the European Commission’s European Social Fund + (ESF+).