The term "Further Education" embraces education and training which occurs after second-level schooling but which is not part of the higher education and training system. Further education programmes are run by a wide range of both public and private colleges and institutions and lead to awards validated by the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland - the Further Education and Training Awards Council, as well as awards validated by a range of Irish, UK and other international awarding bodies.

For more detailed information regarding the further education and training system in Ireland, please refer to FETAC.