Course Search Help

This facility allows you to search for courses held in the learndirect database using either:

Both search methods will present the results in the same manner. The choice of search method depends on your preference and your search criteria.

You can switch between the two methods by clicking on the large Quick Search or Advanced Search tabs.

Quick Search

This search method allows you to perform a search of all available courses by using one or more of the following search criteria.

Course keyword search - enter words that could match a course title or course's subject codes

Provider keyword search - enter words that could match a provider's name

Location search - select a single location/region from the dropdownlist

Study Method search - select a single study method from the dropdownlist

Qualification search - select a single qualification type from the dropdownlist

Once you've entered your search criteria, press the Search button. This will then show the results page with a summary at the top displaying your search criteria. If no results match your search criteria, the following message will be displayed to you:

Your Search has returned no results; you will need to try different Search criteria.

If your search returns more than 100 matches, the following message will be displayed on the results page underneath the search criteria summary.

You can view up to 100 courses. If your search produces more than 100 courses you will need to be more specific.

If you get either message this then requires you to refine your search and try to be more specific when entering keywords or selecting options from the dropdownlists. You can select the 'Return to Search' link which will take you back to your last search, or alternatively you could select the 'New Search' button which will clear down your previous selections.

If your search is successful the results page should display a summary indicating how many courses match your search criteria. In order to view details about a particular course, click on the title of the course, which will then display details such as the provider, their address, contact details, relevant qualifications, attendance, entry requirements, course content, enrolment details and the cost.

From this course information page, you can navigate back to the results list by clicking on the 'Back to List' link or you can move through the results list by clicking on the '< Previous Course' or 'Next Course >' links.

Advanced Search

This search method allows you to search against all the criteria available in the Quick Search but with greater flexiblility, allowing multiple selections on all criteria. The search can consist of one or more of the following items:

Course tab - enter words that could match a course title or course's subject codes. You can refine the search by selecting one of Match: All words, Any words or Exact phrase

Once you've entered the keyword(s), click 'Add to Search' which will add the search criteria into the current selection for the Course tab. You can remove any of the search criteria by clicking on the 'Remove' link next to the keyword(s).

Location tab - you can enter a town/city in the textbox and add it to your search and/or you can select one or more of the regions by checking the appropriate checkboxes

Enter the town/city in the textbox and click 'Add to Search' which will add it to the search criteria displayed in the current selection. This can be repeated, building up the search criteria. These towns can also be removed from the criteria by clicking the corresponding 'Remove' link. You can also enter one or more regions from the selection by checking the checkboxes and clicking 'Add to Search'. This will add your selection to the current selection. Again, these can be removed by clicking the 'Remove' link.

Study Method tab - select one or more of the study methods and then click 'Add to Search'

You can select one or more study method to search on, or remove any selection by clicking on the corresponding 'Remove' link. Your current search criteria and the number of learning opportunities is displayed in the white box.

Provider tab - browse for a education/training provider by clicking on one of the letters to display a list of matching providers or enter a provider and click 'Search' to return any matches

To add a provider to your search criteria, check the corresponding checkbox next to the providers name after you've returned a list either by clicking on a letter or searching for a provider. You can refine your search for providers by choosing one of the options; All words, Any words or Exact Phrase. Then click 'Add to Search' to add the selected providers to your search criteria, remembering that these providers can be easily removed.

Qualification tab - select one or more of the qualifications from the list and and then click 'Add to Search'

You can select one or more qualifications to search on, or remove any selection by clicking on the corresponding 'Remove' link. Your current search criteria and the number of learning opportunities is displayed in the white box.

Summary tab - this displays all your searching criteria and also shows how many learning opportunities match your selection

You can remove any of the criteria easily on this page or you can click on the appropriate tab and change your search criteria there. To view the results of courses which match your criteria click on the 'Results' tab where they will be displayed. There is also a 'New Search' button which, when clicked, will clear all your selected criteria, allowing you to move through the tabs building up your search again.

Results tab - this displays the courses which match your search criteria

The results page displays a summary indicating how many courses match your search. In order to view details about a particular course, click on the title of the course, which will then display details such as the provider, their address, contact details, relevant qualifications, attendance, entry requirements, course content, enrolment details and the cost.

From this course information page, you can navigate back to the results list by clicking on the 'Back to List' link or you can move through the results list by clicking on the '< Previous Course' or 'Next Course > links.

If there are greater than 10 courses on the Results page, you can move through the results by clicking on the 'Next 10 >' and '< Previous 10' links

Printing

You may want to print your results or course details to look at after you've logged off Careers Service NI. There is a 'Print Version' button below the 'Help' button which will only be displayed when you are viewing the results or course details. This button will open a new window displaying a text only version without any graphics. You can then print this page by selecting File > Print from the menu.