What is Access / Widening Participation?
Equity of Access to Higher Education
Widening participation has been a priority for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) both individually and collectively in recent years. Recruiting students from all walks of life who demonstrate the ability, motivation and potential to succeed at third level will, over time, draw outstanding talent from a broad pool of applicants. This will ensure that our third level institutions remain diverse, vibrant places in which to study and become more representative of the society which they serve.
Entry to HEIs has been traditionally dominated by school leavers who have completed the Leaving Certificate Examination. Entry is decided on an open, transparent and competitive basis through the Central Applications Office [CAO] established by the universities. Many HEIs have made significant strides in providing programmes aimed at achieving equity of access for learners of all backgrounds, identities and abilities.
As a means of widening participation in 3rd level participating colleges have developed a range of initiatives including the following supplementary admission routes:
Higher Education Access Route (HEAR)
Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third level admissions scheme for school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
HEAR has been established based on clear evidence that socio-economic disadvantage has a negative impact on educational attainment at school and progression to higher education.
Whilst studying at third level, students can benefit from the HEAR scheme by gaining support in various academic, personal and social ways. The characteristics and delivery of these benefits will be determined by the individual institutions, be in agreement with their own policies and practices and subject to the availability of resources. Details of post-admission supports for HEAR entrants can be found on the Access Office website of each of the participating institutions. The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that participate in HEAR are:
Dublin City University (DCU)
Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)
National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM)
National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG)
Trinity College (TCD)
University College of Cork (UCC)
University College Dublin (UCD)
University of Limerick (UL)
Colaiste Mhuire Marino
Church of Ireland College of Education
Froebel College of Education
Mater Dei Institute of Education
Mary Immaculate College Limerick
St Patrick’s college Drumcondra
St Angela’s College Sligo
Mature Students
The universities encompass diverse student bodies and actively encourage applications from mature candidates.
Mature students are those aged 23 years or above, on 1st January in the year of entry.
Mature students have a wealth of knowledge and experience with which they make a valuable contribution. Many of the Institutions embrace the ethos of lifelong learning and are committed to the objective of widening participation. In order to increase participation of adult learners they continually work towards wider entry routes for mature students.
A range of support is provided within each individual university from advice on computers/technology in learning and study skills, through to health service support, child care and financial aid. For more detailed information visit the admissions pages here:
DCU – http://www.dcu.ie/future_students.shtml
NUIM – http://admissions.nuim.ie/
NUIG – http://www.nuigalway.ie/admissions/
St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra – http://www.spd.dcu.ie/main/administration/
TCD – http://www.tcd.ie/Admissions/
UCC – http://www.ucc.ie/en/ProspectiveStudents/Admissions/
UCD – https://myucd.ucd.ie/prospectivestudents/prospects.ezc
UL - http://www2.ul.ie/web/WWW/Services/Student_Affairs/Student_Administration/Admissions