What is Access / Widening Participation?
Equity of Access to Higher Education
Widening participation has been a priority for Colleges and Universities 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 make sure that our colleges and universities remain diverse, vibrant places in which to study and become more representative of the society which they serve.
Entry to colleges and universities 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 colleges and universities 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 college and university admissions scheme for school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
HEAR has been set up by a number of colleges and universities as evidence shows that socio-economic disadvantage can have a negative effect on how well a student does at school and whether they go on to college.
As well as receiving a reduced points place, HEAR Students may also receive a variety of academic, personal and social supports while studying at third level.
Each college and university will decide what supports it can offer depending on its policies, practices and the resources available to it.
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
Mater Dei Institute of Education
Mary Immaculate College Limerick
Pontifical University, Maynooth
St Patrick’s college Drumcondra
St Angela’s College Sligo
Mature Students
Universities and colleges actively encourage applications from mature candidates. Mature students are those aged 23 years or older on 1 January in the year of entry.
Mature students have a wealth of knowledge and experience with which they make a valuable contribution to college life and to society. Many colleges and universities 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.
Each college and university provides a range of supports from advice on computers and technology to learning and study skills, health services, child care and financial aid. For more information about admission routes for mature students, click on the links below.