Reference Guide Briefing
The HEAR alternative THE Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a college and university scheme that offers places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are resident in the Republic of Ireland. 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. HEAR applicants must meet a range of financial, social and cultural indicators to be considered for a reduced points place and extra college support. HEAR is for school leavers under the age of 23 as of 1 January 2022 who are resident in the Republic of Ireland. Mature and FET (Further Education and Training) students have their own admissions routes and should contact college admissions offices for more information. Applications to HEAR can only be made online through the CAO. Reduced Points If you apply to HEAR and meet the application criteria (that is, are deemed eligible for HEAR) you may be offered a place even if you do not have enough Leaving Certificate
points for your preferred course. Each participating college and university has a reserved number of places to offer eligible HEAR applicants at lower or reduced Leaving Certificate points. An example of a reduced points offer is that the Leaving Certificate points for a particular course is 366 points. An eligible HEAR applicant could be offered a place with a lower points score, e.g. 356 points. This applicant would also, like all other applicants applying to college, need to meet the minimum entry requirements and any specific programme requirements before being considered for a HEAR reduced points offer. The reduction in points for HEAR places can vary every year. The number of points a particular course is reduced by is dependent on a number of factors, such as: • The overall number of places on the course. • The number of reserved HEAR places on the course. • The number of HEAR eligible applicants competing for these reserved places. Information on the number of reduced points places available per course and the method used by colleges for selecting eligible HEAR students for those places is available on some HEI websites and on the
page of each of the participating colleges on the accesscollege.ie site. College Supports If you get a place through HEAR, "Evidence you will receive a variety of acashows that demic, personal and social supports socio-economic while at college. disadvantage College supports may include: can have a • An Orientation Programme to negative effect introduce you to university/ on how well a college. student does at • Extra tuition if required, study school and skills and exam preparation. whether they • One-to-one meetings with go on to student advisers. college" • Social gatherings/mentoring. • Extra financial assistance when available/advice regarding grants and scholarships. Prioritisation of Applicants Eligible for both DARE & HEAR Research has shown that students with disabilities from disadvantaged backgrounds face the greatest obstacles when it comes to progression to higher education. In order to increase the numbers of students facing this ‘double disadvantage’, colleges participating in DARE and HEAR have agreed to prioritise this group when allocating reduced points places. Editorial source: accesscollege.ie
Participating colleges ■ Athlone Institute of Technology ■ Cork Institute of Technology ■ Dublin City University ■ Dundalk Institute of Technology ■ Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology ■ Galway Mayo Institute of Technology ■ Institute of Technology Carlow ■ Institute of Technology Sligo ■ Institute of Technology Tralee ■ Letterkenny Institute of Technology ■ Limerick Institute of Technology ■ Marino Institute of Education 20 Education
■ Mary Immaculate College ■ Maynooth University ■ National College of Ireland ■ National University of Ireland, Galway ■ Pontifical University Maynooth ■ Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland ■ St Angela’s College, Sligo ■ Technological University Dublin ■ Trinity College Dublin ■ University College Cork ■ University College Dublin ■ University of Limerick
What HEAR is not HEAR is not your maintenance grant (SUSI grant). The maintenance grant is the main source of financial assistance available from the Irish State for students in full-time Post Leaving Certificate Courses (PLCs) and full-time higher education undergraduate courses. HEAR is an admissions scheme to help students who may not traditionally go on to third level. Financial Assistance and SUSI Students applying to HEAR are encouraged to find out more information on the maintenance grant. Additional information on other sources of financial assistance for
