1 minute read
Breaking down Barriers to Education
The Access UCC PLUS Programme provides motivational and educational assistance to underrepresented students throughout their secondary schooling, supporting them to compete for third level places. Once the student comes to UCC, they are then supported socially and financially, and are encouraged to participate wholeheartedly in student life and reach their full potential.
In the academic year 2020-2021 the Access UCC PLUS programme supported 808 students, including a new intake of 207 students. 205 students graduated during the year with 97% achieving first or secondclass honours in their degrees.
Advertisement
Most of the bursaries are funded by the philanthropic support of our donors, including the Tomar Trust who committed the generous sum of €1 million to support the programme over five years.
“I have been extremely fortunate to consider myself as part of the Access UCC PLUS family, for the last five years throughout my college career in medicine. From the week before I began five years ago, Access UCC PLUS began to support me. From that moment onwards I have constantly been supported, both academically and socially. I grew in confidence and independence throughout my time in Access UCC PLUS and my financial situation was never a barrier with the backing I had from UCC. The supports I was given such as a bursary, printing allowances, and the access to laptops, were saving graces.
Thanks to Access UCC PLUS, I was privileged to enjoy my time in college and focus on my studies without financial worry, knowing that if anything ever was to happen, I had support available. I will never be able to express enough gratitude and appreciation for all that Access UCC PLUS has done for me.”
Sara, Medicine Student
“Access UCC PLUS has been a great support to me over the past four years. I have always enjoyed the oneto-one support meetings, ensuring that I am academically and financially stable. The resources available have always been amazing such as the printing credit which helped me throughout my first two years of college. The bursary has always made a huge impact in terms of buying college books and supplies, and without these resources it would have been a struggle. Access UCC PLUS has been a great support to me, and I would not be where I am today without their help and guidance.”
