How many places are available?

Each college or university taking part in the HEAR scheme has set aside a quota of places on a reduced points basis for students entering through the scheme.

This quota is different for each third level institution. Details of quotas can be found here and are available on the website of each of the participating institutions. Click here to find out more about the Quotas. You can also get details of the quotas on the website of each participating educational institution.

If you are applying for the HEAR scheme, you must:

  • provide satisfactory evidence of your socio-economic circumstances
  • meet the minimum entry (matriculation) and subject requirements of the colleges or universities to which you are applying, and then
  • compete for one of the quota places based on your Leaving Certificate results.

You can find out more about the selection and admission policies on the websites of the participating colleges and universities. Please click on the links below.

Participating Colleges and Universities:

Applicant Requirements

You must give satisfactory evidence of your socio-economic circumstances (family income, schools attended, medical card etc) and meet the minimum entry (matriculation) and subject requirements of the colleges or university to which you are applying..

You will then compete for one of a quota of places based on your Leaving Certificate results.

  DCU DIT NUIG NUIM TCD UCC UCD UL
Approximate Number of 1st Year Undergraduates in 2009 1,900 3,400 3,000 1,900 2,600 3,500 4,250 2,400
Quota of 1st Year Undergraduates places available for HEAR 2010 10% of places on all courses Min 5% of places on all programmes up to a max of 10% on some programmes Minimum of 20% in all courses; divided across 3 access target groups (i.e. HEAR, DARE & Mature Students 5% 22% (with a baseline of 15%) quota in all courses; divided across 3 access target groups (i.e. HEAR, DARE & Mature Students) Minimum 5% of 1st year intake: 3% reduced points quota in all undergraduate progrmmes Minimum of 15% in all courses; divided across 3 access target groups (i.e. HEAR, DARE & Mature Students) 5% of new entrant places


  St Patrick's College St Angela's College Mary Immaculate College Mater Dei Institute of Education Marino Institute of Education Froebel College of Education Church of Ireland College of Education
Approximate Number of 1st Year Undergraduates in 2009 600 (400 BEd, 200 BA)   770 (B.Ed: 422 B.A: 260 B.Ed & Psych: 32 B.A. ECCE: 56) 120 Constituent Colleges of TCD
Quota of 1st Year Undergraduates places available for HEAR 2010 Up to 5% on each programme 2 Places
1 BEd Programme
1 BNSc (General) programme
Up to 5% on each relevant programme Up to 10% on each Programme  

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