What is HEAR?
The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a college admissions scheme for school leavers (under 23) who live in the Republic of Ireland who have experienced social or educational disadvantage during secondary school. Eligible HEAR applicants will compete for HEAR reduced points places on college courses.
Find out what HEAR can do for you by reading some of the many benefits of the scheme below.
Additional Information
Click on the links for more information to help you make a HEAR application.
Is HEAR for me?
Benefits of HEAR
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. For example let’s say the points requirements for a particular course is 366 points. If you are eligible for HEAR, the college could still offer you a place if you only have 355 points. However, like all other applicants applying to college based on their results, you would still need to meet the minimum entry requirements such as subjects or languages needed for your college course and any other specific programme requirements. The reduction in points for HEAR places varies every year and depends on the:
- 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 this website.
College Supports
If you get a place through HEAR, you will receive a variety of academic, personal and social supports while at college. College supports may include:
- An Orientation Programme to introduce you to university/college.
- Extra tuition if required, study skills and exam preparation.
- One-to-one meetings with student advisers.
- Social gatherings/mentoring.
- Extra financial assistance when available/ advice regarding grants and scholarships.
- Prioritisation of Applicants Eligible for both DARE & HEAR.
Who is the the HEAR access route for?
How do I apply?
You can apply to HEAR via cao.ie from Thursday 5 November but you should start to review the HEAR handbook and the information on this website with your parent(s) or guardian(s) and school teacher or guidance counsellor as soon as you can before making your application.