Quick, simple answers to your questions about HEAR

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.

HEAR is for school leavers (under 23  as of 1 January 2027) who are resident in the Republic of Ireland, who have the ability to benefit from and succeed in higher education, and who come from socio-economic groups in Irish society that are underrepresented in college.

HEAR was set up to tackle educational disadvantage. Socio-economic disadvantage negatively impacts on educational attainment at school and affects progression by some secondary school students to third level.  Long term poverty can badly effect how well a student does at school and whether they go to college.

If you apply to HEAR and meet the application criteria (deemed eligible for HEAR) you may be offered a college place even if you do not have enough Leaving Certificate points for your preferred course. Each participating college and university has a number of reserved places to offer eligible HEAR applicants at lower or reduced Leaving Certificate points.

For example let’s say the points requirement for a  particular course is 366 points.  If you are eligible for HEAR, the college could still offer you a place if you have only 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 course and any 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.

• ATU Galway-Mayo
• ATU Letterkenny-Donegal
• ATU Sligo
• Dublin City University (DCU)
• Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
• Dundalk IT
• Marino Institute of Education
• Mary Immaculate College
• Maynooth University
• Munster Technological University, Cork Campus
• Munster Technological University, Kerry Campus
• National College of Art and Design
• National College of Ireland
• Pontifical University Maynooth
• RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
• SETU Carlow
• SETU Waterford
• St Angela’s College Sligo
• Trinity College (TCD)
• TU Dublin
• TUS Athlone Campus
• TUS Limerick Campus
• University College Cork (UCC)
• University College Dublin (UCD)
• University of Galway (formerly NUIG)
• University of Limerick (UL)

This means students can apply through HEAR for the quota of places in any of these colleges.

Criterion 1 – Applicants to HEAR must meet the low-income criteria, this means your family income falls on or below the HEAR income threshold for 2025? This income criterion does not apply to some applicants including Traveller, Roma and Care- experienced applicants.

Criterion 2 – Do you or your parent(s) or guardian(s) have a Medical Card or GP visit card (in date on 31st December 2026)

Criterion 3 – Did your parent(s) or guardian(s) receive a means tested payment from the Department of Social Protection for at least 26 weeks in 2025?

Criterion 4 – Do you live in an area of concentrated disadvanatge?

Criterion 5 – Did you complete five years in a secondary school that takes part in the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) scheme run by the Department of Education and Youth?

Your total criteria score is added up to see if you are HEAR Priority, HEAR Eligible or HEAR Ineligible.

The HEAR scheme recognises that not all communities are represented in higher education in Ireland.

In order to increase the number of HEAR students from these communities progressing to higher education, HEAR has agreed to prioritise the following groups:

• Care-Experienced Applicants.
• Applicants from Traveller Communities.
• Applicants from Roma Communities.
• Young Parents.

 I’m care-experienced. What do I need?
On your online HEAR application, HEAR needs your consent to share data with Tusla to confirm your care-experienced status. Please look at page 21 on the HEAR handbook for more information.

I’m from the Traveller or Roma community. What documentation do I need?

To apply under this priority group, you must provide a signed reference form. You can download this from accesscollege.ie and ask your school to sign and stamp the form or ask your community group/ community centre. 

Without this form, your application under this priority group cannot be processed.

I’m a young parent. What do I need to send?
Download the Young Parent Request for Information Form from Access College. Complete Section 1 yourself. A Department of Social Protection (DSP) staff member must complete Section 2. The form must be signed, stamped, and confirm that you receive Child Benefit.

I’m applying under both HEAR and DARE. Do I need extra documents?
No additional documents are required. Just make sure you complete both HEAR and DARE applications and upload the correct DARE documentation.

When is the deadline?
All documents must be  signed and stamped by the relevant body, posted to the CAO (clear copies only), and received by  Wednesday 10 March 2026 at 5pm.

For further support, contact a HEAR practitioner or a participating Access College officer. You will find their contact details on the participating 

• Care-Experienced Applicants – None- HEAR needs your consent to share data with Tusla to confirm your care-experienced status
• Applicants from Traveller Communities – Must provide School or Community Reference Form
• Applicants from Roma Communities – Must provide School or Community Reference Form
• Young Parents – Must provide evidence of low-income and Department of Social Protection Statement 

Priority groups who provide the above documentation in their application are awarded a score of 7.

You can apply online on the CAO website from 5th November 2026. As part of the application process, and depending on individual circumstances, you will be asked to submit documentation relating to your parent(s)/guardian(s) or for yourself to support your application. You must be able to clearly document household income in the year specified.

Examples of the documentation required are:

• Statement(s) of Liability (formerly known as P21(s)) or Self-Assessment Letter – Chapter 4 for 2025.
• Department of Social Protection form or statement for 2025.
• Further information on the type of supporting documents required is available on our supporting documentation page.
• All supporting documents must be posted to the CAO before  Wednesday 10 March 2027 at 5pm.  Late documentation will not be accepted.

When completing a HEAR application, you will receive online prompts requesting that you submit specific documentation.

You will receive a supporting document checklist at the bottom of the application form. The supporting document checklist will list what documents you need to submit to the CAO to complete your HEAR application. 

With regards to divorced or separated parents, the income of the parent with whom you live with will be taken into account. If parents are separated but remain residing in the same house as the applicant, both incomes will be taken into account.

In Section 6 of the HEAR application form, select no contact for one parent.

In Section 6, select the parent/guardian who contributes to your family’s income and answer Yes or No as appropriate for that parent under Type of Income (e.g. Employee, paid employment, social welfare).

Answer yes to Section 4: Care experienced. You do not need to complete Sections 5, 6 or 7.

On your online HEAR application HEAR needs your consent to share data with Tusla to confirm your care-experienced status. You will need to  provide us with your full name, date of birth, PPS, location where you were care- experienced. 

You will be notified of the outcome of your HEAR application by the end of June. If you do not receive any correspondence by July 1, contact a member of the HEAR team. You can find their contact details here.

If you are eligible, you can compete for one of the reduced points places on offer in the universities and colleges taking part in the HEAR scheme. All HEAR course offers are made by the CAO.

You must meet the minimum entry and course requirements to be considered for one of the reduced points places.

Details of places available and minimum course entry requirements can be found on the ‘Participating Colleges’ page.

Students who secure college places through HEAR are offered a variety of academic, personal and social supports while studying at third level. Such supports include an orientation programme (before courses start), academic guidance and assistance, a bursary when available and advice regarding grants and scholarships.

Ineligible applicants can apply to have their applications reviewed if they believe there has been an error in the screening of the application. 

Please see review and appeals section for more information https://accesscollege.ie/hear/reviews-and-appeals/ https://accesscollege.ie/hear/reviews-and-appeals/

Eligibility for HEAR carries forward for one year provided that you:

• Are under 23 as of 1 January 2027
• Apply to CAO by Monday 1 February 2027 at 5pm  and 
• indicate that you wish to apply to the HEAR scheme by  Monday 1 March 2027 at 5pm
• complete ALL relevant sections of the 2027 HEAR online application form.
• supply your correct 2026 CAO number in the online HEAR application.

The outcome of your 2026 HEAR application was communicated to you by email in June 2026. If you applied to CAO in 2026 and you were deemed eligible for HEAR in 2026, then your HEAR eligibility can be carried forward to your application for entry in 2027. You must enter your correct 2026 CAO application number in the box provided in Section 7. You are required to complete ALL relevant sections of the 2027 HEAR application form; however, you DO NOT need to supply supporting documentation as part of your application. 

Applicants can contact the CAO helpdesk if they require information about their 2026 HEAR eligibility

… my parent(s)/ guardian(s) cannot get a Statement of Liability for 2025?

A Self- Assessment Letter- Chapter 4 for the Tax Year 2025 is acceptable.

… my parent(s)/ guardian(s) cannot get a Self-Assessment Letter – Chapter 4 document?

A Notice of Assessment (Chapter 4) will be issued by Revenue to parent(s)/ guardian(s) who file a paper tax return to Revenue and who do not complete a self-assessment on that return. The majority of self-employed Revenue customers receive a Self-Assessment Letter – Chapter 4.

… my parent(s)/ guardian(s) have a ‘Notice of Amended Assessment (Chapter 4)’ or ‘Notice of Amended Assessment (Chapter 5) for 2025’?

If your parent(s)/ guardian(s) have a ‘Notice of Amended Assessment (Chapter 4)’ or ‘Notice of Amended Assessment (Chapter 5) for 2025’ from Revenue, you should send this document to the CAO. Where a Notice of Amended Assessment (Chapter 4) or Notice of Amended Assessment (Chapter 5) for 2025 is received, HEAR will not require a Self-Assessment Letter – Chapter 4 or Notice of Assessment (Chapter 4).

… one parent/ guardian was PAYE and one parent / guardian was self-employed what document do I submit?

A Self-Assessment Letter – Chapter 4 for 2025 if parent(s)/ guardian(s) are jointly assessed by Revenue should be submitted. A Statement of Liability for 2025 and a Self-Assessment Letter – Chapter 4 for 2025 is required if parents/ guardians are separately assessed by Revenue.

… my parent(s)/ guardian(s) earned income from outside the Republic of Ireland in 2025?

HEAR requests that you provide supporting documents for the tax year 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. Contact a member of the HEAR team for further information.

… my parent/ guardian is self-employed and is also in receipt of a Social Welfare payment? Submit a copy of a Self-Assessment Letter – Chapter 4 for 2025, plus a Department of Social Protection form or statement as outlined in the HEAR Application Handbook.

The HEAR scheme will only consider applicants who wish to be assessed independently of their parents/guardians in exceptional circumstances. If you feel your application should be considered in this way, please email one of the participating colleges (you can get their contact details from the Participating Colleges pages above), outlining your circumstances, for advice on filling in the HEAR online application form. You should also ask your school guidance counsellor/ school principal to write a letter of support of your independent application.

Please contact a staff member in one of the participating colleges, who will be able to advise you, based on your family’s individual circumstances, what you need to provide.

Alternatively, if your parent / guardian is a client of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), a statement of financial affairs from MABS, detailing your family financial situation, will be acceptable as evidence of income.

You must have completed five years in a secondary school that takes part in the DEIS scheme in order to meet this indicator. However, the following applies if you have spent four years in a DEIS school (i.e. have not done Transition Year) and are currently sitting the Leaving Certificate in your new (amalgamated) school. You should select your DEIS school from the dropdown list on your HEAR application form and indicate attendance for 5 years on the HEAR application form. You can then be awarded the DEIS indicator.

In other words, if you are sitting your leaving certificate in a school that has just been amalgamated, you should add this year to the number of years you attended the school that had DEIS status on your HEAR online application form.

If you have any questions on whether or not the above applies to you, you should speak to your guidance counsellor or contact a HEAR advisor.

We welcome applications to HEAR from Ukrainian Students. Please note: all applicants to HEAR must fulfil the schemes eligibility criteria in order to be considered for a reduced points offer. Applicants from Ukrainian backgrounds should provide the Revenue equivalent documents from Ukraine confirming total income and tax paid.  Company payslips or statements of income are not acceptable and a certified English translation is required for income documentation not issued originally in English. 

Please note: reduced points for HEAR entry is applied to the Irish Leaving Certificate only. HEAR applicants must make a CAO application by 5pm on 1 February 2027.