1. HEAR
Higher Education Access Route
2018

2. National Picture
Overview UCC Picture
Success Story!

3. What is HEAR?
The Higher Education Access Route is an admissions route for school leavers who for social, financial or cultural reasons are under-represented at third level education.
It was set up to ensure that all Leaving Certificate students have a fair and equal opportunity to progress to third level education.

4. Where can I go to College?
Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin City University
Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Dún Laoghaire
RCSI
Trinity College, Dublin
University College, Dublin
Marino Institute of Education
National College of Ireland
St. Angela’s College, Sligo.
IT Sligo
Maynooth University
Pontifical University
NUI Galway
University of Limerick
Mary Immaculate College
University College Cork

5. Why apply to HEAR?
Reduced points CAO offers in the participating colleges provided you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Use comments from your own students here eg Orientation, etc:
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and
Post-entry supports such as financial, academic, social and personal.

6. National Picture
Use comments from your own students here eg Orientation, etc:
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and

7. HEAR Spread of applicants by County 2016
Use comments from your own students here eg Orientation, etc:
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and

8. Eligibility - HEAR 2015 2016 Opted In for HEAR 9158 9532
2015
2016
Opted In for HEAR
9158
9532
Applications assessed
6127
6080
Final number eligible
4276
4221
Carried forward eligibility
412
462
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and

9. % of Applicants meeting each Indicator
Use comments from your own students here eg Orientation, etc:
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and

10. Number of Indicators met 2016
Use comments from your own students here eg Orientation, etc:
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and

11. 72% of Eligible HEAR Students Accept
Offers & Acceptances - HEAR
72% of Eligible HEAR Students Accept
a CAO Offer.
Total Eligible
Total Offers
% Receiving Offers
 2016
4221
3565
84.5
 2015
4276
3701
86.6
Use comments from your own students here eg Orientation, etc:
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and

12. Prioritised Groups – HEAR & DARE Eligible
265 Students Eligible for HEAR & DARE in 2016
50% of these students received an Offer.
Use comments from your own students here eg Orientation, etc:
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and

13. UCC PLUS+ Programme
Outreach
Admissions
Support
Graduation

15. Snapshot of UCC PLUS+ 2017/18 Linked DEIS Secondary Schools
First Year Students
UCC PLUS+ Supported Students
Graduates 32
256
830
1,250

16. Allocation of HEAR Places
Being eligible for HEAR does not guarantee a reduced points place.
University College Cork reserves approximately 5% of School Leaver places for students applying under the HEAR Scheme.   
To be considered for a reduced points HEAR place you must:
Be eligible for HEAR
Meet minimum entry requirements
Meet any additional specific course requirements
Achieve a minimum of 300* points
Achieve at least 85% of the Leaving Certificate points required for the course. 
Once these requirements have been met, University College Cork allocates the reduced points places to eligible applicants in order of points merit.

17. 52% of UCC HEAR Admissions in 2017 were below points
HEAR Admissions UCC
Plateaux
52% of UCC HEAR Admissions in 2017 were below points

18. UCC PLUS+ Supports Residential Orientation Programme
Dedicated First Year Support Officers
UCC PLUS+ Resource Room
Subsidised Printing
Laptop Loan Service
Extra Academic Tuition
One-to-one Support
Drop-In Facility
Financial Bursary
Use comments from your own students here eg Orientation, etc:
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and

19. Outcomes Retention Rate identical to general student body
96% of Graduates achieve honours!

20. Graduate Destinations - 2016
 2016
UCC PLUS+
UCC
In Employment
57%
58%
In Further Study
37%
36%
Seeking Employment 4%
Unavailable for Employment or Further Study 2% 3%
Employment or Further Study
94%
56% earning €25,000 +
Use comments from your own students here eg Orientation, etc:
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and

21. Data Analytics Associate
Graduate Destinations – Employment
Accountant
Teacher
Credit Analyst
Trainee Tax Consultant
Staff Nurse
Social Worker
Use comments from your own students here eg Orientation, etc:
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and
Occupational Therapist
Midwife
Quality Control Analyst
Data Analytics Associate
Graduate Software Developer

22. PhD Environmental Science
Graduate Destinations – Further Study
Master of Social Work
MSc Occupational Health
PhD Science
MSc Information Systems Risk Management
MSc Corporate Finance
Use comments from your own students here eg Orientation, etc:
“Orientation was the best, it took the fear out of going to college” Or
I made new friends and
Professional Master of Education
MA Film and Screen Media
MA Criminology
PhD Environmental Science
MSc Analytical Chemistry

23. UCC Student Leadership Awards.
Exceptional Students
UCC Student Leadership Awards.
These prestigious awards are for students who made outstanding contributions to student life here in UCC

24. To this day I am very thankful for the advice I received from the career guidance counsellor at my school who not only encouraged me to pursue a university degree but introduced me to HEAR and assisted in all steps of the application process.
Thanks to the support I receive through the HEAR scheme I managed to graduate from my Bachelors with a high second class honours, complete an Erasmus year abroad in the Czech Republic and I am due to graduate from the top of my class with an LL.M in Hamburg, Germany.
I hope to continue along the academic path for now by completing a PhD in the area of Human Rights and eventually to train as a lawyer in London. I feel this will give me the opportunity to continue to work internationally and hopefully make a difference for those who need it.

25. Further Information: www.accesscollege.ie

26. Application Advice Clinics Thank you ! Olive Byrne Programme Manager
UCC PLUS+