HEAR admissions scheme for students from disadvantaged backgrounds

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a college admission scheme for students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds that are under-represented in third-level education.

To be eligible for HEAR, you must meet certain criteria related to your financial, social, and cultural circumstances.

Can I apply for both the HEAR and DARE schemes?

The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a college admissions scheme for school leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second-level education.

You can apply to both HEAR and DARE if you think you’re eligible. You must submit all the documents needed for both schemes.

If you are eligible for both schemes, you’ll be prioritised for a college place at the CAO offers stage.

If you think you meet the criteria, you can apply for HEAR through the Central Applications Office (CAO) (see ‘How to apply for the HEAR scheme’ below).

All third-level colleges that participate in the HEAR scheme keep a number of places for students eligible for HEAR. These are called ‘reduced points places’.

Reduced points places

If you are eligible for HEAR, you compete for a ‘reduced point place’ based on your Leaving Certificate results.

A reduced point place means you can get a place on your preferred third-level course, even if you don’t have enough CAO points. For example, if you’re eligible for HEAR and you get 350 points in your Leaving Certificate, you may be offered a place on a course that is 360 points.

You must still meet the minimum entry requirements, and any specific course entry requirements (for example, a certain grade in maths or Irish).

Additional supports available through HEAR

If you get a college place through HEAR, you’ll also be offered a range of supports while you are studying at college, such as:

• An orientation programme
• Extra tuition
• Study skills
• Mentoring
• Extra financial assistance (when available) and advice about grants and scholarships

The supports vary from college to college.

To qualify for HEAR, you must be under 23 years of age on 1 January 2026.

You must also meet certain criteria related to your financial, social, and economic circumstances.

What are the criteria for the HEAR scheme?

There are 6 criteria, also called ‘indicators’. All HEAR applicants must meet the low-income criteria (point 1 below). You will then be scored from 0–7 based on how you meet the rest of the criteria.

1. Income limits
2. Medical card
3. Social welfare
4. DEIS school
5. Area
6. Priority group

1. Income

Your total family income (that is, gross income before tax and PRSI are deducted) for the year 2024 must be within the HEAR income limits.

*A 'dependent child' is a child under 16 on 1 October 2025, or over 16 who is attending a full-time educational institution or is medically certified as permanently unfit for work. A dependent can also include a parent attending a full-time course in further education and training, or higher education.

2. Medical card

You, or your parent(s) or guardian(s), have a medical card or GP visit card that is valid on 31 December 2025.

3. Social welfare

You, or your parent(s) or guardian(s), got a means-tested social assistance payment for at least 26 weeks in 2024.

Find a list of eligible social assistance payments on the HEAR website.

4. DEIS school

You completed 5 years of second-level education at a school in the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme. If you attended more than one school, include the details of all schools on your application.

5. Area

You live in an area that is disadvantaged, very disadvantaged, or extremely disadvantaged, based on information gathered from the 2022 Census.

If you experienced homelessness during your post-primary education and are registered on the Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS), you automatically meet the ‘Area’ criteria.

6. Priority groups

You are from a group that is particularly disadvantaged and under-represented in higher education. For example, you may be:

• Care-experienced
• A young parent
• A member of the Traveller community
• A member of the Roma community
• Eligible for both HEAR and DARE (see ‘Disability Access Route to Education’ below)

Meeting the criteria

All HEAR applicants must meet the ‘income limits’ criteria. You will then be scored from 0-7 based on how you meet the rest of the criteria.

If you score between 5.5 and 7 points, you are eligible for HEAR and will be prioritised for reduced-points college places.

If you score between 2.5 and 5 points, you are eligible for HEAR, but you will not be prioritised for reduced-points college places.

If you score between 0 and 2 points, you are not eligible for HEAR. Your CAO application will be considered as normal.

As part of your HEAR application, you must provide documents to show that you meet the criteria. The deadline for submitting your documents is 10 March 2026.

You can use the HEAR application checklist to see which documents you need.

Examples of documents you need are:

• Statement of Liability from the Revenue Commissioners for 2024. The Statement of Liability has replaced the P21. You can get a Statement of Liability through Revenue's myAccount service.
• Statement of welfare benefits received from the Department of Social Protection in 2024 (you can download the form from your online HEAR application form).
• Confirmation from your Local Health Office of a medical or GP visit card valid on 31 December 2025 (you can download the form from your online HEAR application form).

You must send all documents by post. Emailed documents are not accepted.

When posting your documents to CAO:

• Keep the originals (only send copies)
• Get proof of posting from An Post
• Put your name and CAO number on everything.

To get a college place under the HEAR scheme, you must apply online through the CAO by 5pm, 1 February 2026.

When completing your CAO application form, you’ll be asked if you want to apply for HEAR. Say ‘yes,’ and then you’ll be directed to a separate HEAR application form. You must complete this by 5pm, 1 March 2026.

On the HEAR application form, you must answer questions about:

• Your family’s income
• Your parents’ employment status
• The schools you attended

You must submit supporting documents with your application by post. These documents must reach the CAO by 5pm, 10 March 2026.

What if my application is late?

No applications are accepted after the closing date.

The closing date is very strict because HEAR is an additional application procedure which needs extra processing time.

When do I hear the outcome of my application?

You will find out if you are eligible for HEAR by email or through the CAO portal in late June 2026 (after the Leaving Certificate exams).

If you are told you’re not eligible, you can ask for your application to be reviewed.

Your HEAR application does not affect your CAO application, which will be processed in the usual way after you get your Leaving Certificate results.

Call the CAO helpline at (091) 509 800 for help with your HEAR application.

All participating colleges have a staff member who can advise you on how to apply to HEAR too.

You can also read:

• Frequently asked questions about HEAR on the Access College website
• The HEAR application handbook 2026 (pdf)

Or, watch a HEAR information session run by the HEAR programme which answers questions that students, or parents or guardians, may have about applying for HEAR.