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HEAR Applicants
Higher Education Access Route (HEAR)
The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a higher education admissions scheme for Leaving Certificate students (under 23 as of 1 January in the year of entry) whose economic or social background are underrepresented in higher education and who have experienced socio-economic disadvantage that negatively affects educational attainment at school and progression by some second-level students to third level.
ATU welcomes applications from HEAR applicants to all our full-time undergraduate programmes.
- Applications to HEAR can only be made online through the CAO.
- Applicants to HEAR can present with an Irish Leaving Certificate, A-Levels, and other EU Qualifications.
- The HEAR Scheme is not available to Mature Students, Postgraduate Students, Further Education Students or Part-time Students.
Benefits of HEAR
Reduced Points
ATU has a reserved number of places to offer eligible HEAR applicants at lower or reduced Leaving Certificate points. If you apply to HEAR and are deemed eligible you may be offered a place even if you do not have enough Leaving Certificate points for your preferred course. ATU applicants need to meet the minimum entry requirements and any specific programme requirements before being considered for a HEAR reduced points offer.
College Supports
In addition, eligible applicants who get a place in ATU will receive a variety of academic, personal, and social supports including an in-depth orientation programme, financial support, academic support, and personal and social support.
Find out more about ATU’s approach to access and widening participation
How to apply
- In order to make a HEAR application, you must first Apply to CAO by February 1st.
- Review the HEAR Website, Handbook and the application timeline carefully
- Complete all elements of the online HEAR application form by March 1st
- The online application process will generate a Supporting Document Checklist based on your answers. Ensure that you have copies of all supporting documents needed.
- By mid March: Submit copies of supporting documents to CAO and include your CAO number on all pages.
- All information required on the application process, eligibility criteria, timelines is available on HEAR – Access College
Assessment of Application
- You will be notified of the outcome of your HEAR application by the end of June.
- If you are eligible, you can compete for one of the reduced points places on offer in ATU.
- You must meet the minimum entry and course requirements to be considered for one of the reduced points places. Applicants with less than 160 points will not be considered.
- HEAR-eligible applicants who achieve the required points of their chosen programmes will be offered their place similar to other students. They will be entitled to all of the supports offered by the ATU Access Office.
- All HEAR course offers are made by the CAO.
