UCC HEAR & DARE Admissions Policy

Version: 1.3
Policy Owner: Admissions Officer, and Head of Access UCC
Policy Operator: UCC Admissions Office/Access UCC Disability Supports /Access UCC Plus
Approved by:  Academic Board, 2 December 2015
Date Last Reviewed: May 2026
Review Cycle: Within 3 years subject to national developments

1. Purpose

University College Cork (UCC) participates in the national HEAR and DARE admissions schemes to promote equitable access for school-leavers from socio-economic disadvantages, and those whose disabilities have negatively impacted their educational performance. This policy outlines eligibility, application requirements, and the admissions selection process for HEAR and DARE applicants applying through the CAO. 

2. Scope

This policy applies to: 

• HEAR and/or DARE eligible school-leaver applicants under 23 years of age on 1 January of the year of entry.
• Applicants applying through the CAO for undergraduate entry.
• For HEAR eligibility, applicants who are resident in the Republic of Ireland.

Mature applicants, FET/QQI applicants, and non-EU applicants are not eligible for HEAR or DARE.

3. Definitions

HEAR: The Higher Education Access Route is the national undergraduate access route for applicants from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. 

DARE: The Disability Access Route to Education is the undergraduate access route for applicants whose disabilities have negatively impacted their educational performance. 

Reduced-Points Place: An offer made at a points level lower than the standard CAO points cut‑off for a programme, subject to DARE/HEAR eligibility and minimum thresholds.

Matriculation Requirements: Minimum subject/grade standards for UCC/NUI entry. 

CAO: The Central Applications Office, which processes undergraduate applications for Irish higher education institutions.

4. Eligibility Criteria

4.1 HEAR Eligibility 

To be eligible for HEAR, applicants must:

• Be a school-leaver applicant and under 23 years of age at the time of application;
• Be resident in the Republic of Ireland;
• Meet the national HEAR financial, social, and cultural indicators as defined by the HEAR scheme.

4.2 DARE Eligibility 

To be eligible for DARE, applicants must:

• Be a school-leaver applicant and under 23 years of age at the time of application;
• Demonstrate a verifiable educational impact arising from their disability;
• Provide supporting documentation in accordance with the DARE scheme requirements.

DARE applicants may present qualifications including the Irish Leaving Certificate, GCEs (A-Levels) and/or other EU recognised qualifications.

4.3 Minimum Entry Requirements

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must:

• Meet all NUI matriculation requirements and any additional specific programme requirements
• Achieve at least 300 CAO points (or equivalent, where applicable)

5. Related Procedures

5.1 CAO Application
Applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) and indicate their interest in HEAR and/or DARE by selecting “Yes” at Question 1 of the application form.

5.2 Supplementary Forms and Documentation
Applicants are required to:

• Complete all relevant supplementary information forms; and
• Submit all supporting documentation to the CAO by the published national deadlines.

Late or incomplete submissions may not be considered.

5.3 Admissions Selection Process

Approximately 10% of school leaver places on each programme are allocated to reduced points entry under the HEAR and DARE schemes, as follows:

• 5% reserved for eligible HEAR applicants;
• 5% reserved for eligible DARE applicants.

To be considered for a reduced points offer, applicants must achieve a minimum of 85% of the CAO points cut-off for the relevant programme.

All eligible HEAR and DARE applicants are ranked based on their Leaving Certificate points. Reduced points offers are made in order of merit, subject to the prioritisation criteria outlined below.

Priority may be given to:

• DARE applicants from nationally underrepresented disability categories (e.g. visual, hearing, and physical disabilities);
• HEAR applicants with a priority score (5.5–7), including those within recognised national priority groups, in line with the national HEAR scoring system;
• Applicants eligible for both HEAR and DARE, in accordance with national access priorities.

All offers are issued through the CAO in line with the published offer schedule.

Meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee an offer of a place.

6. Responsibilities

Admissions Office: 

• Ensures compliance with national admissions policies.
• Manages place allocation.
• Liaises with CAO, other HEI’s and national bodies on admissions matters.

 Access UCC – Disability Support and Plus:

• Oversees supports for all eligible students post-registration
• Supports are not part of the admissions decision-making process.

Applicants

• Apply via CAO and accurately indicate HEAR/DARE
• Submit complete and valid documentation by published deadlines
• DARE entrants must register with DSS post-admission to activate supports

7. Matriculation Exemptions

Applicants requiring exemptions must apply directly to NUI. 

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