Parents EveningDonabate Community College

What we’ll cover

• HEAR Scheme

• DARE Scheme

• Student Grant

• Questions

What is HEAR?

• Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is an admissions route for school leavers who for social, financial or cultural reasons are under-represented at third level education.

• It was established by 17 colleges and universities to ensure that all Leaving Certificate students have a fair and equal opportunity to progress to third level education.

Participating Institutions17 Institutions Participating

Dublin City University Dublin Institute of Technology University College, Cork University College, Dublin University of Limerick NUI Galway NUI Maynooth Trinity College, Dublin

Coláiste Mhuire, Marino Institute of EducationChurch of Ireland, College of EducationMary Immaculate, College of EducationMater Dei Institute of EducationNational College of IrelandSt. Angela’s College, SligoSt. Patrick’s College, DrumcondraPontifical University, MaynoothFroebel College of Education

Why Apply to HEAR?

• Reduced points CAO offers in the participating colleges provided you meet the minimum entry requirements.

• Post-entry supports such as financial, academic, social and personal.

1. Was your household income on or below €48,811.00 in 2011?

4. Are you from a socio economic group that is underrepresented in higher education?

2. Does your family have a medical card?

5. Have you attended a DEIS school for 5 years?

3. Did your parents/guardian receive a means-tested social welfare payment in 2011?

6. Do you live in an area with high unemployment, poverty and few community facilities?

Should I Apply? The 6 indicators

Number of dependent children* in your family

HEAR Income Limit**

Less than 4 €48,811

4 – 7 €53,637

More than 8 €58,230

Add €4,980 to the total income for every sibling/parent enrolled in a full time college, university or post leaving certificate further education course.

*A dependent child:•a child under the age of 16 years on the 1st of October 2012•a child or parent over 16 years and attending a full time educational institution•a child or parent medically certified as permanently unfit for work.

**Total household income:•Income from 1st January 2011 to 31 December 2011.

You must meet the HEAR income limit & the right combination of 2 other indicators

to be eligible.

I want to apply to HEAR, what’s next?

1. Apply to CAO at www.cao.ie by 1 February 2013

2. Fill in your HEAR Application Guide & Workbook with your parents or guardians

3. Complete all elements of HEAR on line application by 1 March 2013

4. Submit copies of supporting documents requested on your checklist to CAO by 1 April 2013

Supporting Documents• Income Supporting Documents:

– Social Welfare – completed social welfare form/full social welfare statement stating amount received

– Paid employment – P21 from revenue– Self employment – Notice of Assessment– Redundancy – RP50 form from employer– Lump Sum Payment – letter from employer

• Social Welfare Supporting Document:– Social Welfare – completed social welfare form/full social

welfare statement stating type of payment and verifying if it is means tested

• Care of the State: Letter from Social Worker

Top Tips!?1. Gather supporting documents now! They can take 8

weeks to get.

2. Send photocopies of supporting documents – keep your originals

3. Use the application guide and workbook when applying

4. Ask questions! When in doubt call or email us!

5. Keep proof of postage!

6. Send everything to the CAO on time – they do not accept anything late.

What is DARE?• The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a

supplementary admissions scheme which offers college places on reduced points to school leavers with disabilities.

• DARE has been established by a number of higher education institutions as clear evidence shows that disability can have a negative impact on educational attainment at school and progression to higher education.

Who Should Apply?

• Applicants whose disability had a significant impact on educational performance in school.

• Applicants who may not be able to meet the points for their preferred course due to the impact of disability.

• Applicants under 23 years on 1st January 2012.

Disabilities eligible for consideration

• Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism

• ADD/ADHD• Blind/Vision Impaired• Deaf/Hearing Impaired• DCD –Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia• Mental Health Conditions• Neurological Conditions (Brain Injury, Speech & Language

Disabilities)• Significant Ongoing Illness• Physical Disability• Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia & Dyscalculia)

DARE & HEAR application advice clinics

12 January 2013

HEAR closing date

DARE closing date

1 March 2013

Supporting documentation closing date

1 April 2013

Notification of eligibility Late June 2013

Application recheck July 2013

DARE/HEAR offers August 2013

College OrientationLate August/September 2013

Where can I find information

• www.accesscollege.ie – HEAR information

• www.cao.ie – Apply to CAO

• www.qualifax.ie – Course info

• www.ucd.ie/access - UCD Access Centre

• www.studentfinance.ie & www.grantsonline.ie – Student Grant

Questions?

Thank you for your attention!