Admissions Procedure

How do students with disabilities apply to college?

All students wishing to apply for college places in Ireland apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO). All students must complete the CAO application form.

Although there is no obligation to do so, a person with a disability or specific learning difficulty is strongly encouraged to indicate this by selecting the box after the question: Do you have a 'Disability / Specific Learning Difficulty' on the online CAO application form.

Applicants will then be directed to a separate online application form called a Supplementary Information Form for completion. Completion of this form allows students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties to be considered for a supplementary admissions scheme called DARE - Disability Access Route to Education. This additional information must be received by the CAO by the 1st of April 2010. The CAO will then circulate it to the colleges of the applicant’s choice.

IMPORTANT!!! The non-completion and non-return of the Supplementary Information Form will exclude students from any non-standard entry routes available in a number of HEIs.

Why do colleges encourage students to disclose their disability at application stage?

Disclosure of a disability or specific learning difficulty is designed to enable Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to prepare, in advance, the necessary changes that they may need to make to ensure full access to education.

If a student requires particular support or arrangements in college (e.g. examination support or Assistive Technology support), it is important that HEIs know about their disability or specific learning difficulty in advance of admission to college.

Importantly, disclosure of disability means that the impact of disability will be taken into consideration as part the college application process. The Supplementary Information Form , when completed, will be used by some HEIs as an application form for non-standard entry known as DARE - Disability Access Route to Education.

Disclosure of a disability or specific learning difficulty will not adversely affect a person’s application or legal rights in any way.

What is meant by 'standard entry route'?

The term standard entry route, refers to students who obtain, or expect to obtain, the necessary Leaving Certificate points and qualify for a place in a third level programme of their choice.

However, students with disabilities or a specific learning difficulty who disclose on the CAO that they have a disability or specific learning difficulty, are given the opportunity to highlight any support that they think they might require in college and also, more importantly, to apply to a number of HEIs that offer non-standard entry routes (DARE).

What is 'DARE' - Disability Access Route to Education?

If a student, because of his/her disability or specific learning difficulty, cannot compete equally in the Leaving Certificate Examination and does not fulfil the necessary admissions criteria to gain a place through the standard route, he/she may qualify for a non-standard third level place.

However only certain HEIs operate non-standard entry routes for students with disabilities known as DARE - Disability Access Route to Education.

Disclose of disability/specific learning difficulty and completion of the Supplementary Information Form gives a student the opportunity to make their application through this route.

What happens next?

Each college will have a set of criteria that they use to enable them to assess non-standard applications. In many cases, the criteria will address the:

Overall academic achievement to date, as shown by the Leaving Certificate results.
Academic achievement in key subject areas, as shown by the Leaving Certificate results and any other academic qualifications.
Impact of the disability on academic achievement to date, as shown in the personal statement, the consultant’s report and the letter from the school principal and key teachers.
Potential of the applicant to successfully participate in the programme chosen, as shown in the applicant’s personal statement, the consultant’s report and the letter from the principal and key teachers.

Applicants who are offered places as a result of having been considered via the DARE admission procedure are normally notified through the first or second round of CAO offers.

What is the Supplementary Information Form made up of?

The Supplementary Information Form consists of 4 parts:

Instruction on completion of form
Supplementary Information form
Evidence of Disability form
Second Level Academic Reference form

The Supplementary Information documentation must be received by the CAO by 1st April 2010. Late applications will not be accepted.

For more information click on the links below or checkout the downloads section of the CAO website:

How many college places are available through the DARE scheme?

The number of Ex-Quota places for students on grounds of disability varies from one college to another.

Applicants who apply for college via the DARE process must meet the subject and minimum entry requirements for their chosen course.

Higher Education Institutions participating in DARE

Mature Applications

Mature applicants are not eligible to be consider for a college place through DARE. Mature applicants should contact individual colleges for mature applicant information.

Where can I find out more information?

Central Applications Office

Tower House
Eglinton Street
Galway
Tel: 091-509800
Fax: 091-562344
http://www.cao.ie

Qualifax (The National Courses Database)

Tel: 059 9146436
Fax: 059 - 9146437
www.qualifax.ie