FAQs

Do I need a Leaving Certificate or other qualifications?

This partly depends on whether you are applying to the mature students’ course or the school leavers’ course. If you are applying to the mature students’ Access programme, no specific qualifications are required. If you are applying to the school leavers’ Access programme it is required that you hold one of the following qualifications: Leaving Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied/FETAC Level 5 or 6. 

Should I apply as a mature student or a school leaver?

Mature Access Applicant: aged 23 or over on January 1 of year of application to a degree programme

School Leaver Applicant: aged 22 or under on January 1 of year of application to a degree programme

Please do take care to apply to the correct course as the application forms and procedures are different for these two categories of student.

How many places are available?

There are a total of 80 places available on the Access courses for mature students and school leavers in University of Galway. 

What is a Statement of Liability?

A Statement of Liability is an overview of a person’s income/earnings in a given calendar (tax) year. The Access Office requires a copy of your Statement of Liability for the previous calendar (tax) year as part of your application. You can request your Statement of Liability from your local Revenue Office. More information is available from Revenue.

What is a Notice of Assessment?

If you, your spouse, or your parent(s)/guardian(s) are self-employed, Revenue will issue a Notice of Assessment once they have received your/your spouse’s/your parent(s)’/guardian(s)’ tax return. This document confirms your tax position for the relevant calendar (tax) year. More information is available from Revenue.

What is a Copy of Accounts?

If you, your spouse, or your parent(s)/guardian(s) are self-employed, there is an obligation to make an annual return to the Companies Registration Office (CRO) every year.  In most cases, financial statements (or accounts) must be annexed to the annual return. You should submit a copy of these accounts for each business and for the relevant year with your application, if applicable. More information is available from the Companies Registration Office.

What is Form RP50?

If you, your spouse, or your parent(s)/guardian(s) have been made redundant, in most cases the claim for a redundancy payment (lump sum) is made by completing and submitting Form RP50 online. Once the claim has been submitted, a copy should be printed and signed by both employer and employee. Further information is available from the Department of Social Protection.

How much does an Access Programme cost?

At the moment, the costs of the courses are borne by University of Galway, contingent upon funding. This means that Access courses are free.

However, there is a cost to complete the part-time Diploma in Foundation Studies (Business), and the part-time Diploma in Foundation Studies (Science, Technology and Engineering). If employed, the cost for the year is €380; if unemployed, the cost is €60.

Is financial support available during the Access course?

Unfortunately there are no specific financial supports available to Access students. Applicants considering commencing an Access course should enquire with the Department of Social Protection to find out if they might be entitled to any payments while attending the course.

Is financial support available when I progress to college?

Depending on your circumstances, there may be financial support available to you as a full-time student in third-level education. Sources of support include the student grant scheme and the Back to Education Allowance. Further information is available from:

• www.susi.ie
• www.welfare.ie
• www.studentfinance.ie
• www.citizensinformation.ie

Full-time undergraduate students at University of Galway who experience financial difficulty may also apply to the University’s Financial Aid Fund for assistance. The amount that you receive from this Fund, if any, will depend on a number of factors, including the numbers applying, the amount available in the Fund, and your personal circumstances. 

How many hours per week will I attend?

This depends on which course you are taking. The Full-time Access courses for Mature Students and School-Leavers are delivered on campus, and you are expected to attend from 9 am – 5 pm, Monday to Friday, during term time.

Classes on the Mature Part-time Diploma in Foundation Studies (Science, Technology and Engineering) and the Diploma in Foundation Studies (Business), are both based on campus, and are delivered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and approximately one Saturday per month.

What qualification will I receive and at what level?

Students who have successfully completed the programme and who have achieved a minimum of 85% attendance will receive a Diploma in Foundation Studies. The Diploma carries 30 ECTS and is aligned with Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). At present, the Diploma is an internal qualification, recognised for the purposes of entry to University of Galway only. 

What courses can I progress to?

Successful completion of the Access programme allows entry into a wide range of courses at University of Galway, including the Arts, Business, Law, Science, Engineering, Informatics, and Health Sciences. Entry to denominated degree courses is highly competitive as places held for Access students are limited on these programmes.

What is the difference between Access, DARE and HEAR as alternative admission routes?

Access Programmes are open to both school leavers and mature students. These are preparatory foundational programmes which offer alternative admission to undergradutate degree programmes in the University of Galway. 

Access programmes are particularly suitable for individuals who might find it difficult or impossible to enter higher education and/or would find it difficult to cope with the demands of higher education due to lower skills, knowledge, or confidence. The programmes offer a supportive learning environment where students are equipped and enabled to access and successfully participate in third-level education.

DARE: The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a college and university admissions scheme which offers places on reduced points to school leavers under the age of 23 as of 1^st January of the year of application who have completed an Irish Leaving Certificate and who have the ability to benefit from and succeed in higher education but who may not be able to meet the points for their preferred course due to the impact of a disability.

Application is through CAO at the time of applying to University.

For more information about DARE and how to apply check out the website: Disability Access Route to Education (DARE)

HEAR: The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a college and university admissions scheme which offers places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers under the age of 23 as of 1^st of January of the year of application who have completed an Irish Leaving Certificate and are from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.  Evidence shows that socio-economic disadvantage can have a negative effect on how well a student does at school and whether they go on to college.

For more information about HEAR and how to apply check out the website: Higher Education Access Route (HEAR).

You can also contact University of Galway’s HEAR administrator hear@universityofgalway.ie or at 091 493553.