HEAR and DARE focused on access opportunities for all students

CAO 2026: Important changes to access programmes aim to encourage more disadvantaged young people to attend higher education

Separate from grants or financial assistance, the HEAR and DARE schemes aim to provide targeted support to students who may not traditionally go on to third-level education.

There are a number of important changes to access programmes for 2026, aimed at creating more opportunities for disadvantaged young people to access higher education.

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a national alternative admissions scheme open to students who are underrepresented in higher education due to their socioeconomic background.