Access Service Schools Programme

The DCU Access Service Schools Programme works in Partnership with school staff, Area Partnerships, local communities, undergraduates, DCU staff and students from primary and secondary schools.

We have four core aims:

1. To increase our intake of Access students to 10% of the total student body by the end of 2013
2. To increase the rate of progression/rention of DCU Access students
3. To support greater participation by students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds in higher education
4. To continue to contribute to and be informed by national policy, national and international research and models of good practice

We recognise that there are many economic, educational and social barriers facing potential third-level students. Our Schools Programme initiatives aim to enable students to overcome these barriers and realise their potential.

For further information about DCU's Access Service schools programme or entry routes, please contact Susan Hawkins at Susan.hawkins@dcu.ie or 01 7006040.

1. Attendance Awards
2. Campus Visits
3. First year science workshops
4. DCU Summer Scholars
5. Sporting DCU - elite rugby talks
6. Maths Outreach Programme

Attendance Awards

The DCU Attendance Awards aim to encourage and reward third-year students who achieve the highest attendance records in their group throughout the academic year.

One winner will be chosen to receive the award and will be presented with a DCU hoodie in recognition of their achievement.

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

Campus Visits

We offer each of our link schools the opportunity to bring students onto the campus for a tour and talk by a staff member and an Access student. Visiting schools will also have the opportunity to see inside the Clarity (Centre for Sensor Web Technology) Demo room here in DCU. Linked schools at primary and secondary level attending school plays in The Helix are encouraged to combine their visit with a campus tour.

The Access Service are also delighted to welcome community groups and youth agencies onto campus for tours and a talk by a staff member with a view to promoting a positive educational experience.

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

First year science workshops

In collaboration with CLARITY, a new Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET), we are delighted to offer workshops in areas of science such as ‘Cells and DNA, ‘Acids and Bases’, ‘Microbes and Hygiene’ and ‘Food and Nutrition’. These exciting and interactive sessions are delivered in our link schools to first-year school students. DCU students volunteer to run experiments in schools, raising awareness of third level and encouraging students to engage in science subjects.

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

DCU Summer Scholars

Building on the success of our Summer Scholars programme last year, we will be offering places again this year to students from our link schools. With the support of Matheson Ormsby Prentice a number of reduced-cost places are available, allowing students the opportunity to engage in new subjects as well as subjects of interest in a fun and motivating environment. While studying their courses, students will also have the opportunity to participate in sport and recreational activities. An invitation is extended to our linked schools for a number of students to apply for a limited number of reduced-cost places on this exciting two-week summer programme.

Gifted children can be identified through the CTYI (Centre for Talented Youth Ireland) assessment process, which is also available free of charge to students in our link schools thanks to the generous support of Matheson Ormsby Prentice.

For more information on DCU Summer Scholars, please see www.dcu.ie/summerscholars

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

Sporting DCU - Elite rubgy talks

DCU elite athletes will visit our link schools and give inspirational talks to students about skills they can develop in order to achieve success. Talks are aimed at junior and transition-year students and areas covered will include motivation and time management.

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

Maths Outreach Programme

We are delighted to announce sponsorship from AOL and The Ireland Funds for our highly successful Maths Outreach Programme, which will be run in conjunction with Trinity Comprehensive School. Since the launch of an initial pilot programme over 90 DCU students have volunteered to work with 70 junior cycle students in Trinity comprehensive on a weekly basis, providing them with one-to-one tuition in the area of mathematics.

What the students say….

“I am more prepared for exams and more confident with my work”

“I feel more comfortable doing maths, before it was very hard and stressful”

“They showed me how to break questions down, I’m better prepared”

The success and impact of the programme have been recognised by awards such as the President's Award for Civic Engagement in 2010. The award was made in the student category in recognition of the 90 student volunteers involved.

AOL and The Ireland Funds have been loyal supporters of the DCU Access Scholarship Programme for a number of years and we are delighted that they have chosen to provide additional support for this much-needed initiative.

Aengus McClean, Head of AOL Global Operations Limited said, “AOL is delighted to be associated with DCU's Math Outreach program. We consider it a truly innovative approach to encouraging greater participation and achievement in mathematics, skills critical in the growth of the technology and science based sectors of our economy".

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

1. Achievement Awards
2. TAKE 5
3. Discover DCU
4. Student Shadowing
5. Sixth Year School Talks
6. DCU Debating Competition
7. Social Innovation Programme
8. Career Portfolio Programme
9. DCU Summer Scholars
10. Easter Revision
11. Campus Visits

Achievement Awards

The Achievement Awards scheme was launched by the DCU Access Service in 1997 for students from secondary schools in the North Dublin region. It is designed to recognise, reward and encourage excellence in both the academic and extra-curricular aspects of a student’s school life. The Access Achievement Awards are an important strand of the DCU Access Service Schools Programme, which fosters positive attitudes to education and encourages young people to remain at school and consider third-level education as a viable option for them.

The Helix in Dublin City University is the venue for this year’s Access Achievement Awards, which will be held on 14th October 2011 to coincide with the 21st anniversary celebrations of the Access programme in DCU.

Second level students from our 24 link schools will be recognised for their various accomplishments and achievements in the areas of:

1. Academics
2. Sports
3. Arts & Culture
4. Community Spirit
5. Special Nomination

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

TAKE 5

Take5 is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore their interests and aspirations and build their confidence while experiencing day-to-day college life, both academic and social. A joint initiative organised by the Access Programmes of DIT, DCU, NUI Maynooth, Trinity College and UCD, this highly successful programme has been running since 2000.

The programme is aimed at Transition Year students in schools linked to the access initiatives of the five colleges and is designed to give students an opportunity to explore the various options available to them at third-level. The focus of the access workshops is on the process of applying to college and making the transition from school to third level education. Students spend a day on the campus of each institution and each day is jam packed with interactive lectures, demonstrations, activities and sports.

Almost all of the students who have attended this innovative 5 day workshop in the past stated that ‘Take 5’ made them feel that going to college is achievable, that it taught them things about college that they did not know and in addition, made them think more deeply about what they would like to do when they leave school.

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

Discover DCU

Discover DCU is a series of workshops delivered to students from schools linked to the DCU Access Service. Workshops are facilitated by the staff of the DCU Access Service and Student Ambassadors.

Discover DCU aims to support and complement the work of the Guidance Counselors and other teachers in the school. Throughout the workshops, students are encouraged to think about the options open to them when they leave school. They are encouraged to consider third level as a viable option and are informed of supports in place that can facilitate this.

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

Student Shadowing

Held over two separate days in mid-March, the Student Shadowing Day aims to introduce Transition and fifth-year students to a more in-depth picture of undergraduate life. Students will be matched up with a first or second-year student and accompany them to the library, lectures or for a coffee. The day generally ends with performances from some of the clubs and societies on campus. Students will be linked to a DCU student who is studying a subject of interest.

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

Sixth Year School Talks

During the school year a member of the Access Service will visit link schools with information about Access routes to third level and how to apply. Sixth years are given in-depth talks about the application process and the criterion they need to fill to be successful in gaining a place in college via the Access scheme.

The DCU Open days will be held on 18th and 19th November 2011 where we will be available to answer questions at the HEAR stand. We will also be giving information talks at our ‘Apply to DCU’ Seminar on 17th January 2012.

DCU Debating Competition

Coordinated by the DCU Debating Society and held in May, the Debating Competition is offered to schools linked to the DCU Access Service. Students from participating schools attend an intensive half-day debate training seminar delivered by the DCU Debate society a week in advance of the competition.

During the training the competing students are then given their motions and are coached on the various methodologies of debate. On the debate day, students debate in two rounds, the 4 highest ranked teams after the second round are invite to debate in the final with the winning team being awarded DCU Hoodies.

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

Social Innovation Programme

In partnership with State Street Corporation (Ireland) and Young Social Innovators, the DCU Access Service are delighted to launch a new social innovation programme for Autumn 2011.

The Programme is aimed at transition and fifth-year students and will be delivered in two stages: the first focusing on learning essential innovation and entrepreneurial skills. And the second using a career/study exploration initiative which will use the transferrable skills acquired in stage one to raise students awareness of third-level education and explore post-Leaving Certificate undergraduate programmes and graduate careers.

We are very grateful to State Street for their generous funding of this new and exciting programme which will benefit up to 500 students.

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

Financing your career

Thanks to funding received from the Citi Foundation, the Financing your career programme will commence this academic year. This Programme will be provided for Transition Year and senior cycle students between 15 and 17 years of age in 24 north Dublin schools and will be coordinated and managed by the DCU Access Service and the School of Education Studies at DCU.

Students will build a portfolio of their college or career journey. Career Portfolios will be used to plan, organize and document the student’s educational journey (both present and future), focusing in particular on their career and study goals. In addition, students and their parents will focus on the financial aspects of career planning and decision-making - for example, learning how to create an effective budget and identifying the financial support available to them in the form of Access Scholarships and financial aid.

A research study will be conducted by DCU to establish the impact of the programme and the results will be used to inform teaching practices on guidance for Transition Year and senior cycle students throughout Ireland.

Citibank have been a long-standing supporter of initiatives at DCU, including the Access Scholarship Programme. Their commitment to educational equality has provided many opportunities to students who otherwise may not have accessed 3rd level education and we are delighted that they have chosen to partner with us on this innovative initiative.

Brian Hayes, Head of Global Transaction Services at Citi said, “Thanks to the support of the Citi Foundation, Citi here in Ireland has been able to provide funding for this new and innovative programme. This Career Portfolio Programme is a first time initiative aimed at providing the right type of guidance on career choice and how to finance it just at exactly the right time in the student’s educational life. As a company, Citi is committed to enabling those students who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to go to college.”

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

DCU Summer Scholars

Building on the success of our Summer Scholars programme last year, we will be offering places again this year to students from our link schools. With the support of Matheson Ormsby Prentice a number of reduced-cost places are available, allowing students the opportunity to engage in new subjects as well as subjects of interest in a fun and motivating environment. While studying their courses, students will also have the opportunity to participate in sport and recreational activities. An invitation is extended to our linked schools for a number of students to apply for a limited number of reduced-cost places on this exciting two-week summer programme.

Gifted children can be identified through the CTYI (Centre for Talented Youth Ireland) assessment process, which is also available free of charge to students in our link schools thanks to the generous support of Matheson Ormsby Prentice.

For more information on DCU Summer Scholars, please see www.dcu.ie/summerscholars

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

Easter Revision

Held in our associate college St. Patrick’s Drumcondra, the DCU Easter Revision Course is aimed at students from our 24 link schools in North Dublin who have applied through the HEAR or Access DCU scheme. Students are offered tuition in six higher level and two ordinary level Leaving Certificate subjects, allowing them the opportunity to prepare for their Leaving Certificate in a structured environment.

Feedback from the students has showed that they find the revision extremely helpful and beneficial in their preparation for the Leaving Certificate.

“I enjoyed every class and found it very useful”

“Teachers were very informative and classes well directed”

“Helped a lot with Irish I’m able to speak more fluently”

“The information given was very useful and the tutors helpful”

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

Campus Visits

We offer each of our link schools the opportunity to bring students onto the campus for a tour and talk by a staff member and an Access student. Visiting schools will also have the opportunity to see inside the Clarity (Centre for Sensor Web Technology) Demo room here in DCU. Linked schools at primary and secondary level attending school plays in The Helix are encouraged to combine their visit with a campus tour.

The Access Service are also delighted to welcome community groups and youth agencies onto campus for tours and a talk by a staff member with a view to promoting a positive educational experience.

For further information please contact Susan Hawkins

HEAR

What is the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR)

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third level admissions scheme for school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. HEAR has been established by a number of higher education institutions as evidence clearly shows that socio-economic disadvantage has a negative impact on educational attainment at school and on progression to higher education.

Students compete for reserved places in any one of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) listed below.

1. Dublin City University
2. Dublin Institute of Technology
3. National University of Ireland Galway
4. National University of Ireland, Maynooth
5. Trinity College Dublin
6. University College Cork
7. University College Dublin
8. University of Limerick
9. Colaiste Mhuire, Marino Institute of Education
10. Church of Ireland College of Education
11. Froebel College of Education
12. Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
13. Mater Dei Institute of Education
14. St. Angela’s College
15. St Patrick’s College

Click here to download the Higher Education Access Route brochure.

Entry Requirements for HEAR

Access students applying through HEAR must achieve the Minimum Entry Requirements of the HEIs they are applying to. You should refer to the admissions handbook/prospectus/website of each participating HEI for further details.

Overview of Access DCU Supports

Access DCU is a support scheme for school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds applying for courses in DCU. To be eligible to apply, you must be under 23 on 1st January 2012 and have completed an Irish Leaving Certificate.

How are Access DCU Supports Applications assessed?

Applications are assessed on a number of financial, cultural and social conditions known as Indicators. You must meet Indicator 1 plus at least two other Indicators to be eligible for Access DCU Supports

1. Low income - the total income of your parent(s)/guardian(s)/spouse for the year ending 31st December 2010 must be within the income limits detailed below.
2. Medical Card - you or your parent(s)/guardian(s)/spouse must have had a valid medical card or GP visit card on 31st December 2010
3. Social Welfare Payment - in the year ending 31st December 2010, your parent(s)/guardian(s)/spouse must have received a means-tested payment from the Department of Social and Family Affairs for at least 26 weeks.
4. Socio-Economic Grouping - you must belong to a group that is under-represented in higher education, based on the occupation and employment status of your parent(s)/guardian(s). The grouping includes non-manual, semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers and agricultural workers.

What is the Access DCU Income Threshold?

Please use below table to calculate if your family income before tax and PRSI is below the Access DCU Income Threshold.

When is the closing date?

You must submit your application form and all supporting documentation by 20th April 2012. Applications and supporting documents received after this date will not be considered. Post all documents to:

Susan Hawkins, Access Service, LG16 Computer Applications Building, DCU, Dublin 9.

Who can I contact with any questions?

Please contact Susan Hawkins on 01 7006040 or at susan.hawkins@dcu.ie or Orla Conlan on 01 7008869 or at orla.conlan@dcu.ie regarding any queries.

Pre-Entry Project Officer

For further information on our Secondary School Programmes, contact:

Susan Hawkins,
Access Office
Dublin City University
Dublin 9
Tel: 00353 1 7006040 / Fax: 00353 1 7008604
E-mail: susan.hawkins@dcu.ie