What is ACCESS IADT?
Similar to the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR), ACCESS IADT is for school leavers (under the age of 23), who have completed an Irish Leaving Certificate, and/or have a level 5 or 6 QQI award.
What are the benefits of ACCESS IADT?
- IADT reserves one place on each under-graduate course for this route. If you are eligible you may receive an offer on reduced CAO points. You also need to meet the minimum entry requirements for the course you are applying to.
- If you enter IADT via this route you will receive an access payment, and tailored supports from the Access Service.
Application dates for entry September 2025:
Opens: Monday 24th February 2025
Closes: Friday 11th April 2025
What do you need to do to apply?
- Apply for at least one IADT course through the CAO by the deadline date found here – Central Applications Office
- Submit your ACCESS IADT application to us via this online form: https://iadt.formstack.com/forms/access_iadt_entry_route_2025
If you have any questions about the CAO please contact Admissions: admissions@iadt.ie
If you have any questions about the ACCESS IADT entry route please contact the Access service: access@iadt.ie
Who is it for?
This application is for Leaving Certificate/QQI students (under 23) whose economic or social background are underrepresented in higher education and are hoping to enter IADT.
You will be assessed on the following criteria.
To be deemed eligible you must meet indicator 1 and any other 2 indicators:
Indicator 1 (Essential): Attended an IADT linked DEIS secondary school for at least 2 years (see list below), and/or are a member of the Traveller or Roma communities.
Other indicators:
- Your parent(s) have not gone to college (higher education)
- You are from a target group underrepresented in higher education – as defined in the National Access Plan (NAP)* see below
- You or your family are in receipt of a medical card/GP visit card that was in date on 31 December 2024.
- You live in an area of urban or rural disadvantage. You can find your eircode here . Check if you live in an area of disadvantage on the Pobail Deprivation Map.
- You or your family received a means tested payment from the department of social protection for at least 26 weeks in 2023
- Your family income falls on or below the HEAR Income limit for the assessment year:
Number of dependent children * in your family HEAR Income Limit Fewer than 4 €46,790 4-7 €51,325 More than 8
€55,630
Add €4,785 to the total family/household income for every sibling/parent enrolled in a full-time college, university or Post Leaving Certificate course. * A dependent includes:
- A sibling under the age of 16 years on 1 October 2023.
- A sibling over the age of 16 years on 1 October 2023 who is either:
- Attending post primary education
- Attending a full-time course in FET or higher education
- Medically certified as permanently unfit for work
- A parent attending a full-time course in FET or higher education
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NAP Target Groups:
- Students who are lone parents or teen parents
- Students who are migrants or refugees or who have experience of the international protection process, or students from ethnic minorities
- Students who have experience of the care system
- Students who are survivors of domestic violence
- Students who are carers
- Students who have experienced homelessness
- Students who have experience of the criminal justice system
- Students with disabilities including intellectual disabilities
IADT linked DEIS schools in Dún Loaghaire-Rathdown and Co. Wicklow:
- Ballinteer Community School
- Cabinteely Community School
- Holy Child Community School Sallynoggin
- Woodbrook Community School Bray
- St. Laurence College Loughlinstown
- St. Tiernan’s Community School Balally
- St. Kilian’s Community School Bray
- Wicklow Educate Together Secondary Wicklow Town
- Coláiste Chill Mhaintáin Wicklow Town
*You will need to provide further documentation as evidence of what was stated in your application.
Steps to prepare for your application
- Check you are eligible. Look at the indicators above and ensure you meet indicator 1, and then any two of the other indicators. If you are unsure please email access@iadt.ie.
- Download a copy of the form to read through before you apply online. Look at a pdf of the form before you apply online to prepare your answers: ACCESS IADT Entry Route 2025 Example Application Form
- Prepare your documents. Depending on what eligibility indicators are relevant to you, you will need to prepare some or all of the documents below to upload in your application. You can also email documents to access@iadt.ie:
- A letter from a school, healthcare professional, social worker, community worker or other professional to confirm you are a member of the Irish Traveller or Roma communities.
- Proof you or your family was in receipt of a means-test payment from the Department of Social Protection for at least 26 weeks in 2023, such as receipts, bank statements or correspondence.
- Proof you or your family had/have a medical or GP visit card that was in date on the 31st December 2024. This includes the medical card number, a photo of the card, or correspondence.
- Proof from Revenue that your household income was below €46,790 in 2023.
Allocation of places
If there is competition for a reserved place, an IADT committee will review the applications and base the outcome on CAO points received and proof of eligibility.
You will be notified if you are successful during Round 1 of CAO offers – typically at the end of August or start of September.
Contact Information
Please contact access@iadt.ie