HEAR Scheme

IADT is part of the HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) national admissions scheme for school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

IADT is part of the HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) national admissions scheme which allocates reduced points places to eligible school leavers under 23 years old for school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Mature and QQI/FETAC students have different admissions routes.

How do I apply to HEAR?

HEAR applications are made via www.cao.ie.

HEAR applicants must meet a range of financial, social and cultural indicators to be considered for a reduced points place. For information about the process of applying to HEAR including the deadlines and criteria, please check the Access College website: www.accesscollege.ie.

How are IADT HEAR offers made?

You are eligible to compete for a quota of places allocated to applicants on a reduced points basis in IADT.

All applicants to the HEAR scheme at IADT must meet minimum entry requirements and any course-specific requirements. Details are available for each course at IADT at www.iadt.ie/courses.

Students who apply through HEAR but meet the standard CAO entry points will be offered a place for their course. IADT then reserves a number of places on each programme for HEAR applicants who are below the CAO points for the year in question. The HEAR applicants compete with each other for these allocated place(s), with the students with the highest points being offered the place(s). Students who are eligible for both the DARE and HEAR schemes will be prioritised when allocating HEAR places.

What supports are available for HEAR entrants?

Students who enter through the HEAR scheme will be invited to a pre-orientation at IADT before commencing their course. They will also be able to avail of personal, academic and social supports through the IADT Access Service for the duration of their studies at IADT.

Where can I go for further information?

Information on the HEAR scheme is available on the Access College website www.accesscollege.ie.

For specific IADT HEAR queries please email hear@iadt.ie.

HEAR/DARE Places per Course 2018

Course	Places	HEAR (Number of places)	Points 2017	HEAR/DARE points (-10% max)
Applied Entrepreneurship	45	2	200	180
Entrepreneurship & Management	45	2	202	181
Arts Management	40	2	220	198
EMCS	40	2	300	270
New Media Studies	40	2	303	273
3D Design, model making & digital art	30	1	*699	629
Art	50	2	*526	473
DSS Costume Design	10	1	*690	621
DSS Character Makeup	10	1	*890	801
DSS Production Design	10	1	*630	567
Viscom	30	1	*841	757
Animation	30	1	*1035	931.5
Creative Music Production	35	1	*900	810
Film + TV	30	1	*968	871
Photography	30	1	*609	548
Applied Psych	65	3	382	344
Creative Computing	50	2	270	243
Creative Media Tech	50	2	205	185

*Allocation of Places for Portfolio Based Courses

600 points for portfolio. 600 points for Leaving Cert.
Eligibility criteria for all restricted entry courses consist of a combined result of portfolio score plus Leaving Cert or equivalent score. For the purpose of HEAR/DARE applications; students are eligible to receive a reduction in points based on their Leaving Cert Results only.