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.
IADT reserve 10% of places for HEAR and DARE students for each programme.
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.
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.
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.
HEAR Places per Course 2023
| Course Code |
Course Title |
HEAR Offers |
Accepted via CAO |
| DL701 |
Business – Applied Entrepreneurship |
10 |
1 |
| DL822 |
Arts Management |
1 |
0 |
| DL823 |
Business Management |
3 |
1 |
| DL825 |
Applied Psychology |
2 |
2 |
| DL826 |
Graphic Design (Portfolio) |
0 |
0 |
| DL827 |
Art (Portfolio) |
6 |
5 |
| DL832 |
Animation (Portfolio) |
1 |
1 |
| DL833 |
Photography and Visual Media (Portfolio) |
1 |
0 |
| DL836 |
Creative Computing |
4 |
3 |
| DL837 |
New Media Studies |
3 |
1 |
| DL838 |
Creative Music Production (Portfolio/Audition) |
2 |
2 |
| DL840 |
Digital Marketing |
2 |
0 |
| DL841 |
English and Equality Studies |
2 |
2 |
| DL843 |
Film (Portfolio) |
1 |
1 |
| DL844 |
Television (Portfolio) |
0 |
0 |
| DL845 |
Design for Film (Portfolio) |
2 |
2 |
| DL847 |
3D Animation (Portfolio) |
0 |
0 |
| DL848 |
Business and Digital Technology |
2 |
2 |
| DL849 |
English and Media Studies |
4 |
1 |
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.