DARE

Disability Access Route to Education Scheme

DARE logo

MTU is part of the DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) national admissions scheme which can allocate reduced points places to eligible school leavers under 23 years old with  learning differences, health conditions and disabilities on first year undergraduate courses.

Munster Technological University (MTU) lists both courses in MTU Cork campus and Kerry campus on the CAO. Please make sure to check the campus associated with the CAO course code when applying, as some courses have similar names/CAO codes.

For information about the process of applying to DARE and/or HEAR including the deadlines and criteria, please check the Access College website.

 

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Queries

  • Contact the CAO helpdesk for information or call 091 509800 
  • Email your MTU Cork campus DARE queries to dareCork@mtu.ie Please make sure to provide your (CAO applicant's) name, date of birth and CAO number.

     
  • If you have any DARE queries for the MTU Kerry campus please email: DareKY@mtu.ie 
     
  • DARE and HEAR Access College website: www.accesscollege.ie

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MTU Cork campus DARE talks

 

The MTU Cork campus Disability Support Service (DSS) is running the following talks on the 2024 application process and also the DSS supports available: 

 

  • A national DARE/HEAR online information session is planned for Saturday 13 January 2024 – see www.accesscollege.ie for details.

 

For any queries about these events or the application process, please email dareCork@mtu.ie

 

 

What DARE places are available in MTU?

 

There is a guideline quota of 5% of reduced points DARE places and 5% of reduced points HEAR places on all first year full-time MTU Cork campus undergraduate courses.

Please note that being eligible for DARE does not mean that you automatically gain points or a reduced points place - you are considered with other DARE eligible applicants for a reduced points place. Most DARE students get enough points for the course of their choice each year.

 

 

How do I apply for DARE?

For information about the process of applying to DARE and HEAR including the deadlines and criteria, please check the Access College website.

 

DARE 2024 Handbook Front Cover

Download DARE 2024 Handbook

 

  • We encourage all applicants to indicate details of your learning difference/health condition/ disability on your CAO online application even if you may not be eligible for DARE so the DSS can contact you around supports. Giving this information is confidential and will not adversely affect your CAO application in any way.
  • Students and parents should attend a DARE application information session.
  • MTU is committed to helping students to avail of its courses. Before choosing a course, applicants should contact the relevant department to discuss the demands of the course and check any minimum entry requirements of each course, such as levels of Maths, number of Honours subjects required, or any other requirements of a particular course such as a portfolio, entrance test, medical assessment, or audition. Details are available on the course pages at https://www.mtu.ie/courses/.
  • DARE applicants are informed by email (using the email given in CAO application) and in your online CAO application at the end of June if they are eligible or not for the DARE scheme. 
  • Full details of the DARE Review and Appeals process is at https://accesscollege.ie/dare/review-appeals/.

 

 

How does MTU make DARE offers?

MTU has admissions criteria and procedure for making offers for Reduced DARE quota places.

Below is a summary of the criteria. You can read the full MTU DARE/HEAR procedure and criteria document (PDF) for more information .

  • Applicants must be eligible for DARE and/or HEAR and are notified of their eligibility by the CAO.
  • Applicants must matriculate, i.e. they must meet the minimum entry requirements for each programme, including minimum scores in portfolio/entrance tests, maths and/or language requirements, number of subjects, medical examinations, and any other relevant programme requirements that all applicants must meet. These are listed on each individual programme descriptor. See MTU course details here.
  • MTU will consider applicants up to 50 points below the CAO cut-off points for the relevant programme.
  • For a Level 8 programmes the applicant must achieve a minimum of 200 CAO points.
  • For a Level 7/6 programme the applicant must achieve a minimum of 160 CAO points. The CAO points are based on Leaving Certificate results, A Levels and/or other EU qualifications.
  • Eligible DARE applicants under the categories of Blind / Vision Impaired, Deaf / Hard of Hearing, or Physical Disability are considered for priority reduced DARE places, if they meet all the above criteria for a chosen programme.
  • Eligible applicants who applied for both HEAR and DARE are considered for priority reduced HEAR places if they meet all the above criteria for a chosen programme. This will enable them to avail of HEAR supports which includes a bursary, in addition to DARE supports (where relevant).
  • DARE reduced points and merit offers are made through CAO in Round 1, and some reduced points offers are made in Round 2 if there are places still available.

Conditions of accepting a DARE reduced offer:

  • If a DARE place is accepted a condition of acceptance is that a student is required to engage with MTU’s Cork campus Disability Support Service (DSS) as a condition of their offer.
  • If a HEAR place is accepted a condition of acceptance is that a student is required to engage with MTU’s Access Service. The student is required to attend the mandatory HEAR Orientation Programme in MTU and engage with MTU’s Access Service to avail of post entry supports.

 

Can I still get supports in MTU even if I am not eligible for DARE?

  • It is important to note that DARE is an admissions scheme, and students may be eligible for DSS (Disability Support Service) supports even if they are not eligible for DARE.
  • Students who are eligible for DARE and get enough points for their course should still apply for supports with the DSS if they need these.
  • If students declare themselves through the CAO that they have a learning difference, health condition or disability, they must still apply for supports with the DSS if they come to MTU Cork campus.
  • Information about the MTU Cork campus DSS and applying for supports is available here and in our DSS Guide.

 

For any queries please email dareCork@mtu.ie

 

 

HEAR Logo
 

  • MTU is also part of the HEAR Scheme (Higher Education Access Route) scheme which offers places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers who have experienced socio-economic disadvantage, and who are resident in the Republic of Ireland. See Access College HEAR website or the MTU Cork campus HEAR webpage. For queries please email hearCork@mtu.ie or HearKY@mtu.ie