Opportunities in Higher Education
Studying with a Disability
In 1998 there were only 500 students with a disability in higher education but there are now over 5,000.
Services and supports for students with a disability in higher education are in place in all colleges and are developing all the time. Information and links are available on individual college websites and from the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD).
Also, you may wish to investigate the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE). This is a supplementary access route to some colleges for students with disabilities where your disability may be taken into account in your application, resulting in a lower points requirement for entry to your chosen course. Check out www.accesscollege.ie for further information.
A new web-based guide, the Higher Education Accessibility Guide (HEAG), is available for students with disabilities who wish to explore support services available in different countries across Europe. If you have a disability and are thinking about studying abroad, you will find this resource useful. Available in English for every participating country, you can read about the national policies for disability support in that country and search for specific information on disability support in approximately 350 European higher education institutions. See also the Study Abroad Without Limits website.
If you have a disability and are thinking of coming to Ireland to study in higher education, the HEAG guide will be useful to you also. Advice and information for EU and international students with disabilities is also available from AHEAD.