Opportunities in Higher Education
Higher Education in Ireland
Welcome to the HEA website. In this student section, you will find information and links to opportunities in higher education in Ireland.
Choosing to go (or go back) to higher education may be one of the most important decisions you make in your life.
There are lots of reasons why getting a higher education qualification is a good idea, with many financial, social, health and work-related benefits. For instance, the average earnings of a graduate in Ireland between the age of 25-64 are 55% higher than someone without a higher education qualification. Adults with higher levels of education are more likely to report their health as "good" than those with lower levels of education and graduates enjoy greater job satisfaction than non-graduates.
Besides the enjoyment and interest of being a student, a higher education qualification creates new opportunities in career development, and in your family, community and social life.
Irish higher education colleges welcome people of all backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities, older students, those who are the first in their family to go to college, people who need financial support, those who need to participate on a part-time basis, and those from other cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
If you are about to leave school shortly and are considering a higher education course, this website provides you with the initial information and links you need on routes to higher education, where you might like to go, what to study, how to apply for a place, finance and so on.
If you have already experienced working life and are looking for a new opportunity in your career, information and links that you need are here also.
If you are a graduate and are interested in further study there is also information and links for you to follow.
The many reasons to choose higher education can be explored on a range of college websites. You can also consult your guidance counsellor or service. He/she will be able to talk over options with you and suggest additional sources of information and advice.
The information on this website aims to get you started on the right track and helps you to answer key questions you have about higher education, regardless of your personal circumstances and requirements.
If you think that some information is missing, or if you’d like to make any other comment on what is provided please contact us! We’d like to hear from you – access@hea.ie.