Do you dream of going to university and graduating with a degree? If you are the first in your family to go to university or new to living in Ireland, you may be unsure where to start the process.
Widening Participation aims to promote inclusion and diversity in education for underrepresented groups and focuses on encouraging and supporting individuals who want to access and complete a course at university, but are unsure of the process. If you have any questions about applying to university, funding opportunities, or available support, contact us by filling out the enquiry form or emailing widening.participation@dcu.ie.
DCU and Widening Participation
DCU believes in promoting educational opportunities for all. The University is committed to increasing the proportion of individuals entering third-level education from underepresented groups and actively engages with education providers to develop entry routes to DCU programmes. Once you become a DCU student, you can access various supports to help you transition to university learning and develop the skills required to flourish as a higher education student.
Who are the underrepresented groups?
- Students progressing to university from low-income families
- Students from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas
- First-time mature students
- Second-chance mature students (someone who previously accessed higher education but did not complete a course)
- Students progressing to university from a Further Education College
- Students with a disability
- Students who are members of Irish Travellers or Roma communities
- Students who are migrants or refugees or who have experience of the international protection system