Second-Level Students

IUA has a number of initiatives which are of interest to second-level students and schools, apart from the CAO (www.cao.ie) which is owned and governed collectively by the Irish Universities. Further information can be found through the links below.

These sectoral university initiatives are in addition to the many schools outreach activities which are undertaken by individual universities to help promote participation in university education by all sectors of Irish society.

DARE & HEAR Access Programmes

DARE & HEAR Access Programmes

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) and Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) were established to promote access to education nationally. accesscollege.ie offers a wealth of information on applying for the schemes and eligibility. Learn more.

BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition

IUA Universities are proud to sponsor the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) University scholarship scheme. Learn more.


The Irish Second-Level Students Union (ISSU) is the national representative body for school students in the Republic of Ireland. More information about the ISSU and its contacts via their website www.issu.ie