Student Access Programmes

College sets out its commitment to an inclusive College community with equality of access for all in the Strategic Plan.

College seeks to increase participation of those who for social, economic and educational reasons have not yet realised their full educational potential. The following services play key roles in attracting and supporting students with great academic potential from non-traditional backgrounds.

• Trinity Access Programmes
• Mature Students' Office
• Student Disability Service

The Trinity Access Programmes (TAP)

TAP contributes to tackling social exclusion through a range of innovative, targeted initiatives for individuals who, for socio-economic reasons, have not yet realised their full educational potential. Its mission is to widen access to third level by addressing factors that contribute to the under-representation of lower socio-economic groups and ethnic minorities at third level. It works in partnership with:

• organistations across the education sector,
• families,
• communities, and
• businesses.

TAP has been working since 1993 to develop programmes for children, young adults and mature students in primary, second level and further education.

TAP Programmes include:

• School and Community Outreach Links (SCOL)
• The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR)
• University Access Courses:
  • The TAP Foundation Course for Higher Education - Young Adults
  • The TAP Foundation Course for Higher Education - Mature Students
  • The University Access Partnership Courses: TCD and the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee Colleges (CDVEC)
• The Post-Entry Progression Programme
• Learning What Works: TAP Evaluation and Research

Mature Students

TCD's Mature Students' Officer, Clodagh Byrne, provides advice and support on applying to TCD and on College life to both prospective and current mature students.

Note: a mature student is a person over 23 years of age on the 1st January in the year of application. There is no upper age limit. To be considered as a mature student you must also be an EU applicant.