A record 264 second-level 'Scholars’ graduate from Trinity
Posted on: 19 March 2026
Delivered through Trinity Access Programmes (TAP), the Scholars Ireland initiative introduces Junior Cycle students to university-style learning and helps them see higher education as an achievable pathway.
A record 264 second-level students from 24 TAP partner schools have graduated from the 2025–2026 Scholars Ireland Programme at Trinity College Dublin, completing university-style modules taught by PhD tutors and gaining an early experience of university learning while still in secondary school.
Students (some of whom are pictured below with their certificates) described the experience as their first real insight into university life. One student said their favourite part of the programme was “getting a better understanding of how assignments are marked in university,” while another highlighted “getting the chance to graduate at Trinity College.”
Delivered through Trinity Access Programmes (TAP), the Scholars Ireland initiative introduces Junior Cycle students to university-style learning and helps them see higher education as an achievable pathway.
Over the past five months, 264 students worked with Trinity College Dublin PhD tutors on a range of university-style topics. Participants completed assignments and were assessed to university standards, giving them an authentic experience of academic learning while helping them build confidence and develop key study skills.
This year’s module topics included The Power of Art, Neuroscience, Sustainability, Immunology, Volcanoes, and the Science Behind Silver.
Scholars Ireland continues to be supported by the NGO AccessEd, which partnered with TAP in 2018 to co-deliver the outreach initiative. AccessEd works internationally to support students in preparing for post-secondary education pathways that suit their interests and ambitions.
The programme aims to introduce students to third-level education at an early stage and support them in developing the confidence and skills needed to succeed in university environments. This year’s graduation was the programme’s largest to date, with 264 students completing the programme — a 29% increase on the previous year.
PhD tutors delivering the programme also reflected positively on their experience teaching on the initiative, describing it as “bigger than they imagined” and “very moving.”
Wendy Crampton, Director of TAP, said:
“It’s inspiring to see so many young students flourish in a university environment. Their achievements reflect not only their own hard work, but also the commitment of our partner schools, our PhD tutors and organisations like AccessEd who work alongside us to widen participation. Programmes like Scholars Ireland show the powerful impact that strong partnerships can have in opening pathways to higher education for the next generation.”
Warren Farrell, TAP Junior Cycle Coordinator, added:
“Programmes like Scholars Ireland help students build confidence and develop the skills they need to thrive in higher education. They also reinforce an important message — that college is a place where everyone belongs.”
Programmes like Scholars Ireland form part of Trinity Access Programmes’ wider work to support students from under-represented communities to access and succeed in higher education.
ENDS