Community Outreach Programmes
DCU Access promotes inclusion and diversity by working with statutory, community, and voluntary groups to support underrepresented individuals aiming to study at DCU.
Group visiting the library
Interested in sharing your experience as a Mature Student in DCU & making a difference in other adults’ lives?
The DCU Community Outreach team engages with the local community to motivate more mature students to consider university. This includes campus tours, workshops, talks, fairs, and community events.
We are forming a panel of Mature Students to give occasional talks to prospective students, and we'd love you to join us!
If you're interested, please sign up here.
Besides supporting peers, this is a great opportunity to improve your communication, presentation, and public speaking skills.
For more information, contact laurence.vanderhaegen@dcu.ie
Headstart is a 10-week programme for adults exploring educational options. It is a collaboration between DCU in the Community, the DCU Access Service, Whitehall College of Further Education, and Ballymun Adult Education Service of Dublin ETB.
This programme aims to build your confidence and prepare you for the next step in your education journey.
The course helps you identify skills, strengths, and goals. It covers available opportunities and support for re-entering education. Classes are interactive, including meetings with Guidance Counsellors and tours of a College of Further Education and DCU.
The course is free, with no exams.
The aim of the programme is to:
- Promote access to further and higher education.
- Help students make informed decisions throughout their educational journey.
- Support individuals returning to education.
- Help students recognise their skills, strengths, and goals.
- Highlight available educational services and support.
Eligibility Criteria?
Applications are welcome from individuals who:
- No longer in school and interested in re-entering education and/or upskilling.
- Are over 18 years old.
- Reside in North Dublin.
Application Process
Step 1: Info session
Open information sessions in Autumn 2025 for the next programme.
Step 2: Application Form: tbc
Deadline to apply:tbc
Step 3: Informal interview
When, where and how long?
The programme will run over 10 weeks.
The workshops will be held between Ballymun Adult Education Service and DCU Glasnevin.
Mentoring training with DCU students
Change Makers is a mentoring programme that offers a transformative experience for mentors and mentees through participatory and experiential methods activities.
The programme links under-represented students with second-year BA Social Sciences and Cultural Innovation students. It is delivered with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at DCU, Youthreach, and Trinity Comprehensive in Ballymun.
If you work with a group from the National Access Plan, you may want to run the programme in your organisation.
Contact Laurence Van der Haegen, Community Outreach Officer, at laurence.vanderhaegen@dcu.ie for more information.
The DCU Access Service and Traveller and Roma Education Officer collaborate in Greater Dublin, offering workshops on entry routes, pathways, and support services at DCU.
We offer a range of support both in schools and in the community:
- School talks, workshops in sports, art, creative writing, storytelling, campus tours, and day trips to DCU.
- Support for individual Traveller and Roma senior cycle students in progressing to further and third-level education.
- Workshops with parents and adults within the community include beady pockets, candle making, tapestry, and educational sessions.
For more information, contact our Traveller & Roma Education Officer, harry.mallon@dcu.ie.
DCU Access invites community organisations to collaborate with us to organise an 'Our Neighbour, Our Friend' event in your community.
Recent events at Ballymun Axis and Finglas Youth Resource Centre showcased DCU Access Community Outreach and future collaborations to increase education access for underrepresented groups. Next event: Balbriggan, Autumn 2025.
contact Laurence.vanderhaegen@dcu.ie.
Teaching as a Career
If you're passionate about education or want to teach, join our Autumn 2025 talk to explore DCU's teaching courses.
Covering teaching courses at the DCU Institute of Education
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Early childhood education
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Primary teaching
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Post-Primary teaching
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Further education and training
Discover support options for HEAR, DARE, mature and further education students. Current and former students share their experiences at DCU.
Date: Autumn 2025
Our DCU Access library membership is available to students planning to study at DCU. Eligible students can access our libraries for the academic year.
To learn about eligibility criteria, please contact our Community Outreach Officer: Laurence.vanderhaegen@dcu.ie