Outreach Programmes
Our Annual Maths Quiz for 1st and 2nd years offers students a fun way of engaging with Maths while learning more about the courses and careers studying Maths can lead to.
Quizzes will take place in December and April. Dates tbc; sign up here if your school are interested.
Physics workshops co-designed by Access and DCU Physics for students studying Physics will take place in Semester Two. If you are interested in bringing a Physics class along to learn more about studying Physics and the courses and careers it can lead to sign up here: Physics sign up
Students at the Colm Delves Leadership Lab
Our Future U Day is an introduction to University for Junior Cycle students where they will learn to be creators, innovators and leaders!
Students will take part in activities including
- Colm Delves VR Leadership lab
- robotics
- Micro:bits for creating music.
Please note that we can only host 30 students at a time due to our activities' room capacity.
Multimedia students
Our Multimedia workshops are aimed at teaching students how to create powerful messages through the medium of film-making. We offer two on-campus workshops, an initial introduction to film-making and a final editing workshop with resources for in-class activities in between.
In April, we host a final plenary event where students will tour our communications facilities, and our DCU Faculty judges will choose the winners.
To sign up and view the available resources, please click here.
SUIS students
Step up in STEM is a series of workshops to introduce and inform students about opportunities to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths courses at University and the subsequent careers available.
Schools are invited to spend a day at DCU taking part in interactive workshops, touring the campus and meeting with current students with the cost of transport and food covered along with opportunities for students to take home DCU merchandise.
Sign up here.
The DCU Access service offers work experience in DCU through various faculties and with external partners such as Arthur Cox law firm and Beaumont Hospital.
We will email all opportunities to Transition Year Co-ordinators and Guidance Counsellors of linked schools. You can provide updated school details here or email aidan.odriscoll@dcu.ie for specific queries.
UFirst students
U First
What is it? A two-year 'preparation for college' programme
For whom? 5th & 6th year students from schools linked to DCU
How does this work? As well as 3 workshops in DCU, students participate in our Student Shadowing programme as well as other optional events throughout the year, e.g. Open Day, faculty talks, etc.
In the programme's second year, 6th-year students are invited to attend online mentoring sessions with DCU students and get priority in our Wednesday maths drop-in sessions.
You can find more information on U First here and you can apply here
Maths drop-ins
Maths drop-ins
Who are they for? 6th-year students
Where & when? Every Wed, 6-8pm, Rooms HG07 & HG08, School of Nursing, Glasnevin campus.
How do you register? Register online and return your parents' consent form on your first visit.
Once registered, you can drop in on Wednesday and work on your maths problems /exam papers, either by yourself or with your friends, assisted by a qualified tutor.
Students are asked to sign up weekly and show up. It's that easy!
HEAR / DARE Talks
Book your HEAR/DARE talk during College Awareness Month this November and we will come to your school; we will endeavour to bring a DCU Access student ambassador with us to make it more meaningful for your students!
HEAR talks 2023 - 2024 | Dublin City University
Note: Talks in schools will take place during the month of November.
Careers Roundtable talks
This Career roundtable will provide Senior Cycle students with the opportunity to:
- Talk to Access students returning from their Access to the Workplace placement about their journey and competencies acquired through work experience
- Gain an insight into specific careers and how they relate to DCU courses
- Understand the relevance of extracurricular involvement and the role of transversal skills in reaching their goals
Registrations open in December 2023
Faculty Tasters - Coming in Feb'24!
For Whom?
5th-year students from DCU Access-linked schools
What for?
To engage in practical, interactive activities connected to a programme they are considering studying in DCU after the Leaving Certificate.
How will they work?
A series of workshops related to each of the five faculties will be held over one morning. A maximum of 15 5th-year students will participate in two workshops throughout the morning.
Students will be selected based on their motivation, interest in particular careers and intention to study at DCU.
Students attending a faculty talk
A series of faculty talks will be held on Glasnevin and St. Patrick's campuses over a week in March 2024.
DCU students will:
- Give an overview of each of our five DCU faculties
- Share their experience studying their course and enjoying all college life offers.
More information in semester 2.
Shadowing days
Shadowing days are back ...
Every year, the DCU Access Service organises Student Shadowing days where 5th-year students spend a day on campus with a first-year DCU student.
Who is it for?
5th year students from local DEIS-linked schools
What will happen?
They will attend lectures/ labs and all other activities on the timetable of their chosen course and will be accompanied by their DCU student match throughout the day.
More information in semester 2.
Students playing Sport
Combining Sports & college - What are the supports?
Are you actively involved in Sports & interested in going to college?
Are you studying in a DEIS school?
Do you want to find out how the Sport Scholarship programme can support you during your time at DCU?
Do you want to find out about all DCU Access supports available to HEAR eligible students?
Our DCU Access and DCU Sports & Wellbeing are coming together to answer all your questions!
Students and parents are welcome.
Date: Mon 6th November, 7 - 9pm
Location: DCU Glasnevin
Please register HERE
Teaching as a career
Teaching as a career - Info session
If you are passionate about Education or interested in a career in teaching, why not join our talk to explore all teaching courses at DCU?
The talk will cover teaching courses from the DCU Institute of Education:
- Early childhood education
- Primary teaching
- Post-Primary teaching
- Further education and training
Also find out all the supports available to you if you are a HEAR/DARE eligible student.
Current and past students will share their experiences studying in DCU.
Date: Wednesday, 15th November’23, 6 - 8pm
Location: DCU St. Patrick's campus, E223
To register, click HERE
Access to College for All
Access to College for All - Mon 27th Nov, 6-8pm
- Are your children in secondary school?
- Are they are preparing for their Leaving Certificate?
- Do you want to know how best to support them?
- Are you considering college yourself?
Join our talks on the CAO process, HEAR and DARE and financial supports.
Participate in our Q&A with presenters, and ask questions specific to you and your child’s needs.
WHEN? Monday, 27th Nov’23, 6 - 8pm
WHERE? SOLAS (U building)
Please register HERE
* This event is a collaborative initiative between DCU Access, Northside Partnership and Dublin Northwest Partnership.
Empowering Communities
Empowering Communities
A workshop for Youth & Community Workers
The aim of this new initiative is to extend our outreach initiatives to local youth organisations and explore the possibility of working together to reach out to young people from under-represented groups aspiring to go to college.
We bring youth workers from local youth organisations together for an introductory workshop about DCU and to find out how we can support them in their work as guides and mentors to young people, particularly in relation to accessing college, alternative routes, supports etc..
Don’t hesitate to contact us and we will invite you to our next workshop!
Date: Wed, 1st Nov, 10am - 1pm
Venue: Glasnevin campus - HG05
Registration: DCU Empowering Communities workshop
Change Makers programme
Change Makers is a mentoring programme on the themes of Power, Leadership and Change.
It is run in partnership with the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences in DCU, Youthreach and Trinity Comprehensive in Ballymun.
The programme aims to create a transformative experience for all participants, mentors and mentees, through participatory and experiential activities.
The 3 core objectives of the Change Makers programme are:
- For mentees to engage in a higher education process of learning, with student-mentor support in a college environment.
- To provide a rewarding group-mentoring process for mentors to engage with and enhance their skills
- To build strong links between community partners and the college community i.e. DCU.
College Connect Programme
College Connect is a regional partnership project between a cluster of educators and underrepresented communities. Combining community and college expertise, we deliver projects, workshops and events which clearly highlight routes to and through college. Our goal is to have a student population which respects and reflects the diversity of the community.
To learn more about the College Connect Programme:
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DCU Community Connector: Antoinette Patton
Email: antoinette.patton@dcu.ie
Telephone: 01 7006856
Mobile: 087 253 9102
DCU Community Education Forum (DCU CEF)
The DCU Community Education Forum aims to give voice and visibility to the communities in the DCU catchment area. It serves as a direct line of communication between the university, local community organisations and community leaders. The forum provides a space to discuss and develop nuanced responses to educational inequalities (especially those exacerbated by COVID). The strategic and effective use of resources and funds are key priorities.
To learn more about the forum, please contact:
DCU Community Connector: Antoinette Patton
Email: antoinette.patton@dcu.ie
Telephone: 01 7006856
Mobile: 087 253 9102