Access Service
Student Supports

Post-Entry Supports | Access

DCU Access Students receive a scholarship administered by the Support Officers. Students may apply for further financial supports based on individual circumstances. 

Links for other student Financial Assistance

Educational Trust

Funding for all DCU Access Scholarships is raised by the Educational Trust in DCU through private donors. Access students can get involved by attending donor events where they will have the opportunity to meet with donors, from the business world.

The Access Service provide a number of professional supports to students including internships, networking opportunities and placement support and guidance.

Some internships / opportunities that Access students can avail of:

  • Washington Ireland Programme
  • Digicel Internship, Jamaica
  • Irish Distillers, Dublin
  • Kansas University

 

Volunteering Opportunities

The Access Service strongly promotes an ethos of volunteering and provides volunteering opportunities including shadowing days, peer mentoring, school visits, university Open days and opportunities to volunteer abroad.

Students can gain academic credits in their final year based on their volunteering activities. Click here to learn more.

 

Access to the workplace

DCU Access to the Workplace is a new initiative introduced in 2019. DCU Access Service and DCU Educational Trust have partnered to provide Access students with a high-quality, fully paid professional internship in some of Ireland’s leading companies during the summer months. Further information is included in our Student Information Booklet.

Click here to learn more. 

 

First Year Orientation Programme

Students who enter DCU through the HEAR or DCU Access schemes must attend an orientation programmes either on the DCU Glasnevin or DCU St Patrick's campus running for either one day or three days in September. Students will be assigned to the orientation that best meets their needs. 

The programme aims to prepare students for undergraduate life, students will have the opportunity to:

 

  • Get to know the campus
  • Meet the DCU Access Team
  • Participate in sports (optional)
  • Attend sample lectures
  • Attend study and presentation skills workshops
  • Meet classmates
  • Socialise and make friends
  • Meet current Access Students, gaining valuable insights and advice from those students who have just negotiated first year themselves

 

Student comments - Access Orientation Programme 2020:

"College is made easier knowing you have some-one there to help if necessary"

"I was unsure what to expect about what the access programme could offer me but I was pleasantly surprised by the orientation.....They calmed the nerves of many of us and definitely broke the ice on starting college"

 

Tuition

The Access service provides additional tuition workshops for students who are struggling with specific first year subjects/modules.

In extenuating circumstances, tuition can be provided to second, third and fourth year students.

This support is arranged through your designated Access Support Officer.

 

Designated Post Entry Support Officer

  • All first year students meet their designated Support Officer early in the first semester. This provides students with an opportunity to raise any concerns that they may have and for support officers to put supports in place. 
  • Second to Fourth year students can request a meeting at any time with their designated Support Officer.

Students will also be contacted throughout the year, particularly around exam periods, to ensure individual supports are being availed of.

In the absence of a Support Officer, another member of the Access team will be happy to meet with students as required.

 

Peer Mentoring

The Peer Mentoring scheme aims to help ease students into college life by:  

Introducing them to DCU students who have already completed first year and availing of academic, social and general advice in an informal capacity.

Peer mentors receive training and ongoing support from the DCU Access Service.

 

Student Support & Development

The Access Service is part of the DCU Student Support and Development unit which offers a range of supports including a Careers Service, Health Centre, Counselling Service and Academic Workshops. For further information, please contact DCU SS&D directly on 01 700 7165 or visit the SS&D website.

 

For further information on post entry supports please contact:

 

DCU Glasnevin Campus:

 

Faculty of Business and

Faculty of Engineering & Computing

 

Colette Keogh

colette.keogh@dcu.ie

01 700 8868

Location: CG73

 

Faculty of Science & Health and

Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

 

Camilla Kane

camilla.kane@dcu.ie

01 700 5530

Location: CG72

 

DCU St Patrick's Campus:

 

Faculty of Education, including BAJH on the St. Patrick's Campus

 

Margaret Lamont

margaret.lamont@dcu.ie

01 884 2169

Location: A101b