Preparing for the Transition to College

DCU Discovery: Your Leadership, Your Education

DCU Discovery is a leadership programme designed to ignite transformation through experiential and participatory learning. The programme brings together students, mentors, and community partners in a collaborative journey of leadership and personal growth.

Programme content

The content of the main programme can be broken down into three elements:

1. Facilitating personal growth by helping participants build confidence and self-belief.
2. Exploring concepts of power, leadership & change and how they can grow as leaders for change in their life.
3. Investigating further & higher education opportunities for participants.

If your organisation is interested in running the programme, please contact: laurence.vanderhaegen@dcu.ie

Headstart: Your Pathway Back to Education

Headstart in the Community is a free six to ten week programme designed for adults who are considering a return to Further or Higher Education. 

In 2026, Headstart will run in Balbriggan, Ballymun & Finglas. Workshops will take place in your community and DCU. The programme will also include a visit to a College of Further Education.

Who can apply?            

• Anyone aged 18+ no longer in school and interested in accessing Further or Higher Education
• Anyone who does not already have a third level qualification 
• If you live in north Dublin 

During this programme, you will ...

• Explore education opportunities & supports available to you
• Learn to make informed choices in your education journey
• Reflect on your skills, strengths and goals
• Receive one-to-one support from a guidance counsellor

When will it start?

Workshops will take place on Friday mornings,  10-1pm between October & December 2026.

Information sessions

Balbriggan: Friday 18th Sept, 11- 2pm, Castlemill Education Centre, Balbriggan
Ballymun: Tues 15th Sept, 3pm, Ballymun Job Centre 
Finglas: Fri 25th Sept, 11-12pm, City of Dublin FET College, D11 CDR9.

Information sheet 

Register for a session or/and apply for the programme HERE by Fri 2nd Oct'26.

At DCU Access, we are committed to promoting inclusion and diversity in education

for under-represented groups.  

Who Are Under-Represented Groups?

We support individuals who may face barriers to accessing higher education, including:

• Students from low-income families
• Students from socio-economically disadvantaged areas
• First-time mature students
• Second-chance mature students (those who previously accessed higher education but did not complete a course)
• Students progressing from Further Education Colleges
• Students with disabilities
• Members of Irish Traveller or Roma communities
• Migrants, refugees, or those with experience of the international protection system

How do we support you?

Our team of Outreach officers encourages and supports under-represented groups and individuals (over 16 and no longer in school) who plan to access a programme of study at DCU but are unsure of the process or their ability to do so. 

We do this in the following ways:

• Answering individual queries
• Partnering with community, voluntary, and statutory organisations to deliver tailored programmes
• Referrals to guidance counsellors, where appropriate

Every learner’s path is unique. So if you have questions about applying to college, funding options, or discovering the range of supports available, we’re here to help guide your journey.

Get in Touch:

Reach out to us today by emailing our Community Outreach Officer, laurence.vanderhaegen@dcu.ie 

You can also visit our Step by Step guidelines to guide you on your application journey to DCU.