SETU Waterford is part of the National HEAR scheme for students applying to 3rd level in the 2023-2024 academic year.
What is HEAR
South East Technological University is part of HEAR, which stands for the Higher Education Access Route. HEAR is a national college and university scheme that offers places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are resident in the Republic of Ireland. HEAR has been set up by a number of colleges and universities, as evidence shows that socio-economic disadvantage can have a negative effect on how well a student does at school and whether they go on to college. HEAR applicants must meet a range of financial, social and cultural indicators to be considered for a reduced points place and extra college support.
HEAR is for school leavers under the age of 23 as of the 1st of January 2023 who are resident in the Republic of Ireland. Mature and FET (Further Education and Training) students have their own admissions routes and should contact college admissions offices for more information. Applications to HEAR can only be made online through the CAO.
Applying for HEAR
Applicants applying for HEAR must:
- Be under the age of 23 as of the 1st of January 2023.
- Apply online to CAO by 17:00 on/before the 1st of February 2023. CAO applications opened on the 4th of November 2022 at 12 noon.
- No later than 17:00 on the 1st of March 2023, indicate in your CAO application that you wish to apply for the HEAR scheme and fully and correctly complete all elements of the online HEAR application form. Once you have completed the HEAR application form you will get a checklist which tells you which documents you need to supply.
- Post your supporting documents to arrive in CAO no later than 17:00 on the 15th of March 2023. To complete your online HEAR Application you must: Get assistance from your parent(s)/guardian(s). Use the HEAR 2023 Handbook to help you answer all relevant questions on your online HEAR application. You can download the HEAR 2023 Handbook at https://accesscollege.ie/hear/
There are a number of valuable online resources available to help you with a HEAR application. A step by step guide on how to make a HEAR application, information on application deadlines, HEAR eligibility criteria and a variety of other information materials can be found on the HEAR website at https://accesscollege.ie/hear/
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Applying to HEAR can seem like a daunting process. The HEAR handbook and the HEAR website provide information to help you complete your HEAR application. That said, you may have more questions. You can check the Frequently Asked Questions section of the HEAR website here. If you cannot find what you are looking for in the FAQs, you can contact the CAO or email [email protected]
It is best to contact the CAO if you have questions about making your CAO application or about the Supplementary Information Form.
If you have questions about the documents you need for HEAR you can contact a HEAR advisor by emailing [email protected]
Entry Requirements
Students who are eligible under HEAR must satisfy the minimum entry requirements for admission to South East Technological University and the specific subject requirements for the courses to which they are applying. Entry requirements to all SETU Waterford undergraduate programmes are available here. Candidates can only be considered for admission to South East Technological University where they have included a SETU Waterford course on their CAO application.
All students are encouraged to check the entry requirements of their chosen course, for example the level of maths required or the number of honours subjects required etc. Students are also encouraged to contact the relevant academic department to discuss the demands of the course they are interested in.
Please note, SETU Waterford run a Maths Entry Exam which is designed to assist students who have not achieved the required grade in maths for entry into the Institute. This provides a “second chance” for students to achieve that grade by attempting a paper comparable to the leaving certificate ordinary level paper. The content of this paper will be based on the leaving certificate (ordinary level) syllabus and is open to all Leaving Certificate applicants including those students who sat Foundation maths. Click here for further information.
What HEAR Places Are Available for Entry to SETU Waterford for the 2023/24 Academic Year
SETU Waterford does not restrict places for HEAR applicants on its courses, with the exception of the following courses:
| COURSE NAME & CODE | QUOTA |
| SE915 General Nursing | 1 |
| SE914 Psychiatric Nursing | 1 |
| SE916 Intellectual Disability Nursing | 1 |
| SE911 Early Childhood Care and Education | 3 |
| SE502 Agricultural Science | 2 |
PLEASE NOTE: SETU Waterford offers HEAR eligible candidates a reduction of up to 30 points on all courses. Please note if you are deemed HEAR eligible you must still compete for a HEAR place at South East Technological University under normal CAO rules.
More Information
For further information, please see the HEAR website: https://accesscollege.ie/hear/ or contact [email protected] via email.
SETU Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford City, 
