College Awareness Week (CAW) will take place from 23–29 November 2026, encouraging learners of all ages to explore the education, training and career opportunities available to them. The nationwide campaign aims to raise awareness of the many routes into further and higher education, with a particular focus on supporting people who are under-represented in education.
From primary school pupils and secondary school students to adult learners considering a return to education, CAW highlights the range of options available, including apprenticeships, further education and training (FET), tertiary degrees and university programmes.
As part of College Awareness Week, a dedicated webinar on the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) and the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) will take place on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, at 10.30am.
Supported by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), the online session will provide information for senior cycle students about the two access schemes.
Staff members from TUS Athlone and the University of Limerick will explain how HEAR and DARE work, while students who entered university through these routes will share their experiences. The session aims to help prospective applicants understand the supports available and make informed decisions about their future education.
Students can register for the HEAR and DARE webinar here https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=jb6V1Qaz9EWAZJ5bgvvlKzYdizDBsplIsH67D1mEB31UNE9SN0VWRDhPRFc0T1lPUlJYQlFUNzlWNS4u&route=shorturl.
College Awareness Week is a whole-school initiative, inviting teachers across different subject areas to highlight the connections between classroom learning, college courses and potential careers.
College Awareness Week encourages students to look beyond traditional routes into education and recognise that there are multiple ways to develop skills, gain qualifications and pursue a career. Apprenticeships, FET programmes and tertiary pathways can offer alternatives to direct entry to a traditional university degree, while access schemes can help eligible students explore supports for progression to higher education.
For students preparing to make decisions about their next steps, the campaign provides an opportunity to research courses, ask questions and learn from the experiences of others.
