A first effort at levelling the pitch

Although there are unprecedented numbers of young people taking up third-level places, there's growing concern that a significant number of able youngsters are unable to go to college - through circumstances beyond their control.

Young people growing up in disadvantaged areas where little value is put on education are unlikely to make it to third level. And even if they do make it they can encounter a range of problems. For financial reasons some students opt for courses in which they have little interest, simply because they are offered in a college near home. Another group are forced to drop out of college - because they lack sufficient funding or because cash shortages have forced them to spend too much time in paid employment. Increasingly, colleges are becoming aware that students from less-advantaged backgrounds need extra supports if they are going to succeed at third level. As a result, several a colleges have put access courses in place. Last year, DCU introduced its residential scholarship scheme. This scheme is open to students who are hoping to get a place at DCU next year, qualify for a full maintenance grant and live 30 or more miles away from the college. Under the scheme, free campus accommodation is offered to five suitably qualified students and rent reductions of 50 per cent on college accommodation are offered to a further five students. Although applications for accommodation scholarships must be returned to the college by February 20th, allocations will only be made in August immediately after the CAO offers are made.

Applications must include details of the family finances and the size of the family. "We're looking for people who for financial reasons might otherwise turn down a college place," says DCU's secretary, Martin Conry. School principals and guidance counsellors are required to verify applications, but at college the identity of scholarship holders remains confidential, Conry stresses.

DCU's student living quarters are swish. The first phase of student housing offers units containing two single bedrooms, with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. The newest block, which will be fully occupied in February, consists of apartments containing five en-suite single-occupant bedrooms and sitting room, dining and kitchen facilities. Campus accommodation usually costs £1,620 per academic year - that is, two 12-week semesters between October and May. Living on campus, it is pointed out, saves money and time in travelling. DCU's North Dublin Access Programme is based in 14 schools in the area, all of which have high drop-out rates. Included in the scheme is a schools' outreach programme, which is designed to provide students and their parents with positive attitudes towards education. More significantly, students from the 14 schools can apply for direct entry to DCU. All applicants are interviewed, and though they may be admitted on reduced points, the college has to be certain that they have the ability to complete undergraduate courses. Is it fair that a particular group of students can avoid the CAO system? Yes, says the university's access officer, Maeve O'Byrne; the playing field on which they are competing is hardly level, she points out. Successful candidates receive a £1,000 scholarship to top up their maintenance grants. They all benefit from a three-week summer school, which eases them into college life before term starts. Tallaght RTC is also making efforts to attract greater numbers of students from the surrounding area. Currently only one-third of the college's full-time population comes from the Tallaght and Clondalkin areas. Despite its location, the RTC has become a largely middle-class institution, populated by south Dublin students. The RTC has linked up with seven second-level schools in the area and runs a number of summer schools for pupils. "This gives them a taste of academic life," says Vincent Lennon, the college's administration officer for academic affairs and student services. Students from these schools who take up places in the college can benefit from grants to cover the cost of course books and materials. "We are concerned that money can be an issue for students."

Meanwhile, up to 20 £500 scholarships, sponsored by a locally based company, Tru Life, are available to Tallaght RTC students from lowincome families. These are intended to top up maintenance grants and run for the duration of the course - so long as students meet academic requirements. The recipients, however, must agree to refrain from parttime work from Monday to Friday. Tallaght RTC has also forged links with primary schools in the area and encourages parents who may never have visited a third-level institution to come in and look around. Private colleges, too, are offering support to students from areas of disadvantage. LSB College in Dublin for example has linked up with two inner-city schools - CBS James' Street and Warrenmount Presentation Convent - to offer two scholarships annually to each school.

These scholarships cover the cost of all fees and textbooks for the duration of a course, provided the student passes all exams at either the first or second sitting.