Trinity College Dublin is to ask other universities to adopt a new access course which enables students from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain a university place after completing a one-year foundation course.
TCD already offers such a course to 18 students who do not have sufficient points to gain entry through the normal Central Applications Office (CAO) mechanism.
The Foundation Course for Higher Education includes examinations on "basic skills and competence in core subjects", which are aimed at improving students' reading and writing abilities. If the students pass these exams they are guaranteed a place at TCD, although not necessarily their first choice.
The university's provost, Dr Thomas Mitchell, said he hoped the course "will be recognised nationally and that success in the examinations will become a form of national matriculation".
He said Trinity would be approaching the other universities, and if they agreed to the proposal it would open another avenue for disadvantaged students to get into third level.
However, such bridging courses are not funded by the Department of Education, and Dr Mitchell said this was a barrier to their expansion. He said £30 million for third level was recently included in the New Deal package announced by Mr Martin and he hoped some of this would be used for these courses.
He said the course was aimed at "disadvantaged students who complete second level but not at a standard that enables them to continue their education".
Dr Mitchell said the absence of adequate maintenance grants continued to be the biggest barrier to disadvantaged students entering third level. Grants of £1,600 for students living away from home were "pie in the sky" and considerably below the minimum needed.
Dr Mitchell said TCD's development programme was proceeding according to plan. He said one of the major elements was a £28 million sports complex based at the north-east corner of Dublin's Pearse Street.