A Profile of Students with a Disability in Higher Education in Ireland

Posted: 21 June, 2023

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has launched today (21 June 2023) the first profile of students with a disability in higher education in Ireland. This profile compiles data from the last three academic years, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22.

This report provides a first glance at the profile of students who report a disability in Irish higher education institutions. Understanding the profile of students with a disability is pivotal – to provide robust data and evidence, to improve equity of access and to promote accessibility to third-level education for all. This report will assist the HEA to progress targeted interventions, as outlined in the National Access Plan 2022-2028.

Data from this report comes from the Equal Access Survey, a voluntary survey disseminated to first year students in HEA-funded institutions. These questions are asked as part of the registration process at the start of the academic year and are conducted by the institutions.

The focus of this report is on the profile of full-time new entrants.

The main findings in the report are as follows:

• Almost 3 in 4 full-time undergraduate new entrants respond to the Equal Access Survey
• 18% of respondents state they have a disability
• The most common disability amongst new entrants is Learning Conditions (37.0%), followed by Psychological / Emotional Conditions (31.2%)
• Those with Learning Conditions are 53.9% male, whereas in all other categories women outnumber men
• There are higher rates of mature students amongst those with Multiple Conditions (13.7%) and Physical Conditions (11.2%)
• Wicklow has the highest rate of new entrants with a disability, at 23.1%
• Those with a Physical Condition are most disadvantaged, with 13.9% coming from disadvantaged areas
• 3% of new entrants who state they have a disability enter higher education through DARE
• Arts & Humanities is the most common field of study for new entrants with a disability, as opposed to Business, Administration & Law for students without a disability

CEO of the Higher Education Authority, Dr Alan Wall, said: “This report is the HEA’s first profile of students with a disability in Irish higher education institutions. Understanding the profile of students with a disability is pivotal to provide robust data and evidence, to ensure we are responsive to challenges and needs, and to improve equity of access for all.

Background notes:

This report is the HEA’s first profile of students with a disability in higher education in Ireland and is designed to serve as a first glance into disability in higher education in Ireland, and to understand future needs.

The data from this analysis comes from the Equal Access Survey (EAS). The EAS is an annual, voluntary set of questions asked of first year full-time and part-time undergraduate students in HEA-funded institutions. These questions are asked as part of the registration process at the start of the academic year and are conducted by the institutions and returned to the HEA for analysis purposes.

The EAS is a vital source of information to measure progress on national targets, aimed at improving equity of access to higher education and to develop the evidence base and inform policy in this area. Furthermore, the EAS helps us develop a better understanding of the student population and their needs.

The report is available now on a password-protected link HERE.