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HEA Releases New Report on Pathways to Higher Education
By James Holohan
Posted: 24 June, 2026
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has today published a new report examining the diverse pathways through which students progress into higher education.
As participation in higher education has increased over recent decades, so too have the routes available to prospective students. This report provides a detailed analysis of transition pathways including post-primary education, Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses, and apprenticeships. The report offers valuable system-level insights into how students navigate the system and is designed to inform policy development and strategic planning across further and higher education.
The findings indicate that direct entry from post‑primary education remains the most common pathway into higher education. Female students and students from non-DEIS schools are more likely to take this route.
The report also highlights the role of PLC courses as an important progression route, with over 40% of PLC completers subsequently enrolling in higher education. This pathway is more commonly followed by female students and those from DEIS schools. The analysis shows, however, that students entering higher education via PLC routes have lower graduation rates than those who enter higher education directly from post‑primary education.
Following completion of post‑primary education, up to 3.5% of learners entered and completed craft apprenticeships, a pathway more frequently observed among male students and those who attended DEIS schools.
Future editions of the Pathways to Higher Education report will incorporate data on the recently introduced Tertiary Degrees, further strengthening understanding of emerging education routes.
Commenting on the report, Dr Vivienne Patterson, Head of Skills, Engagement & Statistics at the HEA, said:
‘This report provides a vital evidence base for understanding how learners move between different parts of the education system. As we continue to increase pathways to higher education, it offers valuable insights that will support policymakers and institutions in strengthening access, progression and student outcomes.’
The report will be formally presented at an upcoming conference hosted by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), focused on enhancing the role of research and data in policy development.
To view the report, see Pathways to Higher Education.
