Reach Programme

• Applicants must be a 6th year student attending one of the eligible secondary schools in the South East.
• Applicants must be eligible for the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) for a Higher Education grant. Please find the link for the SUSI Eligibility Reckoner HERE

• Applicants must apply through the CAO for a SETU Waterford course by the CAO deadline; 1st of February 2026.

  Please note, applications are only considered where:
   

• (i) applicants list a Waterford course as their 1st CAO choice for their Level 6/7 and their Level 8 choices by the 1st of February 2026.
• (ii) if an applicant is only making an application to a L6/7 or a L8 course, their number 1 choice must be a SETU Waterford course. 
   
• Applicants must also attain the entry requirements for the course applied for, as outlined in the applicable SETU prospectus. Example: SE400 Business (Hons), entry requirements are 2 subjects: H5 4 subjects: O6/H7 English or Irish: O6/H7 Mathematics: O6/H7. Please see the SETU prospectus or refer to the SETU website for all course entry requirement details 

Applicants must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Applicant has experienced the State care system (e.g. foster/residential/kinship/family/ward of court/under care of HSE)
• Applicant has experience of the Direct Provision system.
• Applicant is a lone or a teen parent
• Applicant/applicant’s family is a member of an ethnic minority (e.g. Irish Traveller, Roma, migrants, etc.)
• Applicant/applicants family has experience of homelessness
• Applicant/applicants family has experience of the criminal justice system
• Applicant/applicants family is a survivor of domestic violence
• Applicant’s income or applicants family income is supplemented by a means tested social welfare payment/s
• Applicant is the first member of their immediate family that will progress to higher education (3rd level)
• Other extenuating circumstances i.e. any circumstances that the applicant believes has had an adverse impact on their education to date e.g. the applicant takes on a caring role in the family home

Information for students

• If you are interested in making an application for the Reach Programme and you are attending an eligible school, please contact your guidance counsellor or school principal.
• Students must be offered and accept a course in SETU, Waterford campuses, to be eligible for selection for Phase 2 of the Reach Programme.
• 25 applicants will be offered a place on the Reach Programme.

Information for schools

• Applications for the Reach Programme are only accepted directly from guidance counsellors, school principals or the appropriate staff member in eligible schools.
• Schools may seek the support of our additional programme partners (School Completion Programme and the Home School Liaison Programme) in identifying eligible applicants.
• Application forms are restricted, and all eligible schools will receive information, via an email to their guidance counsellor(s), on the 2026 application process in January 2026.
• Applications will be accepted from Tuesday the 3rd of February 2026 and the closing date to receive applications will be 5pm on the 27th of March 2026.
• Applicants who apply for nursing programmes in SETU will be interviewed. Interview dates to be confirmed but they will take place during the month of May in 2026, date TBC.

1. Reach Programme Application opens on Tuesday the 3rd February 2026 and closes at 5pm on Friday the 27th of March 2026.
2. Reach Programme online information session for eligible applicants in late April, date TBC.
3. Interviews for applicants who have selected a Nursing course in SETU to be held in May 2026 (date TBC).
4. Phase 1 of the Reach Programme will consider all applicants for a "reduced points access offer" through Round 1 of the CAO offers subject to the applicant meeting the entry requirements for the course applied for as outlined in the SETU prospectus.
5. Please note applicants must be offered and accept a course in SETU to be eligible for selection for Phase 2 of the Reach Programme, where 25 applicants will be offered a place on the programme. 
6. On acceptance of the SETU CAO course offer, the applicants must submit their letter from SUSI deeming them successful in their SUSI application. 
7. Applicants who defer their 2026-27 offer in SETU cannot be guaranteed a deferral of their Reach Programme place. Deferrals are considered on individual merit.

Please note: You must allow adequate time for your Guidance Counsellor to review and complete their section/s of the form in time for them to submit to the SETU Access Office, Waterford by the closing date.