Unlocking the Journey from Irish Secondary Schools to Higher Education—And What the Latest Data Reveals
Navigating the pathways from secondary school to university is a critical milestone, and this year's Irish Times Feeder Schools report offers fresh insights into how students across Ireland are making that transition. But here’s where it gets interesting—the patterns and disparities behind who gets there and how.
This year, a total of 44,507 students who sat the Leaving Cert secured undergraduate placements in Irish third-level institutions listed in the report. However, the story isn't fully complete yet. Technological University Dublin (TUD) has yet to report data for around 1,300 to 1,500 first-year students, so final figures will only be fully available once that information arrives in March or April 2026. Moreover, with an additional 2,500 places funded by Minister James Lawless in 2025, experts project that the true number of graduates securing third-level places will climb to approximately 46,000. Updated figures will be published online once all data quantities are finalized.
Students from various educational backgrounds—ranging from Deis schools, private fee-paying institutions, Gaelcholáistí (Irish-speaking schools), and other recognised schools—have participated in this journey. Those attending Deis schools, which serve disadvantaged communities, made up nearly 19.2% of the students sitting the Leaving Cert. They secured about 14.9% of the available places, though only around 10.75% (2,577 out of 24,569) of those at traditional universities.
Students attending mainstream English-medium schools account for approximately 70.5% of the Leaving Cert cohort, and they secured around 72.8% of all university places, with nearly 17,278 of these at traditional universities—highlighting a robust majority. Meanwhile, students in Gaelcholáistí represented just 3.5% of the Leaving Cert takers but secured a slightly higher percentage of placements overall (3.9%) and more in traditional universities (4.6%, or 1,110 students).
Fee-paying school students constitute 7.2% of the cohort but gained a larger share of total placements—about 8.8%—with 3,087 of their students entering traditional universities. These figures underscore ongoing issues of opportunity and representation, yet they also show positive progress year after year.
While Deis schools have significantly contributed to creating more equitable access for students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, Irish society still faces the challenge of ensuring equal opportunities for all children. Each year, however, we're witnessing improvements that open up better learning and career prospects for more students.
Expanding access via diverse routes continues, with the government subsidizing over 2,500 additional university places in 2025 alone. Moreover, many students are beginning their higher education journey in local further education colleges before transferring to universities, which enhances regional opportunities.
Cross-border, in Northern Ireland, a notable number of Irish students—501 at Ulster University and 347 at Queen’s University Belfast—began their degrees, mainly in medical and health-related fields funded by the Irish government. Additionally, the growth of apprenticeship pathways in degree-level training, managed by SOLAS, demonstrates the evolving landscape of tertiary education.
However, despite these advances, the goal of providing every child with an equal chance to reach their full potential remains a work in progress, starting from early childhood.
Understanding the Key Factors:
1. Socioeconomic Influences — Fee-paying schools dominate the top feeder lists, with 18 of the top 25 coming from this sector. Yet, many non-fee-paying and Gaelcholáistí schools are closing the gap, illustrating that factors like school location, language, parental expectations, and social class deeply impact access to higher education. For instance, Muckross College in Donnybrook, a non-fee-paying school, leads the list, while Coláiste Íosagáin, a Gaelcholáiste, ranks highly as well.
2. Localism in Applications — Unlike their UK counterparts, most Irish students tend to apply to nearby colleges, driven by the desire to stay close to home and friends. This trend means that regions lacking nearby institutions often experience lower progression rates.
3. Postcode and Regional Disparities — Students from affluent areas like Dublin 4 and 6 boast high progression rates, with nearly 89% moving on to third-level education. In contrast, districts such as Dublin 10 and 11 see significantly lower rates of around 36–52%. In counties like Donegal and Wexford, over 74% of students progress, but the urban-rural divide remains stark.
4. Continued Preference for the CAO Route — Despite the multiple pathways to college, the Central Applications Office (CAO) remains the primary route chosen by Irish students. Ireland’s high participation rate of around 80% underscores this preference.
5. Rise of Grind Schools — An estimated 4,000 students are enrolled in 'grind schools' preparing for the Leaving Cert, though official data remains limited. These schools often boost students’ grades, yet the success is sometimes attributed to their previous schools rather than the grind schools themselves.
6. The Role of Capacity — Ultimately, the number of available college places determines access. Recent expansions, especially in fields like medicine and health sciences, have helped accommodate more students, but the number of places fluctuates yearly, impacting individual success.
All in all, while Ireland has made commendable strides in widening access to higher education, the road toward true equality remains long. The ongoing expansion of opportunities, regional disparities, and socioeconomic barriers still shape who gets ahead—and who doesn’t. Are we doing enough to level the playing field, or are structural inequalities deeply embedded in our education system? Share your thoughts in the comments—this debate is as vital as ever.
