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Students with Disabilities

Disability Support Service (DSS)

NUI Galway and its Disability Support Service (DSS) are committed to providing educational opportunities to all students with disabilities.

The DSS welcomes students with a variety of disabilities including:

  • Aspergers Syndrome/Autism
  • Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia
  • Physical disabilities
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Mental Health Conditions
  • Blind/Vision Impaired
  • Deaf/Hearing Impaired
  • Neurological Conditions
  • Significant Ongoing Illnesses

You may require support whilst studying at NUIG. If so, you should come to the DSS for a Needs Assessment as soon as you register for your course. We will then tailor our supports to match your needs.

Students with disabilities may gain a place at NUIG either by Merit Entry (Standard Entry) or through DARE (Non-Standard Entry). Standard entry refers to students who obtain the necessary points in their Leaving Certificate.

DARE: Application procedure for students with disabilities

If you have a disability, a learning difficulty or a significant ongoing illness, you are welcome to apply to study at NUI Galway. We will try, wherever possible, to facilitate your access and participation.

While you do not have to disclose your condition, we advise that you tick the disability box when you are filling in your CAO form and complete the supplementary information forms when provided by the CAO. This will help us to help you get the most out of university life.

If you do not get a place through DARE, you will still be eligible for supports at NUI Galway and other third level institutions.

Please go to www.accesscollege.ie for further information on how to apply through DARE.

An accessible campus

All of the University's newest buildings are fully accessible, with lifts, automatic doors and accessible toilets. We continue to work towards improving access all over the campus.

Special examination arrangements, including extra time and the use of special equipment, may be made for students with disabilities.

NUI Galway works with the Disability Support Service to make sure that the needs of students with disabilities are taken into account when designing college facilities and student support services.

Further Information

Disability Office Web site

Further reading

  • AHEAD - Association for Higher Education Access and Disability
  • AHEAD Mentoring Placement Programme – Employment opportunities
  • Irish Deaf – A list of all organisations in Ireland dealing for and with the Deaf community
  • Revision of Rule 46 of the "Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools" in relation to exemption from Irish
  • Dyslexia Association of Ireland
  • Headstrong.ie - The National Centre for Youth Mental Health Ireland
  • DVC Learning Style Survey for College / Self Assessment.htm

Find out more

Disability Support Service Administrator

Ann Marie Curran
Room 216
Aras Ui Cathail
T 353 91 492813
Email: annmarie.curran@nuigalway.ie