UCC providing Access for all
Stephen O’Leary
Having left school at 15 with no Leaving Certificate, Leah Punch never thought that higher education was within her reach.
“With no-one around me who’d ever gone down that route,” she said, “how was I to know how to get there?”
Another obstacle that faced Leah was a recent diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), which seemed to explain some of her earlier difficulties in school.
“Only now can I see the impact ADHD had on my education,” Leah said. “So making the leap up to higher education is something I never thought would be possible, especially as I got older.”
In spite of those challenges, Leah now finds herself enjoying her first year in the Bachelor of Social Work degree in UCC. Leah is classified as a mature student – any student over the age of 23 at the start of the course year – which brings her under the Access UCC umbrella.
Access UCC are the university’s support for alternative routes into higher education, aiming to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups at third level. In addition to mature students, the team assist those who come through the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) and Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) schemes, as well as admissions from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and Further Education and Training (FET) pathways.
Leah became aware of Access UCC while studying on another part-time course. She credits them with giving her the courage to apply for higher education. “The guidance I got from them was great. I must have spent four months going back and forth because I really wasn’t sure what to do or if I could do it, and up until then, I never had anybody to help and guide me through this journey.
“Returning to study as a mature student isn't easy, but I’ve found the course to be interesting, eye-opening and have enjoyed meeting like-minded people, and I know it’s going to be worth every minute.”
Leah is now a regular visitor of the Hub on the UCC Campus, where the Access team is based. She has developed a significant following on social media, with over 40,000 Instagram users keeping track of her journey. Leah shares her personal story of achieving her educational dreams, weight loss, and parenthood. She hopes to encourage others who may be facing similar barriers.
Access UCC recognises the diversity of students and the unique challenges they face. The skilled team of support officers and advisors provide tailored supports to address students’ individual needs, and seek to ensure that the UCC student body is representative of Irish society as a whole.
Leah has been selected as one of 32 diverse Access Ambassadors: “If you're contemplating a similar journey, reach out for support to get on the right track. I believe in maintaining a positive attitude, moving forward in life, and viewing challenges as valuable life lessons. Dream, wish, do it!”
For more information, email the team on access@ucc.ie, or visit www.ucc.ie/access.