AHEAD has published its annual report detailing the participation of disabled students in publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Ireland for the academic year 2023/24. While overall numbers of students registered with Disability Support Services (DSS) continue to rise, the report highlights an ongoing and significant gap in postgraduate participation.
According to the findings, just 3.3% of all postgraduate students disclosed a disability and registered for support with their institution’s DSS. This contrasts starkly with the 9.3% of undergraduate students who have done so, highlighting a continuing disparity in access and engagement at the postgraduate level.
The report acknowledges that while postgraduate participation rates among disabled students have been increasing gradually, the figures underscore a persistent underrepresentation that requires targeted policy attention. The data suggests that barriers to disclosure, lack of accessible postgraduate pathways, and limited availability of financial or academic supports may contribute to this disparity.
