1916 Bursary Fund

The 1916 Bursary is funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and aims to encourage participation and success by students who are most socio-economically disadvantaged and from groups most under-represented in higher education.

To be eligible for a 1916 Bursary, all applicants must meet, Financial, Target Group and College Entry eligibility criteria. Each participating college has a limited number of bursaries which are awarded to the eligible applicants that present the greatest need.

Tier 2: €2,000 per annum. Tier 2 Bursaries will be awarded to applicants who meet the criteria for the 1916 Bursary but who did not ultimately qualify for a Tier 1 bursary.

Tier 3: Once-Off Bursary (€1,500 payable for 2023/24 academic year only). The number of Tier 3 bursaries to be paid will depend on the amount of remaining funding available to each cluster following the allocation of Tier 1 and 2 bursaries (including for continuing students and students progressing to postgraduate study) .

Tier 1 and 2 bursaries will also be paid as students progress into postgraduate study.  This means that students already in receipt of a 1916 Bursary and who are completing their undergraduate studies will be entitled to continue to receive their bursary for postgraduate study. Additional details are provided by the PATH 2 HEA guidelines.

To see if you may be eligible to apply for a 1916 Bursary, please see the Criteria Quick Check at www.1916Bursary.ie

You can show evidence of this by either;

Allowing SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to confirm that you are eligible for the Special Rate SUSI grant

or

Providing evidence of your household income in 2022 that must include a Department of Social Protection (DSP) long term means-tested social welfare payment. If you have not applied to SUSI you are required to submit relevant financial documentation with your application.

If you wish to allow SUSI to confirm your eligibility, you will need to provide your SUSI reference number as part of your online application. This reference number begins with a ‘W’ and is provided to you by SUSI when you start your SUSI application. If you do not have a ‘W’ reference number, you can provide your PPS Number.  If you have not applied to SUSI or if your application to SUSI was refused, you can provide evidence of your income in 2022 by one or more of the following documents:

• Students from communities, groups or areas that are socio-economically disadvantaged or that have low levels of participation in higher education, including those who have experienced homelessness, the care system, survivors of domestic violence, and those who have experience of the criminal justice system
• Students who qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant under the Student Grant Scheme (SUSI) and/or are in receipt of a Department of Social Protection (DSP) payment are also considered to be socioeconomically disadvantaged.
• Socio-economically disadvantaged mature students (23 or older on 1 January of their year of entry to higher education – and having never previously accessed higher education);
• Second-chance socio-economically disadvantaged mature students. Such students may be considered for a bursary where they have:

– previously attended but not completed a course,

– had a five-year break in studies since leaving the course, and

– are returning to attend an approved course.

• Students with a disability
• Members of the Irish Traveller community;
• Members of the Roma community;
• Further education and training award holders progressing to higher education;
• Students who are carers (confirmed by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) as holding a long-term means-tested carer’s allowance).
• Lone parents and/or teen parents (confirmed by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) as holding a long-term means-tested social welfare payment)
• Persons from ethnic minorities who are lawfully present in the State

The online application has 7 sections:

– Privacy Notice and Consent to Share Personal Data

– Personal Information

– CAO number

– College Entry Criteria

– Financial Criteria

– Priority Group

– Terms and Conditions

• You will receive an automated email confirming your application has been received.
• You can apply from a PC/laptop or mobile device.
• An application you have started can be re-opened anytime on the same device up until the closing date. (Opening/closing dates to be confirmed soon for 2023/24)
• If you started your application on one device but did not complete it, you cannot re-open the same application on a different device. In this case, you can either access your application on the first device or start a new application on a second PC/laptop or mobile device. Any duplicate applications will be deleted.
• Only one fully completed and submitted application per applicant will be assessed for a 1916 Bursary.

• Students in 2nd, 3rd or 4th year cannot apply. This bursary is for students who are first time entrants to an undergraduate programme including students entering directly to year 2 via the advanced entry route.
• Students who have already received a qualification at the same level as their current programme of study.
• Students on a full-time or part-time undergraduate course in a publicly funded institution that takes less than two years to complete, or on the successful completion of which a student is awarded a major higher education and training award at level 5 or below on the National Framework of Qualifications.
• Students whose reckonable income is assessed as over the maximum income limit, currently €24,500 gross for the family in previous tax year.
• Persons who are in the protection system or the leave to remain or at deportation order stage are not eligible to apply for a 1916 Bursary.
• Persons who are in the protection system or at the leave to remain (not at deportation order) stage however can apply to be considered for support under the Student Support Scheme for Asylum Seekers (otherwise known as the Student Support Scheme). Students who are currently living in direct provision are not eligible for the 1916 Bursary; the only exception is in respect of those residents who have been granted either refugee status, subsidiary protection status or leave to remain, and who are currently transitioning out of direct provision.
• Postgraduate students, unless you are a previous recipient of the 1916 Bursary, in which case you can find out more about extending your 1916 undergraduate bursary for your postgraduate study.

All of these factors, either individually or combined, mean that you have additional social and financial barriers to accessing higher education. Students who qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant under the Student Grant Scheme (SUSI) and/or are in receipt of a Department of Social Protection (DSP) payment are also considered to be socio-economically disadvantaged.

• Be a new entrant pursuing an undergraduate course and progressing to higher education for the first time or by advanced entry to year 2
• Have been a resident in the Irish State for three of the past five years
• Be studying an approved full-time or part-time undergraduate course

• Students who are migrants, refugees or who are from ethnic minorities who are lawfully present in the State and are:
  • a national of an EU Member State, a state which is a contracting state to the  EEA agreement, the UK or the Swiss Confederation,
  • or person whose current immigration status or leave to remain under the  Department of Justice, is one of the following:
• Refugee, Programme Refugee, Family Reunification:
  • A refugee or other person entitled for the time being to the rights and  privileges specified in section 3 of the Refugee Act 1996, including a  person granted:
  • Leave to enter and remain in the State as a programme refugee under  section 24 of that Act, or
  • permission to enter and reside in the State as a family member of a  refugee pursuant to section 18 of that Act;
• A person who is, pursuant to the International Protection Act  2015:
  • given a refugee declaration under section 47(1) of that Act, or
  • a programme refugee under section 59 of that Act.
• Subsidiary Protection:
  • A person, pursuant to the European Communities (Eligibility for  Protection) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 518 of 2006):

1. Who the Minister for Justice and Law Reform has determined is  eligible for the time being for subsidiary protection pursuant to  Regulation 4 of those Regulations, or
2. To whom the Minister for Justice and Law Reform has granted  permission for the time being in writing to enter and reside in the  State pursuant to Regulation 16 of those Regulation.

• A person, pursuant to the European Union (Subsidiary Protection)  Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 426 of 2013):
  • who is a person eligible for subsidiary protection and in relation  to whom a subsidiary protection declaration is in force and to  whom a permission to reside within the State has been granted  pursuant to those Regulations; or
  • to whom the Minister for Justice and Equality has granted  permission to enter and reside in the State pursuant to Regulation  25 of those Regulations; or
  • to whom the Minister for Justice and Equality has granted  permission to reside in the State pursuant to Regulation 26 of  those Regulations.
• A person who is given a subsidiary protection declaration under section 47(4) of the International Protection Act 2015. – European Communities (Free Movement of Persons Regulations) 2006  and 2008
• A person who is a family member of a person who is a national of –
  • an EU Member State,
  • a state which is a contracting state to the EEA Agreement,
  • the Swiss Confederation, and
  • has permission to remain in the State as a family member of such  person under the provisions of the European Communities (Free  Movement of Persons Regulations) 2006 and 2008 and Directive  2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29  April 2004.
• Spouse, civil partner, or dependent child of Irish national residing in the  State o A person who has permission to remain in the State
  • (i) by virtue of marriage to, or a civil partnership with, an Irish  national residing in the state, or
  • (ii) as a dependent child of a person coming with clause(i)
• Dependent child of naturalized Irish citizen residing in the State o A person who has permission to remain in the State as a dependent child  of a person who has acquired Irish Citizenship by naturalization, residing  in the State.
• Humanitarian leave to remain
  •  A person in respect of whom the Minister for Justice and Equality has granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State under any enactment for the time being in force.
  • A person granted permission to reside in the State under section 49 of  the International Protection Act 2015
• Decision not to deport under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999
  • A person in respect of whom the Minister for Justice and Equality has  granted permission to remain following a determination not to make a  deportation order under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999.
• child of a Turkish national in respect of whom the Minister of Justice has  granted a permission to reside,

For further clarification, see section14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 the Student Support Regulations 2021 (Statutory Instrument No. 132 of 2021 http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2021/si/132/made/en/print).

If you have to wait for documents to be sent to you, you can begin your application online and upload the documents at a later time but still before the closing date. Please note: this will require you to continue your application on the same device that you started your application on. Incomplete or late documentation will not be accepted and will render applications ineligible.

For any paper documents, you will need to create scanned electronic copies of them to upload online. There are a number of ways to create a scanned electronic copy of your document:

Use your smartphone camera

Scan your paper documents using the free app OfficeLens (Android / iPhone) combined with your camera. You can also follow these 8 steps using the Notes app on your iPhone. If using the camera alone to take photos, ensure the screenshots are of good quality and all information is visible. Save your electronic documentation onto your pc/laptop/USB key/phone.

Use a printer/scanner at your college

At a printer, swipe your Student ID card and set the document that you wish to scan face up on the top tray of the printer and click Scan on the printer’s screen. Your scanned document will be emailed to you as an attachment to your college email address. Save your electronic documentation onto your pc/laptop/USB key/phone. It is not advisable to you use the print facility to remotely print confidential documents.

• If you did not enter college through DARE, but are registered with the Disability Support Service, we can verify this directly with your institution, with your consent; then you are not required to submit supporting documentation regarding your disability.
• If your disability cannot be verified by your institution you are required to provide appropriate documentary evidence from a relevant medical professional as per DARE or Fund for Disabilities guidelines.

• Official letter from the Department of Justice and Equality confirming the specific ‘right and permission to remain’ or naturalisation of applicant and/or parent/dependant.
• Photocopy of passport(s); This is to include the applicant’s passport and if necessary, a copy of the applicant’s parents/ guardian’s country of origin passport and Irish/EU/EEA or Swiss confederation passport if possible.
• Copy of the applicant’s Irish Residence Permit (IRP) that details your Visa stamp details. For more info please see:  http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/inis/Pages/irish-residence-permit

• previously attended but not completed a course,
• had a five-year break in studies since leaving the course, and
• are returning to attend an approved course

Or

A registered Direct Provision Centre confirming that the applicant previously lived or is transitioning out of Direct Provision.

Or

Full DSP statement for 2022 showing applicant was in receipt of the Daily Expenses Allowance.

Applicants must meet the college entry, financial and target group eligibility criteria set out in the HEA Guidelines in order to be considered for the bursary. The following additional indicators of socio-economic disadvantage will also be considered:

• Attended at a DEIS second level school for a minimum of 5 years.
• Is or was in the Care of the State / TUSLA.
• Is or was previously homeless.
• Is or was previously living in supported accommodation.
• Is or was a survivor of domestic violence
• Has experience of the criminal justice system
• Was previously living in Direct Provision or currently transitioning out of Direct Provision.

It is expected that the number of applications will exceed the number of bursaries available. Each college administering the 1916 Bursary will prioritise applicants deemed in greatest need, those who are socio-economically disadvantaged and can provide evidence of membership of the target group(s). Colleges will give due regard to ensuring that the benefit of the bursaries is maximised.

In accordance with the guidelines, 20% of all Tier 1 bursaries must be awarded to lone parents

Please note, you can get the 1916 Bursary with your SUSI grants and any Social Welfare payment you have. You can apply for the Student Assistance Fund or Fund for Students with Disabilities. Bursary recipients who are participating in the Tusla NTRIS Employment Support Scheme for Traveller and Roma Communities may also continue to receive the 1916 Bursary while in receipt of the Tusla Scheme Grant. Similarly, bursary recipients may also continue to receive financial support through Dormant Accounts Funding, and PATH 1 and PATH 3 funding that supports members of the Irish Traveller and Roma communities in higher education.

Applications for the TUS SAF will open on again for students (who did not apply in semester 1) on the 17th January 2024.

You will be asked to submit one of the following:

• Evidence of being in receipt of a long-term DSP One Parent Family payment in 2022
• Evidence of being in receipt of a long-term DSP One Parent Transitional payment in 2022
• Letter from DSP stating that the applicant is currently or was formally on a One Parent Family payment and met the criteria of a lone parent
• (In the case of a teen parent only) Evidence of being in receipt of a Child Benefit payment in 2023

Bursary recipients who wish to defer their postgraduate study may do so for a maximum one academic year with the prior written approval of their HEI. Deferral may occur before the student commences their studies or during their studies. A student who has not yet applied for a postgraduate course may also defer their bursary for a maximum of one year

In the case of Tier 3, the bursary amount (€1,500) is once-off and shall be payable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students in receipt of a Tier 3 Bursary should note that funding will not continue for subsequent academic years.

In the case of Tier 1, bursaries should be paid in instalments, directly to the bursary recipient’s Irish bank account, over the course of an academic year. In the case of Tier 2 and 3, clusters and HEIs have discretion to make a payment to the student in one instalment.

There will be an Independent Appeals Panel to ensure your application was assessed fairly and in line with the criteria. An appeal must be made before the closing date. The appeal process will open on 21st November 2022 and will close on 28th November. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified on 21st November including information on how to make an appeal.

The appeals procedure is in respect of process only i.e., that you believe an administrative error was made.

No new information can be included or considered at appeal stage.

Appeals must be completed online before the closing date.

Appeals will be independently reviewed on the grounds that the information provided was considered, assessed, and ranked correctly. The information submitted in the online application and the supporting documentation received will be used in consideration of the appeal. It will not be possible to submit further documentation at the appeal stage.

The decision of the 1916 Bursary Appeals Board is final.

Further information on other financial supports, including scholarships is available from the website or access office of the institution in which you are attending.

For information on the TUS Student Assistance Fund, please see below:

Student Assistance Fund FAQs

• keep within the rules and regulations of your institution.
• agree to any assessment set out by your institution for your course:
• to agree to the department managing the 1916 Bursary confirming that you have passed each year of your course.
• meet with a Student Advisor in your institution at least twice per year.
• attend or be part of events organised by the institution to increase awareness of the 1916 Bursary. This is not compulsory.
• sign a Student Contract if you are successful in your application.