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Applicant Guidelines
The purpose of the 1916 Bursary is to encourage participation and success by students who are most socio-economically disadvantaged and who are from groups most under-represented in higher education. In order to be considered for a bursary, applicants must meet College Entry, Financial and Priority Group eligibility criteria. Each college has a limited number of bursaries; they will be awarded to the eligible applicants that present the greatest need.
Applications for the 1916 bursary are open now.
Please click the link HERE to begin the application process.
Making an Online Application
Applications can only be made online via the 1916 Bursary Application Portal. Applicants are advised to register their account and submit an application through a desktop device or laptop. For ease of application, it is advised that applications should not use a phone or tablet to apply. Applicants are advised to use Chrome or Edge internet browsers.
Once you start your application, it can be saved and re-opened and edited unless it has been submitted or the closing date has passed. Please note, it is your responsibility to ensure your application is accurate and complete before you submit your application. Once you submit your application, you cannot change it. You can only complete one application. Only fully completed and submitted applications will be assessed for a 1916 Bursary
Privacy Notice and Consent to Share Personal Data
This Privacy Notice and Consent to share personal data policy applies to the following Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) participating in the 1916 Bursary:
- Atlantic Technological University – Donegal Campus
- Atlantic Technological University - Sligo Campus
- Dundalk Institute of Technology
- Marino Institute of Education
- Maynooth University
- Munster Technological University – Kerry Campus
- RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Technological University of the Shannon - Midlands Campus
- South East Technological University – Waterford Campus
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Dublin
- University of Limerick
- Atlantic Technological University – Galway Mayo Campus
- Dublin City University
- Institute of Art Design and Technology
- Mary Immaculate College
- Munster Technological University – Cork Campus
- National College of Art and Design
- Technological University of the Shannon – Midwest Campus
- South East Technological University – Carlow Campus
- Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
- University College Cork
- University of Galway
Data Protection Notice
The HEIs participating in the 1916 Bursary take your privacy seriously. Any personal data which you provide in your application for the 1916 Bursary will be treated with the highest standards of security and confidentiality, in accordance with Irish and European Data Protection legislation. This notice sets out details of the information that we collect, how we process it and who we share it with. It also explains your rights under data protection law in relation to our processing of your data.
Who we are:
Throughout this Notice, “we”, “us” and “our” refers to the (HEIs participating in the 1916 Bursary). For more information about us, please refer to our website: www.1916bursary.ie
How we collect your personal data
We collect your data from you when you complete this application form.
We also receive your data from:
• Central Application Office (CAO);
• Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI);
•Your higher education institution (HEI);
• An external Geo-Coding company
The purpose and legal basis for collecting your data
Any personal data you provide to us via this application form and from CAO, SUSI, your HEI and the external Geo-Coding company will be processed fairly and lawfully.
The legal basis for collecting and processing your data is outlined under the following General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Articles:
- Article 6 (1)(a): the data subject (the applicant) has given consent to the processing of his or her personal data for one or more specific purposes.
- Article 6 (1)(c): processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject – (ESF Regulation and Section 49 of the HEA Act 2022).
- Article 6(1)(e): processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller – (HEA Act 2022).
- Article 9(2)(a), explicit consent is required for processing special categories of data – (Explicit consent is asked for within the 1916 Bursary application form where applicants can upload documentation relating to their disability and/or ethnic minority).
By applying for the 1916 Bursary you will be required to provide us with the following personal data:
• Name, address, Eircode, date of birth, CAO number, email address, country of birth, gender, nationality;
• SUSI W Reference Number (if relevant to you);
• Your college entry route, HEI and programme of study;
• The priority group(s) you belong to and additional personal circumstances;
• Name of your secondary school if relevant;
• If you are eligible for the HEAR scheme
• If you are eligible for the DARE scheme;
It will be used for the purposes of:
• contacting you about your application;
• verification of your identity;
• the assessment of your application;
• assessing your eligibility for the 1916 Bursary;
• the selection of and award to successful applicants;
• anonymised data will be used for reporting and evaluation purposes.
The Data Protection Acts allows us to process your data because you have provided your explicit consent. You are entitled to withdraw your consent at any time. If you do not give your consent or withdraw your consent, we will no longer process your personal data and your application to the 1916 Bursary cannot be considered. We will take steps to delete all reference to your data securely.
Details of third parties with whom we share personal data
Participating HEIs will share your data with the following third parties where necessary for purposes of the processing outlined above:
• CAO: Your application number, and CAO number will be provided to CAO so they can verify you have received an offer from a participating HEI, the entry route, eligibility for the HEAR and / or DARE schemes and the category of your disability if you are eligible for DARE (if relevant to you).
• SUSI: Your application number, SUSI reference number and your date of birth will be provided to SUSI so they can provide confirmation of: eligibility for the Special Rate of Maintenance, first time college entrant, first time mature student (if relevant to you).
•From 2024/25 HEIs will use City of Dublin ETB (SUSI) as a sub processor to provide operational assistance in assessing/processing bursary applications and issuing funds to students. HEIs will ensure that third parties are aware of the data collection process and ensure all GDPR requirements are met.
• Your HEI: Your application number and CAO number will be provided to your HEI so they can confirm your registration, entry route and eligibility for the 1916 Bursary. If your application is successful and you are to be awarded a 1916 Bursary the following details will be shared with your HEI: Name, Date OF Birth, CAO number, address, eircode, priority group(s) you belong to, and the additional indicator information (if relevant to you).
• An external Geo-Coding company: Your application number and your eircode will be provided to the Geo-Coding company so they can confirm if you are living in a disadvantaged area or otherwise.
• The Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) will also be provided with anonymised, aggregate applicant data in order to comply with reporting and evaluation requirements.
Cross-border data transfers
The data is not subject to any cross-border transfer.
How long we will keep your data
In keeping with the data protection principles, we will only store your data for as long as is necessary. Unsuccessful applicants’ data is retained until the end of the academic year of application. In line with European Social Fund (ESF) requirements, if your application is successful applicants’ data will be held for a 5-year period from the 31st of December of the year in which the last payment is made.
Your rights
You have various rights under data protection law, subject to certain exemptions, in connection with our processing of your personal data, including the right:
• to find out if we use your personal data, access your personal data and receive copies of your personal data;
• to have inaccurate/incomplete information corrected and updated;
• in certain circumstances, to have your details deleted from systems that we use to process your personal data or have the use of your personal data restricted in certain ways;
• to object to certain processing of your data by City of Dublin ETB (SUSI) as a sub processor to provide operational assistance in assessing/processing bursary applications and issuing funds to students;
• to exercise your right to data portability where applicable (i.e. obtain a copy of your personal data in a commonly used electronic form;
• where we have relied upon consent as a lawful basis for processing, to withdraw your consent to the processing at any time;
• to not be subject to solely automated decision;
If you wish to avail of these rights, please write to: The Information Compliance Manager at your college or university.
Questions or Complaints
If you have any queries in relation to your application to the 1916 Bursary please contact a member of the Access staff in your college or university.
If you have any queries or complaints in connection with our processing of your personal data, you can contact the Information Compliance Manager at your college or university.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission if you are unhappy with our processing of your personal data. Details of how to lodge a complaint can be found on the Data Protection Commission’s website (www.dataprotection.ie), or by telephoning 1890 252 231.
In submitting this form, you understand and agree that your personal details will be used by participating HEIs and the City of Dublin ETB (SUSI) for the purposes outlined above.
I have read and accept the Privacy Notice and Consent to share personal data for the purpose of my 1916 Bursary application.
Yes (I consent to the processing of personal data)
No (If you select this box you are withdrawing from the application process)
Personal Information
- Your Name
You should enter your name as it appears on any documentation you may later provide as part of your application, such as your SUSI application, Department of Social Protection Payment or on your Passport.
Permanent Home Address (not term address)
Please enter your full home address and Eircode in the Irish State. This is essential as it is used to verify if you live in an area that experiences socio-economic disadvantage and to verify any documentation submitted.
Eircode
An Eircode is relevant to assess if you live in an area that experiences socio economic disadvantage. To find your Eircode see the Eircode Finder at www.eircode.ie
To complete the Personal Information section you will also need to enter your:
- Date of Birth (in the format dd/mm/yyyy)
- Email address (you will be asked to enter this again for verification)
- Country of Birth (select from a drop down list)
- Country of Nationality (select from a drop down list)
- Gender (select from a drop down list)
You will also be asked if you are applying as a:
- Full-time Student (via CAO)
- Part-time Student or
- Full-time Student, applied directly to the College and entering year 2 of a programme, having not attended third level previously.
- I am a student on a Tertiary Education Programme co-designed and delivered by Higher Education Institutions and Education and Training Boards
- Direct Entry from an Access or Foundation course (not via CAO)* *includes the following courses; -TEAP (Teacher Education Access Programme) -Mary Immaculate College-Certificate in Access for Higher Education -ATU Donegal -Certificate in Access Studies – ATU DonegalTurn to Teaching Foundation Course –Maynooth UniversityCertificate in Science for Mature Students – Maynooth University
CAO Number
If you applied to the CAO in 2024 it is essential that you provide your correct 8 digit CAO number. This number must begin with ’24’. You will find your CAO number on any e-mail or statement that you receive from CAO.
College Entry Criteria
To be eligible for a 1916 Bursary you must meet the following College Entry Criteria:
- Are you a new entrant, pursuing an undergraduate course and progressing to higher education for the first time in the 2024-2025 academic year?
- Have you been resident in the Irish State for three of the past five years on the date of which the first year of study commences?
Only applicants who have lived in the Irish State for 3 of the past 5 years can proceed with a 1916 Bursary application. - Are you studying an approved full-time or part-time undergraduate course?*
*an approved fulltime or part-time undergraduate course leading to a major higher education and training award at Level 6 (Higher Certificate), Level 7 (Ordinary Bachelor Degree), Level 8 (Honours Bachelor Degree) on the national framework of qualifications or equivalent awards that take not less than two years to complete.
If you answer ‘no’ to any of these questions you will not be able to proceed with a 1916 Bursary application.
Financial Criteria
In this section, you must show that your household income meets the criteria for the SUSI Special Rate in of Maintenance Grant in the year ending 31 December 2023. This financial criteria is required for you to be considered eligible for a 1916 Bursary. The SUSI Special Rate of Maintenance Grant has 3 thresholds based on how many dependent children are in the household. Less than 4 = €26,200; 4 to 7 = €28,715; 8 or more = €31,128. The income threshold increases by €4,950 per additional person in college.
You can show evidence of this by either;
allowing SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to confirm that you were awarded the Special Rate SUSI grant
or
Providing evidence of your household income in 2023 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. This reference number begins with a ‘W’ and is provided to you be SUSI when you start your SUSI application. If you do not have a ‘W’ reference number you can provide your PPS Number:
You will be asked to confirm your consent to the sharing of your personal data with SUSI. If you do not provide your consent to the sharing of personal data with SUSI, you must upload relevant supporting financial documentation in order for your application to be assessed.
If you have not applied to SUSI or if your application to SUSI was refused, you can provide evidence of your income in 2023 by one or more of the documents in the table below. You will be asked to confirm if you are a; student dependent, mature student dependent or independent mature student; and the number of dependent children in the household and the number of other relevant persons in further or higher education in the household.
For any paper documents, you will need to create scanned electronic copies of them to upload online. Please note, you can only upload one digital file per question in the online application. If you have two or more documents to upload per question you need to create a single digital file first. Please see the supporting documentation section or the FAQ on uploading documents.
Additional Information
For more information, visit the following links:
Table of Contents
You are required to submit the relevant financial document(s) from the list below. The documents required are determined by Applicant Type and the Income Source.
| Applicant Type | Description | Income to be Assessed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dependent | Under 23 on 1st January 2024 | | |
| Mature dependent student | Over 23 on 1st January 2024 and residing with your parent(s)/ legal guardian(s) | ||
| Independent mature student | Over 23 on 1st January year of entry and residing independently from October 2023 |
|
| Income Source | Documentation Required | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| PAYE Income | Statement of Liability (formally called End of year statement – P21) for the year ended 31 December 2023 | A Status of Liability (formerly called End of year statement - P21) for 2023 can be requested from the relevant person(s) revenue account at www.revenue.ie A Status of Liability/End of year statement is a 2-sided document, please include a pdf copy of both the front and back page |
| Social Welfare Income | A social welfare statement from the Department of Social Protection showing the total amounts received for the year ended 31 December 2023 | You can request a DSP statement for 2023 through mywelfare.ie or from your local community welfare office/Intreo Office |
| Self-Employed and Farmers | A copy of Notice of Assessment/Self-Assessment Letter Chapter 4 or 5 for the year ended 31 December 2023 | You can request a Notice of Assessment / Self-Assessment for 2023 from the relevant person’s account at www.revenue.ie |
| Vocational Training Opportunitites Scheme (VTOS/ETB Payments) | A letter/statement from the VTOS or ETB office outlining what payments you received in total for 2023 for the year ended 31 December 2023 | The letter must be on headed paper, signed and dated by an official in the ETB or PLC you attended in 2023 |
| TUS/CE/RSS Schemes | Statement of Liability (formally called End of year statement – P21) for the year ended 31 December 2023 | A Status of Liability for 2023 can be requested from the relevant person(s) revenue account at www.revenue.ie A Status of Liability/End of year statement is a 2-sided document, please include a pdf copy of both the front and back page |
| Non-Irish Income/Welfare Payents | Official documentation from the country to show the total income received for the year ended 31 December 2023 |
Note: If there is household income from more than one source, documentation for each source must be provided
Priority Groups Criteria
To be considered for the 1916 Bursary Fund applicants must be from at least one of the priority groups listed below. You should select ALL priority groups relevant to you:
- I am a student with a disability
- I live in an area that experiences socio-economic disadvantage.*
- I am a student that experiences socio-economic disadvantage**
- I am a member of the Irish Traveller Community
- I am a member of the Roma Community
- I (the applicant) am a lone parent or teen parent in receipt of a long-term means-tested Department of Social Protection payment.
- I am eligible for the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) Scheme.
- I (the applicant) am a carer in receipt of carer’s allowance
- I am a first time, mature entrant or 2nd chance mature student***
- I am a QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) or Further Education award holder.
- I am a student who is a migrant, refugee or from ethnic minority who is lawfully present in the State
*To be eligible under the ‘area that experiences socio-economic disadvantage’ priority group, an applicant’s home address must be categorised as disadvantaged, very disadvantaged or extremely disadvantaged on the ‘small area’ ranking of the 2016 Pobal HP Deprivation index. For further information see https://maps.pobal.ie/WebApps/DeprivationIndices/index.html
**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 considered to be socio-economically disadvantaged.
*** 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 three-year break in studies since leaving the course, and
-are returning to attend an approved course.
For applicants with a disability:
Evidence of your disability is required to support your application. You will be asked to select how we can verify this information.
- I was deemed eligible in 2024 for the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) Scheme and this together with the nature of my disability can be verified directly by the CAO.
- I will submit evidence of my disability from an appropriate medical professional.
If you choose to ‘submit evidence’ of your disability you will need this from an appropriate medical professional, please refer to http://accesscollege.ie/dare/providing-evidence-of-your-disability/ for guidance on the correct documentation for your particular disability.
For applicants who live in an area that experiences socio-economic disadvantage
You are not required to provide supporting documentation that you are from an area that experiences socio-economic disadvantage, this will be verified using the home address and Eircode that you have provided.
For applicants who experience socio-economic disadvantage
The evidence that you have already provided in the Financial Criteria section of your application will be used to verify if you 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.
For applicants from the Irish Traveller Community
If you self-declare that you are a member of the Irish Traveller Community, you are not required to provide supporting documentation of this as part of the online application however you may be asked to provide further information later.
For applicants from the Roma Community
If you self-declare that you are a member of the Roma Community, you are not required to provide supporting documentation of this as part of the online application however you may be asked to provide further information later.
For applicants who are Carers
A letter or statement from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) confirming the applicant is in receipt of a long-term means-tested carer’s allowance.
For applicants who are a Lone Parent or Teen Parent
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 2023
- Evidence of being in receipt of a long-term DSP One Parent Transitional payment in 2023
- 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 2024 or earlier
For applicants who are HEAR Entrants
HEAR entrants are not required to provide supporting documentation of this as part of the online application, this will be verified by your higher education institution
For applicants who are Mature Student Entrant or 2nd Chance Mature student
You are not required to provide supporting documentation that you are a First Time Mature Student or 2nd Chance Mature student, this will be verified by your higher education institution and / or SUSI.
For applicants who are QQI or Futher Education award holders
You will be asked to provide supporting documentation that you are a QQI or Further Education award holder. This includes QQI award holders up to level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications and from older awarding institutes such as FETAC and NCVA. Please note, a level 6 award or higher, awarded by a Higher Education Institute is not acceptable because the 1916 Bursary is only available to first time entrants to Higher Education. For additional information on Further education and training awards, including how to obtain a record of your award (if you cannot find yours), please visit: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (qqi.ie).
For applicants who are migrants, refugees or from ethnic minorities who are lawfully present in the State
- Official letter from the Department of Justice and Equality confirming the specific ‘right and permission to remain’ or naturalisation of applicant and/or parent/dependent
- 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
Additional Information
In this section, you will be asked for any additional information that will allow us to determine your level of need. If you tick ‘yes’ to any of these questions you will be asked to provide additional documentation (with 2 exceptions detailed below). If none of these questions apply to you and you indicate ‘no’ to all of these questions, you will still be able to complete an application for a 1916 Bursary.
- If you were in the Care of the State/TUSLA (the Child and Family Agency). Please submit a letter from TUSLA or official associated agency confirming you are/were in the care of the state and the dates of care.
- If you are or were previously living in a Direct Provision Centre*, please submit a letter from the Department of Justice or a registered Direct Provision Centre confirming that you (the applicant) were residing in or is transitioning out of a Direct Provision Centre OR a full DSP statement for 2023 showing you (the applicant) was in receipt of the Daily Expenses Allowance.
- If you are or were previously homeless, please submit a letter from the Health Service Executive (HSE), Homeless Support Service/Agency to confirm that you are/were homeless.
*Please Note: Students who are currently living in direct provision are not eligible for support under the 1916 Bursary Fund; 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.
- If you self-declare that you are a survivor of Domestic Violence, you are not required to provide supporting documentation of this as part of the online application however you may be asked to provide further information later.
- If you have experience of the criminal justice system, specifically if you were convicted of a crime which resulted in having a criminal record, you are not required to provide supporting documentation of this as part of the online application however you may be asked to provide further information later.
Entry Route Information
What entry route did you use to access higher education?
- Direct Entry from Leaving Cert (or any Access or Foundation Course)
- Mature Student Entry Route
- Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI/FETAC)
- I am applying as a part-time student
- I am entering directly into year 2 of a programme, having not attended third level previously
- I am a student on a Tertiary Education Programme co-designed and delivered by Higher Education Institutions and Education and Training Boards
If you selected ‘yes’ to the ‘Direct entry from Leaving Certificate’ question you will be asked if you attended a DEIS (designated disadvantaged) second level school for five years. If you did, you will also be asked to select the county and the name of the DEIS school you attended. You will also be prompted to enter the years you attended the school and asked to submit a letter from the DEIS second level school(s) confirming your attendance.
If you select any of the other entry route information options you will automatically proceed to the final part of the application.
Terms and Conditions
The final stage of your application is to read each of the following statements carefully and declare that you agree to them. If you do not agree to all statements you will not be eligible to be considered under the 1916 Bursary 2024/2025.
• I understand that the information supplied in this application is accurate and complete.
• I understand that if I have misrepresented myself or given false declaration I will be ineligible for the 1916 Bursary.
• I understand that the 1916 Bursary application processor shall only process my data for the purpose for which I provide it to the extent necessary to process my application in line with the regulations attached to this Bursary.
• I agree that the financial details of my application and supporting documentation may be reviewed by independent personnel and understand they will be treated confidentially.
• I understand and consent to the sharing of personal data with an external geo coding company to assist with the assessment of this application.
• I understand that the 1916 Bursary application processor may contact the source(s) of my supporting documentation for verification / clarification purposes.
• I give permission to the 1916 Bursary application processor to use information already provided as part of my CAO / HEAR / DARE application to assist with the assessment of this application.
• I understand that some of my aggregate and anonymised data will be shared with the Higher Education Institutions for the purposes of operating a central application process
• I understand that my aggregate and anonymised data will be shared with the funding authority of the 1916 Bursary (Higher Education Authority) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science).
• The 1916 Bursary is subject to ongoing evaluation and research. I understand that only my aggregate and anonymised data will be used for research and evaluation purposes
• I agree to provide additional information as required. I understand if I refuse to supply requested additional information, I may be excluded from the bursary application process.
• I am aware of the appeals process and agree to abide by the decision of the appeals panel on any appeal I may submit.
• I am aware that I can view my personal data and I can withdraw my consent at any time. I am aware that withdrawing my consent will exclude me from the 1916 Bursary application process
• I understand that in line with European Social Fund (ESF) requirements, if my application is successful my data will be held for a 5-year period from the 31st of December of the year in which the last payment is made.
• I understand that Tier 1 and Tier 2 students are not permitted to hold a 1916 Bursary in conjunction with any other bursary, scholarship, or award, irrespective of value and that Tier 3 bursary holders may hold another bursary, scholarship, or award of not more than €1,500 in the same academic year.
• As a bursary applicant I consent to my HEI advising me of the institutional supports available to me to enhance the student experience in higher education and agree to engage as required with the Access Service of my HEI.
• If my application for a Bursary is successful I agree to comply with the requirements of the European Social Fund and the Bursary requirements provided for in the PATH 2 Guidelines: PATH-2-Guidelines-2024_25.pdf (hea.ie)
I confirm that I have read and accept all the terms and conditions outlined above.
- Yes I have read and accept the terms and conditions outlined above.
- No (if you select ‘no’ you will not be allowed to submit a 1916 Bursary application)
Following the submission of your application
Submitted applications will produce a pop-up message confirming submission. Applicants can also view the information in the portal under Application Section – Submitted.
Additional Questions and Contacts for Queries
- Check the Frequently Asked Questions webpage to see if your query is dealt with there
- There is also the 1916 Bursary Applicant Guidelines webpage – clearly explaining the application process step by step
- Please see the Application Explainer video for an overview of the entire application process
- There is clear guidance provided throughout the online application form.
- Each of the Participating Colleges have a contact email for applicants to follow up with before and during the application process
Additional Information
For more information, visit the following links: