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Frequently Asked Questions
1916 Bursary Frequently Asked Questions
The 1916 Bursary is a financial award to encourage the participation and success of students from sections of society that are significantly under-represented in higher education.
The 1916 Bursary is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Department of 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, Priority 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 1: €5,000 per annum. In 2023, Tier 1 Bursaries will be awarded to a total of 400 new entrant undergraduate students for the duration of their studies.
Tier 2: €2,000 per annum. In 2023, Tier 2 Bursaries were awarded to a total of 200 new entrant undergraduate students for the duration of their studies. 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 is to be determined based on existing underspends in the system from 2022/23 and the remaining balance after continuing (including postgraduate) bursaries have been allocated for 2023/24.
Tier 1 and 2 bursaries are also 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
Any students entering year 1 of an undergraduate programme, full or part time, with a household reckonable income of less than €26,200. Please note, this is equivalent to the SUSI Special Rate of grant which 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. Students who are entering directly to year 2 of a programme can also apply. Part-time students, students entering directly into year 2 of a programme, 2nd chance mature students and students on Tertiary Education Programmes co-designed and delivered by an Education and Training Board (ETB) and a Higher Education Institution, can also apply.
Financial + Priority Group + College Entry = Eligible for Consideration.
To see if you may be eligible to apply for a 1916 Bursary, please see the Criteria Quick Check.
Applicants must show that their household income meets the criteria for the SUSI Special Rate 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 of Maintenance 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.
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 Opportunities 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 2022 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 Payments | 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
Eligible 1916 Bursary applicants must be from one or more of the following priority groups:
- 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 socio-economically 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 three-year break in studies since leaving the course
-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 or teen parents (confirmed by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) as holding a long-term means-tested social welfare payment) – at least 20% of Tier 1 bursaries will be targeted at lone parents; and
- Students who are migrants, refugees or who are from ethnic minorities who are lawfully present in the State
This term usually means that you live in an area of urban or rural disadvantage where not many people from that area go on to third level education by tradition or for financial reasons. Your family income may mean that you may not be able to go to college without financial help. You may be from a socio-economic group that is under-represented in higher education. 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.
Applicants must:
- 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, including students on Tertiary Education Programmes co-designed and delivered by an Education and Training Board (ETB) and a Higher Education Institution.
The following colleges participate in the 1916 Bursary:
- Atlantic Technological University Donegal Campus
- Atlantic Technological University Galway Mayo Campus
- Atlantic Technological University Sligo Campus
- Dublin City University
- Dundalk Institute of Technology
- Institute of Art Design and Technology
- Marino Institute of Education
- Mary Immaculate College
- Maynooth University
- Munster Technological University (Cork Campus)
- Munster Technological University (Kerry Campus)
- National College of Art and Design
- RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- South East Technological University (SETU) Carlow Campus
- South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford Campus
- Technological University Dublin
- Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Midlands Campus
- Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Midwest Campus
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Cork
- University College Dublin
- University of Galway
- University of Limerick
- Applicants must apply online via the 1916 Bursary Application Portal
- Applicants are advised to read the Application Guidelines provided on this website before making an application
- The online application has 7 sections:
- Privacy Notice and Consent to Share Personal Data
- Financial Criteria
- College Entry Criteria
- Priority Group
- Additional Indicators
- ESF Data
- Terms and Conditions
- You can apply from a PC/laptop or mobile device.
- An application you have started can be re-opened anytime and edited up until submitted or until the closing date.
- Only one fully completed and submitted application per applicant will be assessed for a 1916 Bursary.
- Submitted applications will produce a pop-up message confirming application submission. Applicants can also view the information in the portal under Application Section – Submitted.
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
a 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)
- 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
- 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
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
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 permission to reside and who, in accordance with article 9 of Decision 1/80 of the Association Council made pursuant to the Ankara Agreement 1963, is residing with their parents, who are or have been legally employed within the State and can satisfy the conditions relation to employment laid down in Articles 6 & 7 of Decision 1/80.
For further clarification, see section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2023 – Statutory Instrument 93/2023 – Student Support Regulations 2023 (irishstatutebook.ie).
- Students who are not first-time entrants to higher education – with the exception of 2nd chance mature students, see criteria above.
- Students in 2nd, 3rd or 4th year cannot apply. This bursary is for students who are first time entrants to an undergraduate programme in September/October 2024 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 limits; currently equivalent to the SUSI Special Rate of grant which 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. - 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 from your college about extending your 1916 undergraduate bursary for your postgraduate study.
Reckonable income is income excluding any income disregards. Income disregards include your SUSI grant, any long term means tested Social Welfare Payment including Back to Education Allowance.
All relevant supporting documentation must be uploaded as part of your online application. It is advisable to get the documents you need first and only begin your online application once your documents are saved as digital files. Please note, you can only upload one digital file per question. If you have two or more documents to upload per question you need to create a single digital file first. These can be in the following formats: PDF, JPEG, or PNG to a maximum file size of 5mb.
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. After the application closes, 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 were deemed eligible for the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) then, with your consent, your disability information will be verified directly with the CAO and you are not required to submit supporting documentation regarding your disability. This also applies if you have ‘carried forward’ your DARE eligibility from 2023 provided you include your 2024 CAO number in your Bursary application.
- If you were not eligible through DARE, or did not apply to DARE you are required to provide appropriate documentary evidence from a relevant medical professional as per DARE or Fund for Disabilities guidelines.
- Please note: while there is no age limit on any documentation provided as evidence of disability for a 1916 Bursary application, it is advisable to submit the most recent document/s available.
An Ethnic Minority as determined by the Higher Education Authority for the purpose of this fund is defined within the 1916 PATH 2 2023-24 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
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 Jobseekers 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
If you self-declare that you are a member of the 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.
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.
You are not required to provide supporting documentation that you are a First Time Mature Student, this will be verified by your higher education institution.
You are not required to provide supporting documentation that you are a Second Chance Mature Student, this will be verified by your higher education institution who will confirm that you are you returning to higher education having:
- 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
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 and including an advanced certificate at level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications and also awards made by former awarding bodies such as FETAC and NCVA. Please note, an award at level 6 or higher issued by a Higher Education Institution 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: https://www.qqi.ie/what-we-do/qqi-awards/replacement-certificates-learner
You are not required to provide supporting documentation that you are living in a disadvantaged area as part of the online application. This will be verified by an external geo-coding company using your Eircode and address provided in the online application.
A letter from the second level school(s) confirming the dates and timeline that you attended the DEIS school.
A letter from TUSLA or official associated agency confirming the dates the applicant was in the care of State.
A letter from Department of Justice confirming that the applicant previously lived or is transitioning out of Direct Provision.
Or
A registered Direct Provision Centre confirming that the applicant previously lived or is transitioning out of Direct Provision. Or
Full DSP statement for 2023 showing applicant was in receipt of the Daily Expenses Allowance.
Supporting documentation confirmed by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) as holding a long-term means-tested carer’s allowance.
A letter from the Health Service Executive (HSE), TUSLA or registered Charity/Agency confirming the applicant is or was previously homeless
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 self-declare that you have either served time in prison and/or received a community-based Probation sanction which resulted in 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.
Please note: As the impact of a criminal record is felt for many years after an individual has completed their court ordered sanction, there is no time limit on how recent these convictions were.
In 2023/24 the number of 1916 Bursaries awarded nationally were:
- Tier 1 Bursaries: 400
- Tier 2 Bursaries: 200
- Tier 3 Bursaries: Provided as a once off award to eligible applicants not receiving a Tier 1 or 2 Bursary and based on existing underspends in the system from 2022/23 and the remaining balance after continuing (including postgraduate) bursaries have been allocated for 2023/24.
You will be paid by electronic transfer of funds directly to your bank account. Payment will generally be by instalment for Tier 1 bursaries but may be paid in one sum for Tier 2 and Tier 3 bursaries. If your application is successful, you will be notified as to which payment plan is relevant to you.
Unsuccessful applicants can appeal the outcome of their application if they believe an
administrative error was made in the assessment of their application. All appeals
will be considered by an Independent Appeals Panel. If notified via the portal and if you wish to submit an appeal, please log in to your 1916 Bursary account and submit an appeal under “Applications” section of your Portal. Please note appeals can only be made through the 1916 Bursary Portal and must be submitted by the date indicated in the application outcome letter.
Data sharing arrangements are in place with participating Higher Education Institutions, CAO and SUSI subject to data protection considerations. The data you provide in your application will be used solely for the purposes of assessing your eligibility for a 1916 Bursary and will not be used for any other purpose without your consent.
Tier 1 and Tier 2 recipients of a 1916 Bursary are not permitted to hold any other bursary, scholarship, or award, irrespective of value. However, Tier 3 bursary holders may hold another bursary, scholarship, or award of not more than €1,500 in the same academic year.
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 Travel 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.
No. The payment from the 1916 Bursary is not counted as income by SUSI. Where relevant, students are permitted to hold a 1916 Bursary in combination with a SUSI grant. A 1916 Bursary will be considered as income disregard for the purposes of reckonable income in relation to SUSI grants or means-tested social welfare payments.
No. The 1916 Bursary does not affect your means tested or other payments from Social Welfare. Students on Back to Education Allowance or other DSP social welfare payments can hold a 1916 Bursary without it having any impact on their Back to Education Allowance entitlement or other social welfare payment.
Yes. The 1916 Bursary will not be counted as income when you are being assessed for any means tested payments.
Yes. Bursary holders who continue to experience financial distress are permitted to apply for the Student Assistance Fund and/or be covered for supports under the Fund for Students with Disabilities. It is important to apply as soon as you can. Some colleges have a closing date for applications and you should check when this is.
https://hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/student-assistance-fund/
Yes. Where relevant, a bursary recipient is permitted to avail of any additional financial supports available to them where they are benefitting from the opportunity to study abroad as part of their course, e.g., Erasmus+.
1916 Bursary recipients are expected to:
- 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.
- comply with ESF+ requirements, in the event that ESF+ funding is utilised, by providing non-financial indicators for PATH 2 ESF+ Funding Period 2023-2027 – details available in the PATH 2 Guidelines 2023/24
In the case of Tier 1 and 2 bursaries, bursary holders are permitted to defer their bursaries at undergraduate level for a maximum of one academic year with the prior written approval of their HEI. Deferral may occur before the student commences their studies or during their studies.
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.
No. The 1916 Bursary is only open to Undergraduate Students who are first time entrants. However, please note if you are a previous or current holder of the 1916 Bursary you can apply to continue your Bursary for postgraduate studies.
No. The 1916 Bursary is only open to Undergraduate Students who are first time entrants.
No. The 1916 Bursary is only open to Undergraduate Students who are first time entrants.
Yes. Full details on making an appeal will be provided to all applicants who are initially unsuccessful in their applications.
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. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application and 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 Independent Appeals Panel is final.
The 1916 Bursary cannot be paid for a repeat year unless the institution agrees that there were “exceptional circumstances” i.e., medical or personal reasons why you could not complete the year. You would be expected to provide written evidence of your illness or personal situation from a professional outside your family group. You would also be expected to work with the Access or relevant student support service in your college during your difficulty and at a minimum have advised someone in your college that you have an issue ongoing.
Yes, students in any participating colleges can apply for the Student Assistance Fund. If you are in financial difficulty, you should contact the access or student services office in your college for more information on how to apply for the Student Assistance Fund. It is important to apply as soon as you can. Some colleges have a closing date for applications and you should check when this is.
https://hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/student-assistance-fund/
Further information on other financial supports, including scholarships is available from the website or access office of the institution in which you are attending.
Your application will be assessed based on the information provided in the online application including any documents you may need to provide. Each participating college has a limited number of bursaries which are awarded to the eligible applicants that present the greatest need.
Applicants must meet the college entry, financial and priority 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 refer to the HEA Guidelines 2023/24 published here:
1916 Bursary Fund | Funding, Governance and Performance | Higher Education Authority (hea.ie)
- Check the Frequently Asked Questions webpage to see if your query is dealt with there
- There is also the 1916 Bursary Applicant Guidelines – 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 Participating College has a contact email for applicants to follow up with before and during the application process
Additional Information
For more information, please visit the following links:
Are you ready to apply for the bursary?
What is the 1916 Bursary?
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Can I apply?
To be eligible for a 1916 Bursary, all applicants must meet, Financial, Target Group and College Entry eligibility criteria.