Supporting Documentation
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. These can be in the following formats: JPEG, PDF or PNG and to a file size maximum of 5mb.
Please note:
- 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. 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. 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. There are a number of ways to create a scanned electronic copy of your document/s:
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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.
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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 use the print facility to remotely print confidential documents.
Documents to Support Your Financial Eligibility
SUSI Special Rate
For the 2026/27 academic year, applicants must:- Meet the applicable SUSI Special Rate income threshold:
- Reckonable income must be under €28,600 (fewer than 4 dependent children)
- Reckonable income must be under €31,350 (4 to 7 dependent children)
- Reckonable income must be under €33,980 (8 or more dependent children)
- Be in receipt of an eligible long-term Department of Social Protection payment.
Evidence of Financial Eligibility
You can demonstrate your financial eligibility in one of two ways:Option 1: SUSI Data Matching
If you have been awarded a SUSI Grant, you may consent to SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) confirming directly with the 1916 Bursary Team whether you meet the SUSI Special Rate criteria. This includes applicants who have been awarded the SUSI Special Rate of Maintenance Grant, as well as applicants who are awarded fees only but whose SUSI assessment confirms that they meet the Special Rate criteria. To do this, you will need to provide:- Your SUSI reference number (beginning with “W”), or your PPS Number if you do not have your SUSI reference number available.
- Your consent to share relevant information with SUSI.
Option 2: Documentary Evidence
If you have not been awarded a SUSI Grant you must provide documentary evidence to demonstrate that you meet the SUSI Special Rate criteria for the 2025 reference year. You are required to submit evidence of your own income and the income of all relevant household members for the 2025 reference year, including income from parents/guardians, a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant (where applicable). You must also provide evidence that either you or a relevant household member was in receipt of an eligible long-term Department of Social Protection (DSP) payment during the 2025 reference year, in accordance with the SUSI Special Rate criteria. Please note that more than one document may be required. The number and type of documents required will depend on your income sources, household circumstances and the evidence required to confirm eligibility under the Student Grant Scheme Special Rate criteria. All income sources and eligible social welfare payments being considered as part of the assessment must be supported by the appropriate documentary evidence. The documents required are determined by:- Your applicant type (dependent student, mature dependent student or independent mature student);
- The number of dependent children in the household;
- The number of other relevant persons in further or higher education; and
- The source(s) of household income.
Uploading Documents
For any paper documents, you will need to create electronic copies to upload with your application. Please note that only one file can be uploaded per question within the online application form. Where multiple documents are required for a single question, you must combine them into one electronic file before uploading.| Applicant Type | Description | Income to be Assessed |
| Dependent | Under 23 on 1st January 2026 |
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| Mature dependent students | Over 23 on 1st January 2026 and residing with your parent(s)/ legal guardian(s) |
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| Independent mature student | Over 23 on 1st January year of entry and residing independently from October 2025 |
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| Income Source | Documentation Required | Additional Information |
| PAYE Income | Statement of Liability (formerly called End of year statement – P21) for the year ended 31 December 2025 | A Statement of Liability (formerly called End of year statement – P21) for 2025 can be requested from the relevant person(s) revenue account at www.revenue.ie A Statement 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 2025 | You can request a DSP statement for 2025 through mywelfare.ie or from your local community welfare office/Intreo Office |
| Self-Employed and Farmers | A copy of Revenue’s Indicative Calculation on which you based your self-assessment for the year ended 31 December 2025. | You can request a copy of Revenue’s Indicative Calculation on which you based your self-assessment for 2025 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 the year ended 31 December 2025 | The letter must be on headed paper, signed and dated by an official in the ETB or PLC you attended in 2025 |
| TUS/CE/RSS Schemes | Statement of Liability (formerly called End of year statement – P21) for the year ended 31 December 2025 and the Income from Designated Programmes form. | A Statement of Liability for 2025 can be requested from the relevant person(s) revenue account at www.revenue.ie A Statement of Liability/End of year statement is a 2-sided document, please include a pdf copy of both the front and back page. Please download the Income from Designated Programmes form here. Please return a stamped and completed form. Upload this form and your Statement of Liability to the Application. |
| Non-Irish Income/Welfare Payments | Relevant foreign income or welfare payment documentation for all income received in 2025. | Foreign documentation provided as part of your application will be verified during the assessment process. |
Supporting documents for Priority Groups
| Applicant | Supporting Documentation |
|---|---|
| Applicants with a disability | 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 2025 provided you include your 2026 CAO number in your Bursary application. If you were not eligible through DARE or did not apply to DARE, then you are required to submit supporting documentation from a relevant professional as per the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) FSD-Guidelines-2026-27.pdf . 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. |
| 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/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 |
| 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 2025 – Evidence of being in receipt of a long-term DSP One Parent – Letter from DSP stating that the applicant is currently or was – (in the case of a teen parent only) Evidence of being in receipt of |
| Irish Traveller | If you self-declare that you are a member of the Traveller Community, you are not required to provide supporting documentation as part of the online application; however you may be asked to provide further information later. |
| Roma Applicants | 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. |
| First Time Mature Student Applicants | 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. |
| Second Chance Mature Student Applicants | 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:
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| QQI or Further 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 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 |
| Applicants Living in a socio-economically disadvantaged community | 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. |
Additional Circumstances
Applicants can also provide details of additional information that will make it easier 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.
| Applicant | Supporting Documentation |
|---|---|
| Is or was in the care of the State / TUSLA | Letter from TUSLA or official associated agency confirming the dates the applicant was in the care of State. |
| Applicant who is/was previously Homeless | Letter from the Health Service Executive (HSE), Homeless Support Service/Agency confirming the applicant is or was previously homeless. |
| Applicant was living in or is transitioning out of Direct Provision* |
OR
OR
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| Applicant with experience with criminal justice system or with 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. |
| Applicant who is 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. |
| Applicants who attended DEIS second level school(s) for 5 years | Letter from second level school(s) confirming the dates and timeline that the applicant attended the DEIS school. |
*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.
Additional Information
For more information, visit the following links:
Are you ready to apply for the bursary?
What is the 1916 Bursary?
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.
Can I apply?
To be eligible for a 1916 Bursary, all applicants must meet, Financial, Priority Group and College Entry eligibility criteria.
What is the 1916 Bursary?
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.
Can I apply?
To be eligible for a 1916 Bursary, all applicants must meet, Financial, Priority Group and College Entry eligibility criteria.