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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.

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: The opening and closing dates will be confirmed soon for 2024/25. 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. 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.  There are a number of ways to create a scanned electronic copy of your document/s:

Supporting documents for Income

Income Supporting Document Additional Information
Department Social Protection (DSP) payment Full DSP statement of payments for 2023 You can request a DSP statement for 2023 through mywelfare.ie or from your local community welfare office/Intreo Office
Self-employed income Notice of Assessment / Self-Assessment Letter for the year 2023 You can request a Notice of Assessment / Self-Assessment for 2023 from the relevant person’s account at www.revenue.ie
Income from Employment (PAYE) Statement of Liability 2023. Note: An end of year employment summary pdf is not a statement of liability. . 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.ieA Status of Liability/End of year statement is a 2-sided document, please include a pdf copy of both the front and back page.
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) Letter from an Educational Training Board (ETB) or Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) College where you attended confirming the total amount earned in 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.ieA Status of Liability/End of year statement is a 2-sided document, please include a pdf copy of both the front and back page.
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
Non-Irish Income/Welfare Payments Official Documentation from the country to show the total income received for year ending 31 December 2023

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 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, then you are required to submit supporting documentation from a relevant professional as per the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) https://hea.ie/assets/uploads/2018/06/FSD-Guidelines_2023-24-_Final-Version.pdf See Part D. 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 ParentYou 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
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 ApplicantsIf 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:
  • 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
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 / TUSLALetter from TUSLA or official associated agency confirming the dates the applicant was in the care of State.
Applicant who is/was previously HomelessLetter 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*
  • 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.
Applicant with experience with criminal justice system or with a criminal recordYou 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 violenceYou 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.