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.

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

To be eligible for a 1916 Bursary, all applicants must meet, Financial, 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.

Any students entering year 1 of an (undergraduate) programme in the academic year (2024/25), full or part-time, with a household reckonable income in line with the SUSI special rate of maintenance grant in 2023, who are in the identified priority groups, can apply for the bursary. Students who are entering directly to year 2 of a programme can also apply.

More information on income thresholds:

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.

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

Applicants must be:

• A new entrant pursuing an undergraduate course for the first time in the 2024-2025 academic year.
• Eligible for the Special Rate of SUSI grant  and/or
• In receipt of a Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection means-tested payment
• 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 in one of the HEIs from the Leinster Pillar I cluster.

And be from one of the under-represented groups at higher education, including:

• 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

There is one central application process for Higher Education Institutes (IADT, NCAD, MIE, TCD, RCSI and UCD).

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

-Click here to see the Applicants Guide.

 Where do I send my supporting documentation?

There is a central online application process for the five institutions. All supporting documentation must be sent via the online application the by 10th October 2024, 5pm. Incomplete or late documentation will not be accepted and will render applications ineligible.

Contact access@iadt.ie if you need support or guidance with your application as soon as possible.

Would you like to appeal the outcome decision?

The Leinster Pillar I cluster is committed to ensuring all applications are assessed fairly, accurately and according to the published guidelines.

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. 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.

“The 1916 Bursary gave me confidence, and without the extra economic support life in my house would have been absolutely miserable for my family. I would not have been able to afford shoes for myself and would have to go without home heating. I would have felt guilty about investing my time and money in education.

Instead each year I could look forward to Christmas and not feel guilty about spending money ahead of shortages in the new year. I was always able to pay my bills on time which would not have happened without the 1916 Bursary.

 

I am pretty sure I would have at least had to take a gap year during the undergraduate if not dropped out. The pressure I put myself under would have been too much if I had not had the economic cushion of the Bursary. In first year I used some of the money to take some private grinds and I supported my daughter through her studies with extra help and therefore the Bursary helped two people reach their education goals.

 

I was extremely happy to find out that the 1916 Bursary would continue for me if I continued to a postgraduate course. I hope to understake a PhD in September and I hope I can continue to rely on the 1916 Bursary. Thank you so much for all the support.”

 

Aisling, UCD

“Having been awarded the Bursary, I was able to achieve a variety of things which would have been difficult without it. Firstly, having known that I will have income which will be able to pay for my transport, any material fees and materials needed for my school placement e.g., resources and posters, meant I can devote my time to study and my college work rather than having the stress of managing my school, personal and work life. With me being able to pay for my own expenses, it reduces the pressure from my parent in terms of putting money aside for the coming school years along with this one.

Having the Bursary which I could use to pay any fees anytime was very handy. Without that, my mind would be on trying to save up money for the coming years in college along with trying to manage a part time job and full-time course. It’s not to say it isn’t possible, but I know myself, it would have had a negative impact on me. The application was extremely clear and was promoted by my secondary school along with college.”

Karina, Marino Institute of Education

“As a parent of two young children, finances are a major cause of concern, the bursary has relieved some of the anxiety and stress our financial situation can cause. Being a full-time student does not leave much time to work to provide an income for my family, the bursary has helped support our family while I study. Furthermore, it has allowed us to send my daughters to creche and after school care which is crucial for me to be able to undertake my studies.

Without the bursary, it would have been near impossible to attend college, as I would have had to stay home minding my children full-time. Having been diagnosed with MS I cannot work with the trade that I had from my past career, almost forcing me to change careers. My studies are a part of this change of career which makes it crucial for me to have the bursary to help support my family while I concentrate on my full-time studies.

I am grateful for the support the bursary has provided me, and would love to help promote how the bursary has had an important impact on my life giving me room to undertake my dream studies while not having to constantly worry about the financial sustainability of me being a full-time student. Future students must know that there are these opportunities giving them the necessary confidence to undertake studies even if finances are of concern.”

Jonas, UCD

“On receiving the news that I had been awarded the bursary I felt very proud that I had been recognised to be someone who deserved a chance to continue my education against all odds. As a mature student with an illness and a separated parent living alone with my children, the main stress in life for me is financial. The bursary took away a lot of this stress, and in doing so, my health did not deteriorate over the academic year.

 

The bursary has enabled me to focus on my studies rather than focusing on my financial struggle. My socio-economic status does not define me anymore with regards to education. It would have been quite difficult for me to achieve higher education without the assistance of the bursary.

 

In my degree I am analysing plays and performances, and this means that I must attend as many performances as I can to analyse and learn from what I am experiencing before me onstage. The bursary meant that I could afford to buy tickets for the Dublin Theatre Festival and other performances throughout the year. It is very costly to attend productions on a regular basis and the bursary enabled me to focus fully on my college work and not have to worry about these costs eating into my low weekly income. I have also been able to purchase academic books and materials.

 

The application is not difficult at all. There are some questions about your personal situation and some financial questions. The best advice I can give is to write honestly, this is the place to show who you are. Be proud of the resilience you possess and your determination to get an education that you deserve. There is nothing to be worried about when applying.

 

I am so very proud to be a 1916 bursary scholar. This has really helped me believe in my abilities. I feel that I have another chance at life at 48 years young. I have begun a new chapter in my life story, and it is going to be a page turner!”

Sinéad, Trinity College Dublin