1916 Bursary
The 1916 Bursary aims to encourage participation and success by students who are most socio-economically disadvantaged and from groups most under-represented in higher education. It is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). To be eligible for a 1916 Bursary, all applicants must meet, Financial, Priority Group and College Entry eligibility criteria. Bursaries are awarded through regional clusters of higher education institutions. Each cluster has a limited number of bursaries which are awarded to the eligible applicants that present the greatest need.
The SOAR Project administers the 1916 Bursary on behalf of Munster Technological University, South East Technological University and University College Cork.
The Bursary
There are three different types of bursaries – Tier 1, 2 and 3.
Tier 1: Awardees will receive €5,000 per year for the normal duration of a full-time undergraduate programme and up to a maximum of six years for a part-time programme.
Tier 2: Awardees will receive €2,000 per year for the normal duration of a full-time undergraduate programme and up to a maximum of six years for a part-time programme.
Tier 1 and 2 bursaries will also be paid if students progress to postgraduate study.
Tier 3 Bursaries: Awardees will receive a once-off bursary of €1,500 for the 2023/24 academic year only.
Applications for the 2023/24 academic year are now closed.
Further Information
A 1916 Bursary awardee who has successfully completed their undergraduate programme and wishes to progress to an approved postgraduate programme can apply to have their bursary renewed for postgraduate study. What is an approved postgraduate programme? What is the value of the Bursary? I wish to pursue a postgraduate programme in the same college where I completed my undergraduate programme, what will I do? I am pursuing a postgraduate programme in a different college to my undergraduate programme but it is a South Cluster college (Munster Technological University, South East Technological University, UCC) what will I do? If you are changing institution for postgraduate study you must complete the application at the following link: South Cluster 1916 Bursary Postgraduate Progression Transfer Form To supplement the bursary transfer application you will need a letter from the Access Service of the college where you completed you undergraduate confirming that you are a 1916 Bursary Awardee, year of award and target group information. I was awarded the 1916 Bursary at a college outside of the South Cluster; I am now pursuing a postgraduate programme in a South Cluster college, what should I do? South Cluster 1916 Bursary Postgraduate Progression Transfer Form You will have to provide an official letter from the Access Service of your undergraduate college that confirms you are a 1916 Bursary Awardee, year of award and target group information. I have just completed my undergraduate study, but wish to defer postgraduate study, can I defer my bursary?
A full-time or part-time postgraduate programme leading to a major higher education and training award at Level 8 (Higher Diploma), Level 9 (Postgraduate Diploma), Level 9 (Masters) or Level 10 (Doctorate) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or equivalent award that:
• takes not less than one year to complete, and
• on the successful completion of which a student is awarded a major higher
education and training award, leading to an award of Level 8 (Higher Diploma) or above on the NFQ, which is a recognised qualification pursuant to the NFQ, and
• is provided by a higher education institution approved for the PATH 2 1916 Bursary Fund.
The 1916 Bursary is subject to an overall cap of four years for postgraduate studies.
The postgraduate bursary will be in the amount of €5,000 per annum for both full-time and part-time students that were awarded a Tier 1 (€5,000 per annum) bursary at undergraduate level.
You must formally notify the Access Service of your intention to progress to postgraduate study.
If you are changing institution for postgraduate study you must complete the application at the following link:
You may defer postgraduate study for a maximum of one academic year only with the prior written approval of your HEI. You may defer before you commence or during the programme. If you have not yet applied for a postgraduate programme you may also defer the bursary for a maximum of one year.
Go to https://1916bursary.ie/ for further information and check out Applicant Guidelines – The 1916 Bursary 1916 Bursary Applicant Explainer Video Please email 1916BursaryQueries@soarforaccess.ie if you have any questions regarding the 1916 Bursary Fund in the South Cluster. The PATH 2 1916 Bursary Implementation Guidelines 2022/2023 are available at 1916 Guidelines 2023/24