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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 2024/25 academic year only.

 

The application portal for the 2024/25 academic year is now open at the following link: 

http://www.1916bursaryportal.ie/

 

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA & APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applicants must meet financial, college entry and priority group criteria in order to be deemed eligible for consideration for a bursary. A) Financial Criteria: · Applicants must demonstrate that they would qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant under the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant Scheme and/or · are in receipt of a Department of Social Protection (DSP) long-term means-tested social welfare payment. AND B) College Entry Criteria: · Applicants must be first-time new entrants to higher education for undergraduate study or be a second-chance socio-economically disadvantaged mature students 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 and – were over 23 years or older on 01 January 2024. · Applicants must have been resident in the State (Republic of Ireland) for three of the past five years on the date on which their first year of study commences. · Applicants must be pursuing an approved full-time or approved part-time undergraduate course in one of the approved institutions in the regional clusters of HEIs. AND C) Priority Group Criteria: 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; · 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); · 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; · Students who are migrants, refugees or who are from ethnic minorities who are lawfully present in the State.

Students who are not first time entrants to higher education in the 2024-2025 academic year; with the exception of 2nd chance mature students. · 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 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. · 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.

Further Information

How many Bursaries will be awarded in the South Cluster in 2024-2025? Tier 1 Bursaries: 94, Tier 2 Bursaries: 47, Tier 3 Bursaries: To Be Confirmed I am a Postgraduate Student and was not awarded the 1916 Bursary Fund previously, can I apply for it now? No. The 1916 Bursary Fund is only open to first time, new entrants pursuing an undergraduate course and progressing to higher education for the first time in the 2024-2025 academic year. I am already in college. Can I apply for the 1916 Bursary Fund? No. The 1916 Bursary Fund is only open to first time, new entrants pursuing an undergraduate course and progressing to higher education for the first time in the 2024-2025 academic year. I am a part-time student. Can I apply for the 1916 Bursary Fund? Yes, but only if you are pursuing an approved part time undergraduate course leading to a major higher education and training award at Level 6 (Higher Certificate), Level 7 (Ordinary Bachelor Degree), Level 8 (Honours Bachelor Degree) on the national framework of qualifications or equivalent awards that take not less than two years to complete in one of the SOAR Project South Cluster Higher Education Institutions. I am repeating first year. Can I apply? No. The 1916 Bursary is only open to Undergraduate Students who are first time new entrants. When will I be told the outcome of my application? It expected that applicants will be informed of the outcome  eight weeks after the application closing date. If my application is unsuccessful, can I make an appeal? Yes. The South Cluster SOAR Project is committed to ensuring that all applications are assessed fairly, accurately and according to the PATH 2 1916 Bursary Fund guidelines. All appeals will be considered by an Independent Appeals Panel. The grounds for appeal are: That you believe there was an “administrative error in assessment” i.e. that you think a mistake was made when your application was being reviewed that led to you not being awarded the Bursary. How do I make an appeal? An appeal can be made by via an online appeals portal only. The information submitted and the supporting documentation uploaded to the online application will be used in the consideration of the appeal. No additional information or supporting documentation can be submitted with the appeal. The decision of the Independent Appeals Panel is final. The outcome of the appeal will be communicated to all appellants within one week of the appeals closing date. Will the 1916 Bursary Fund affect my SUSI Grant? 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 the SUSI grant. The 1916 Bursary will be considered as an income disregard for the purposes of ‘reckonable income’ in the student grant scheme. Will the Bursary affect my Social Welfare payment? No – the 1916 Bursary Fund does not affect your means-tested or other payments from the Department of Social Protection. Can I keep my Rent Allowance and Medical Card with the 1916 Bursary Fund? The Bursary should not be counted as income when you are being assessed for any means-tested payments. Can I hold the 1916 Bursary Fund if I have been awarded other Scholarships? 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. I wish to study abroad as part of my programme, can I avail of additional financial support to facilitate this if I have been awarded the 1916 Bursary Fund? 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+. Can I avail of the supports of the Fund for Students with Disabilities if I have been awarded the 1916 Bursary Fund? Yes. The ESF Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) provides funding directly to higher and further education institutions to provide supports and services to ensure that eligible learners with disabilities can participate on an equal basis with their peers (www.studentfinance.ie). Individual HEI’s make applications to the fund on behalf of eligible students following an assessment of needs. Students cannot make applications directly to the fund. Can I participate in the Tusla NTRIS Employment Support Scheme for Traveller and Roma Communities if I have been awarded the 1916 Bursary Fund? Yes. Can I avail of financial supports through Dormant Accounts Funding/ PATH 5 that supports members of the Irish Traveller and Roma community in higher education if I have been awarded the 1916 Bursary Fund? Yes. Are there any other financial supports available in college? Yes. Each Higher Education Institution has a Student Assistance Fund to support qualifying students experiencing financial hardship. Please contact the Access Service of the college to find out more about the Student Assistance Fund and other financial supports that may be available. If I am awarded the 1916 Bursary Fund, how will I be paid? You will be paid by electronic payment to your bank account. What is expected of me if I am awarded a 1916 Bursary Fund? 1916 Bursary Fund Recipients are expected to: – adhere to the rules and regulations of your institution – agree to any assessment set out by your institution for your course – engage and co-operate with the department managing the 1916 Bursary Fund in your institution – awardees may be asked to attend or be part of events organised by the institution to increase awareness of the 1916 Bursary Fund – Tier 1 and Tier 2 awardees will be required to provide additional information to satisfy European Social Fund requirements. If I am awarded the 1916 Bursary Fund, can I repeat a year of study? The 1916 Bursary Fund 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 student supports within your institution during your difficulty and at a minimum have advised someone in your college that you have an issue ongoing. Data Sharing Data sharing arrangements are in place with participating South Cluster Higher Education Institutions, CAO and SUSI subject to data protection considerations.

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? 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. What is the value of the Bursary? 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. I wish to pursue a postgraduate programme in the same college where I completed my undergraduate programme, what will I do? You must formally notify the Access Service of your intention to progress to postgraduate study. 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: 2024 2025 South Cluster 1916 Bursary 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? If you are changing institution for postgraduate study you must complete the application at the following link: 2024 2025 South Cluster 1916 Bursary 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 priority group information. I have just completed my undergraduate study, but wish to defer postgraduate study, can I defer my bursary? 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 2024/2025 are available at https://hea.ie/assets/uploads/2018/01/PATH-2-Guidelines-2024_25.pdf

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