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 five-year break in studies since leaving the course, and
– are returning to attend an approved course.
• 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) Target Group Criteria:
Applicants must be from one or more of the following target 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.

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:

a) giving your consent to allow SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) confirm that you were awarded the Special Rate of  Maintenance Grant under the SUSI Grant Scheme. If you wish to allow SUSI to confirm your eligibility, you will need to provide your SUSI reference number on the online application.  This reference number begins with a ‘W’ and is provided to you be SUSI when you start your SUSI application. If you do not have a ‘W’ reference number you can provide your PPS Number.

OR

b) If you have not applied to SUSI or have not received the outcome of your SUSI application, you must provide evidence of your 2021 household income. Please note you must provide evidence of all household income, the relevant document per income source is listed below. Please ensure you upload clear copies of all pages of the required documentation. 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. It is the responsibility of the applicant to upload all the correct required documentation to the online application by 17: 00 20 October 2022.

It is expected that the number of applications will exceed the number of bursaries available. The SOAR Project will prioritise those deemed in greatest need; who are socio-economically disadvantaged and can provide evidence of membership of the target group(s); the institutions will give due regard to ensuring that the benefit of the bursaries is maximised.
In accordance with the guidelines 20% of all Tier 1 bursaries must be awarded to lone parents.

An appeal can be made by unsuccessful applicants via an online appeals form only. The link to the online appeal form will be communicated to all unsuccessful applicants in the application outcome email. 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.

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 2022-2023 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 2022-2023 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 entrants.

When will I be told the outcome of my application?
It expected that applicants will be informed of the outcome within six weeks of the online 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 unsuccessful applicants via an online appeals form only. The link to the online appeal form will be communicated to all unsuccessful applicants in the application outcome email. 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 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. The payment of the bursary will be managed by the Access Service in your college.

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.

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.