Financial Supports for Disabled Students
Trinity students may be eligible for a range of financial supports to help with tuition fees, accommodation, living costs, and disability-related expenses. These supports come from national schemes, Trinity College Dublin, and external organisations.
This overview highlights the main options and directs you to further information.
If you need support applying for any of these schemes, please contact your Disability Officer at askds@tcd.ie
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SUSI is Ireland’s national student grant authority and provides financial support to eligible students on approved full-time further and higher education courses in Ireland and, in some cases, abroad. Supports may include tuition fees, a maintenance grant, or both.
SUSI also provides access supports for students with disabilities, including a dedicated Access Officer and Irish Sign Language interpreting services.
Find out more on the detailed page or visit www.susi.ie.
A range of bursaries are available to support students who may face financial barriers to participation in higher education. These include:
- The Disabled Student Accommodation Bursary for eligible students in Trinity accommodation
- The 1916 Bursary for students from under-represented groups, including disabled students
- External bursaries such as NCBI, St Vincent de Paul, and TUSLA supports
- The Credit Union offers scholarships and bursaries. You can also apply for a student loan with the Credit Union.
Some students may be eligible for income supports from the Department of Social Protection, including:
- Disability Allowance
- Back to Education Allowance
- Associated supports such as Free Travel
These payments can be compatible with study, subject to eligibility and conditions. See Citizens Information for more details.
If you experience short-term or ongoing financial difficulty during your studies, you may be able to apply for:
- The Student Assistance Fund (SAF)
- Students’ Union supports, including
Disabled students registered with the Disability Service may be eligible for additional supports funded through the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD). These supports are identified through the Needs Assessment process and may include assistive technology, specialist supports, or transport assistance.
Students do not apply directly for FSD; funding is administered through the Disability Service.
More information is available on the detailed page.
Financial Supports for Students
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Name of Support |
What it is for/does |
How to qualify |
How much |
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A weekly benefit for people with a disability
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Means tested and must demonstrate disability need, must be able to demonstrate residency and intention to remain in Ireland (habitual residence condition) |
€254/week |
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Medical card: covers GP visits, qualifying medication (with a dispensing fee of €1.50 per item up to max of €15/month) and some other services (medical devices) |
Means tested, for 16-25 year olds, parents must qualify in order to qualify themselves, must be ordinarily resident in Ireland
Some Ukrainians entitled under Temporary Protection
People seeking International Protection, children of parents who receive DCA
Children in Foster Care (and therefore some care experienced young people)
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Covers GP visits, public out-patient and in-patient services, eye and ear tests, dental checks, routine blood tests, qualifying medication and some other services (medical devices), |
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Covers the fee for visiting your GP |
Must register with GP practice that will accept GP visit card and must see this practice for the visit to be free (ie: cannot go to a different practice), means tested and habitual residence test applies |
GP visits (including out of hours) only |
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Caps monthly prescription charges (of qualifying medications) at €80/household, free Hormone Replacement Therapy |
Anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland |
Caps qualifying medications at €80 |
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Provides financial assistance towards private rentals |
Any household that qualifies for social housing, qualifies for HAP.
Household net income must be below €40k/year
Cannot be used towards Trinity accommodation and most specialist Student Accommodation blocks
Can be used for digs if landlord will sign 2 year contract and agree to receive HAP
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For a single adult with no children in Dublin
Standard HAP: €660/month
Homeless HAP: €1250 |
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You must first apply for social housing before you can avail of HAP. If you are accepted onto the social housing scheme, you can then use HAP to pay for your private accommodation, provided your landlord accepts HAP payments. These are made directly to the landlord by the local authority. You will need to make a rent contribution to the local authority and you may have to supplement your landlord if your HAP does not cover all of your rent.
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A short-term, means tested payment that helps people in private rented accommodation who can't afford their rent |
Means tested, ordinary resident in Ireland, have lived in private rented accommodation for 183 days of the previous 12 months and have had a change in circumstances
Additional eligibility: victims of DV referred by Tusla/Gardaí/HSE, some under temporary protection from Ukraine |
The minimum weekly contribution for a single person is €30 |
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A payment to help people whose income is insufficient to meet their basic needs, may only be temporary |
Means tested, can be provided while waiting for the outcome of another social welfare claim (such as disability allowance), EU migrant workers with right to reside in Ireland may access SWA with habitual residence assessment |
€252/week for adults 25+
€163.70 for adults 18-24 |
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A payment to help with essential expense that you cannot pay from weekly income or other sources |
You may get an Additional Needs Payment if you are on a social welfare payment OR working and on a low income |
Only covers payments that are deemed essential |
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Various payments for people without an income |
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SUSI - Student Universal Support Ireland |
Grant for further and higher education in approved courses at PLC, UG and PG levels |
Means tested, must be progressing with your degree and not repeating a year unless there are exceptional circumstances
Must be Irish, EU, EEA, UK or Swiss National or have leave to remain in Ireland and have been resident in Ireland, the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland for 3 of the last 5 years.
PG and PhD students are also eligible to apply for SUSI |
Depending on eligibility, may include Maintenance Grant, Student Contribution and/or Postgraduate Fees |
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SUSI has an access officer who can provide assistance and guidance to disabled persons making an application and can act as a direct point of contact: access.officer@susi.ie
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Financial support to student facing short-term or ongoing financial difficulties, helping them remain enrolled and continue their education |
Student who are off books are not generally eligible
Non-EU students are generally not eligible
Does not cover tuition, registration fees or student loan repayments
Can only apply once per year |
Usually caps at €1000
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Student Hardship Fund |
Financial assistance for students in exceptional circumstances who meet eligibility criteria |
Usually students who came through TAP foundation course, HEAR or mature students pathway, from marginalised groups who would ordinarily not be able to access higher education |
Apply by emailing:
Students can apply more than once during the year |
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Financial Support for care experienced young people pursuing further education and training |
If you have had care experience of at least 6 months before 18th birthday,
Are not eligible for SUSI
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Up to €5000 |
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Funding for accommodation for students from Traveller and Roma backgrounds and those with experience of the care system to live independently while attending 3rd level education |
Must be from Traveller or Roma community or have care experience between ages of 12-18 but don't qualify for aftercare allowance
Are not already in receipt of HAP, Rent Supplement or other housing assistance |
Apply through Trinity Access Programme |
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Financial aware to encourage participation of sections of society under-represented in higher education |
Any student entering Y1 of an UG programme with household income less than €27,400 (equivalent to SUSI special rate)
Students directly entering Y2 of a programme and 2nd chance mature students can also apply |
Anywhere from once off payment of €1500 to €5000 per annum |
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To support students who financially struggle to access or stay in third level education and training programmes |
Does not cover PG studies
For UG students only to support with costs towards course fees, books, materials, etc |
€1000-€3000 |
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SVDP financial assistance |
To support anyone at risk of being unable to support their own basic needs, access opportunities and live with dignity |
Students must refer themselves directly through: Request help | St. Vincent de Paul - Ireland | SVP |
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Higher Education Scholarships to Adult Learners |
Older students aged 23 and over, looking to earn a Bachelor's Degree for the first time |
Between €5000 and €7000 per annum for duration of the degree |
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Financial assistance for registered PG students to help with living expenses |
Must supply financial documents
May qualify for waiver/refund of Student Levies and Charges (SLC) |
Apply through Postgraduate Advisory Service |
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Irish students who have a Credit Union account may apply |
If not already a member, you can join your local credit union and apply |
Maximum interest rate a credit union can charge is 12% |
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Any US Student who would like to receive financial aid (grants, scholarships, and loans) |
US citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security Number. US Loans: Federal Aid and Private Loans - Academic Registry - Trinity College Dublin
Students can increase or decrease their loan during the academic year by contacting Academic Registry FAO Federal Aid Officer |
Up to USD 22,895 dependent students and USD 27,895 independent students |
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Chaplain's Tuesday lunch |
Free lunch service on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 2:00pm during term time |
Anyone is welcome |
Soup and sandwich, and a chat with the chaplain |
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T-Fund, Transgender Affirming Product Fund
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Student Union initiative aimed at supporting transgender students with financial assistance for essential transition resources |
Contact welfare@tcdsu.org
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Managed by Welfare and Equality Officer
Maximum grant of €200 per student |
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Short-term loan for students needing financial assistance
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Must pay back within 2 month period of time
Contact welfare@tcdsu.org |
Up to €100
€20 Lidl food voucher
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Scholarships for International Students |
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Scholarships for International Students - Study - Trinity College Dublin
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Scholarships for Irish and EU UG Students |
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Scholarships for Irish and EU Undergraduate Students - Study - Trinity College Dublin |
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Need help or not sure where to start?
If you are unsure which supports may apply to you, you can contact:
They can help you understand your options and guide you to the appropriate supports.