Applications for the 2025/26 1916 Bursary will open on 4th September and close at 5pm on 10th October 2025.
What is the 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 co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through 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.
Who is the Bursary for?
Applicants must show that their household income meets the criteria for the SUSI special rate of maintenance grant in the year ending 31 Dec 2024. 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 = €27,400
- 4 to 7 = €30,030
- 8 or more = €32,555
The income threshold increases by €4,950 per additional person in college.
What are the criteria?
Financial + Priority Group + College Entry = Eligible for consideration.
What are the financial criteria?
Applicants must show that their household income meets the criteria for the SUSI Special Rate of Maintenance Grant in the year ending 31 December 2024. 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 = €27,440; 4 to 7 = €30,030; 8 or more = €32,555. The income threshold increases by €4,950 per additional person in college.
You can show evidence of this by either;
Allowing SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to confirm that you were awarded the Special Rate of Maintenance grant
or
Providing evidence of your household income in 2024 that must include a Department of Social Protection (DSP) long term means-tested social welfare payment. If you have not applied to SUSI you are required to submit relevant financial documentation with your application.
If you wish to allow SUSI to confirm your eligibility, you will need to provide your SUSI reference number. This reference number begins with a ‘W’ and is provided to you by SUSI when you start your SUSI application. If you do not have a ‘W’ reference number you can provide your PPS number.
You will be asked to confirm your consent to the sharing of your personal data with SUSI. If you do not provide your consent to the sharing of personal data with SUSI, you must upload relevant supporting financial documentation in order for your application to be assessed.
What are the priority groups?
Eligible 1916 Bursary 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, 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, and -are returning to attend an approved course.
• Students with a disability
• Members of the Irish Traveller community
• Members of the Roma community
• QQI or 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 are the College Entry criteria?
Applicants for the 1916 Bursary must:
• Be a new entrant pursuing an undergraduate course and progressing to higher education for the first time
• 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
How do I apply?
Applications for the 2025/26 Bursary will open on 4th September 2025 and close at 5pm on 10th October 2025 via this link.
• Applicants are advised to read the Application Guidelines here before making an application.
• Applicants must apply online via the 1916 Bursary Application Portal
• Applicants will need to register on the portal and authenticate their account by email and a security code before starting the online application.
The online application has 7 sections:
• Privacy Notice and Consent to Share Personal Data
• Financial Criteria
• College Entry Criteria
• Priority Groups
• Additional Indicators
• ESF Data
Terms and Conditions
• Applicants must apply online via the 1916 Bursary application portal: See link above.
• It is advised that applicants should not use a phone or tablet to apply. Applicants are advised to use Chrome or Edge internet browsers when applying.
• An application you have started can be reopened and edited any time up until submitted or until 5pm on the 10th October 2025.
• Only one fully completed and submitted application per applicant will be assessed for a 1916 Bursary
• Submitted applications will produce a pop-up message confirming submission. Applicants can also view the information in the portal under Application Section- Submitted.
Steps to making an application:
• Applications open at the start of each academic year.
• Complete the online application accurately.
• Only information and supporting documentation provided on the online application will be used to consider your application.
• Submit clear, complete, required supporting documentation.
• Ensure all documents are scanned in a JPEG, PDF, or PNG format and files are no larger than 5mb in size before uploading
Application checklist:
• Applications can only be made online from 4th September until 5pm on 10th October 2025.
• To make an application you will need to have your CAO number, a home/residential address (with Eircode if possible), email address and supporting financial documentation.
• Complete the online application accurately.
• Only information and supporting documentation provided on the online application will be used to consider your application.
• Submit clear, complete, required supporting documentation.
• Ensure all documents are scanned in JPEG, PDF, DOC or DOCX format to a maximum of 5mb before uploading.
• When you have submitted your 1916 Bursary application you will receive a confirmation email addressed to the email you provide in your application.
• If you wish to amend your submitted application, you may do so at the link provided in the confirmation email before the closing date: 5pm on 10th October 2025. Applications cannot be accepted after this date.
Further support and information:
There are a number of supports available to assist you with completing your application:
• Check the Frequently Asked Questions webpage to see if your query is dealt with there
• There is also the 1916 Bursary Applicant Guidelines webpage – clearly explaining the application process step by step
• Please see the Application Explainer video for an overview of the entire application process
• There is clear guidance provided throughout the online application form
• Each of the Participating Colleges have a contact email for applicants to follow up with before and during the application process
