The 1916 Bursary Fund was established by the Department of Education and Skills. The purpose of the Fund is to encourage participation and success by students who are most economically disadvantaged and who are from communities significantly underrepresented in higher education. All of the higher education institutions are awarding the Bursaries through regional clusters.

1916 Bursary Fund: South Cluster SOAR Project
The South Cluster is comprised of 5 higher education institutions: Cork Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Carlow, Institute of Technology Tralee, University College Cork and Waterford Institute of Technology. The bursary fund will be administered through the Cluster South’s SOAR Project. The SOAR Project is an inter-institutional Access initiative funded under theProgramme for Access to Higher Education (PATH)Fund. The South Cluster have a total of 35 bursaries available to award to students applying to these higher education institutions.

Each student who is awarded the 1916 Bursary will receive a bursary to the amount of €5,000 for each year of their undergraduate programme of study up to a maximum of €20,000 for full-time students and a maximum of €30,000 for part-time students.

Applications will only be considered from students that meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. Applicant is from socio-economically disadvantaged background and can provide evidence of such by demonstrating:
    
   Applicant would be eligible for the Special Rate level of SUSI grant
   AND / OR
   in receipt of a Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) means-tested social welfare payment
    
2. Applicant must be from at least one of the following target groups:
   • Socio-economic groups that have low participation rates in higher education
   • Students with a disability
   • Lone parents in receipt of a means tested social welfare payment
   • Irish Travellers
   • First time, mature student entrants
   • Students entering on the basis of a QQI Further Education award
   • Persons from Ethnic Minorities who are lawfully present in the State
    
3. be a new entrant, pursuing an undergraduate course and progressing to higher education for the first time in the 2019-2020 academic year.
4. have been resident in the Irish State for three of the past five years on the date on which the first year of study commences.
5. be studying an approved full time or 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.

• Students who are not first time entrants to higher education in the 2019-2020 academic year.
• Postgraduate students.
• Students who have already received a qualification at the same level.
• 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.
• Student who are paying non-EU fees.

Applications for the 2020-2021 academic year are expected to open in May 2020.

For full details download the following document:

1916 Bursary Fund South Cluster SOAR Project Supporting Documentation Guide

As it is expected that the number of applications will exceed the number of bursaries available, the SOAR Project will prioritise those who are socio-economically disadvantaged and can provide evidence of membership of more than one of the target groups; the institutions will give due regard to ensuring that the benefit of the bursaries is maximised. Applicants must clearly demonstrate the significance and impact of the socio-economic disadvantage and barriers experienced.

Only applicants that meet the Eligibility Criteria will be will be considered for the bursary

What is the value of a 1916 Bursary?
Each student who is awarded the 1916 Bursary will receive a bursary to the amount of €5,000 for each year of their undergraduate programme of study. The bursary will be paid each year of the course up to a maximum of four years for full-time students and six years for part-time students as long as the recipient complies with the bursary guidelines and progresses to the next academic year of their course.

How many Bursaries will be awarded in the South Cluster SOAR Project?
The South Cluster SOAR Project have a total of 35 bursaries available to award, 7 bursaries for each of the five institutions.

I am a Postgraduate Student. Can I apply for the 1916 Bursary Fund?
No. The 1916 Bursary Fund is only open to first time, new entrant pursuing an undergraduate course and progressing to higher education for the first time in the 2019-2020 academic year.

I am a continuing student. Can I apply for the 1916 Bursary Fund?
No. The 1916 Bursary Fund is only open to first time, new entrant pursuing an undergraduate course and progressing to higher education for the first time in the 2019-2020 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?
Applications from those currently repeating Year 1 of their undergraduate programme will only be considered in cases where evidence is supplied that a significant life event was the reason for poor performance in the last academic year. Examples of such life events include major ill health which was certified at the time, pregnancy, bereavement in the immediate family.

How is my application assessed?
Your application will be assessed on the basis of information provided on the online application (part I) and (part II) and the supporting documentation uploaded to application (part II).

A. Applicants must first meet socio-economic disadvantage criteria, that is the household / family reckonable income is less than €24,000 in 2018 and can provide evidence of such by demonstrating:

Applicant is eligible for the Special Rate level of SUSI grant

and/or

in receipt of a Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) means-tested social welfare payment

B. Applicant must be from at least one of the following target groups:

• Socio-economic groups that have low participation rates in higher education
• Students with a disability, particularly students with a physical/mobility impairment, students are who deaf/hard of hearing and students who are blind or have a visual impairment.
• Lone parents in receipt of a means tested social welfare payment
• Irish Travellers
• First time, mature student entrants
• Students entering on the basis of a QQI Further Education award
• Persons from Ethnic Minorities who are lawfully present in the State and are:
  • a national of a Member State, a state which is a contracting state to the EEA agreement or the Swiss Confederation,
  • or person whose current immigration status or leave to remain under the Department of Justice and Equality, is one of the following:
    • Refugee (including programme refugees);
    • Subsidiary Protection;
    • Permission to remain as the family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen under the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 and 2008 and EU Directive 2004/38/EC (EU Treaty Rights provisions);
    • Permission to remain because of marriage/civil partnership with an Irish national or as dependent child of such person;
    • Humanitarian leave to remain granted before the Immigration Act 1999 came into effect; Permission to remain following a decision not to deport under Sections 3 of the Immigration Act 1999; or
    • Permission to remain as a dependent child of a person who has acquired Irish Citizenship by naturalisation, residing in the State. For further clarification, please see Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2018, SI 101 of 2018.

Other indicators of socio-economic disadvantage that will be considered:

• Living in a disadvantaged, very disadvantaged or extremely disadvantaged area according to the Pobal Area Deprivation Index based on 2016 Census of Ireland data. https://maps.pobal.ie/
• Attended at a DEIS second level school for a minimum of 5 years.
• • Are / were in the Care of the State/TUSLA, living in Direct Provision Centre or supported accommodation service.

Applicants that meet financial criteria and multiple target group criteria will then be considered for the 1916 Bursary Fund on the basis of this information together with information provided in the personal statement and letter of support submitted.

Please note all applicants must:

• be a new entrant, pursuing an undergraduate course and progressing to higher education for the first time in the 2019-2020 academic year.
• have been resident in the Irish State for three of the past five years on the date on which the first year of study commences.
• be studying an approved full time or 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.

What type of supporting documentation do I need to supply with my application?
Please check back for updates.

Will the 1916 Bursary Fund affect my SUSI Grant?
Students will be entitled to hold the 1916 Bursary and the student grant simultaneously, where they meet the eligibility conditions of the student grant scheme. The 1916 Bursary will be an income disregard for the purposes of ‘reckonable income’ in the student grant scheme.

Can I hold the 1916 Bursary Fund if I have been awarded other Scholarships?
Applicants cannot hold the 1916 Bursary and other scholarships. 

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 Employment Affairs and 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 avail of the supports of the Fund for Students with Disabilities if I get 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

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. Please contact the access to find out more.

If my application is unsuccessful, can I make an appeal?
Yes the South Cluster SOAR Project committed to ensuring the all applications are assessed fairly, accurately and according to the Department of Education and Skills guidelines. 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. All appeals will be considered by an Appeals Panel.

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. Appeals will be considered by an independent Appeals Panel. An appeal can only be made on the grounds of “administrative error in assessment” i.e. a mistake was made when the application was being assessed.

The information submitted and the supporting documentation uploaded to the online Application (Part II) will be used in the consideration of 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.

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:

• agree to the terms and conditions of the 1916 Bursary Fund.
• adhere to the rules and regulations of your institution.
• Engage and co-operate with the department managing the 1916 Bursary Fund in your institution.
• Recipients may be asked to attend or be part of events organised by the institution to increase awareness of the 1916 Bursary Fund.

Recipients 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 will be in place between the participating South Cluster Higher Education Institutions, subject to data protection considerations.

Queries

Please email all queries regarding the 1916 Bursary Fund: South Cluster SOAR Project to info@soarforaccess.ie