The 1916 Bursary Fund was established by the Department of Education and Skills in 2017. The purpose of the Fund is to encourage participation and success by students who are most socio-economically disadvantaged and who are from groups most under-represented in higher education. Bursaries are awarded through regional clusters of higher education institutions.
1916 Bursary Fund: South Cluster SOAR Project
The South Cluster is comprised of the following higher education institutions: Institute of Technology Carlow, Munster Technological University, University College Cork and Waterford Institute of Technology. The 1916 bursary fund is administered through the South Cluster’s SOAR Project on behalf of the four institutes. The SOAR Project is an inter-institutional Access initiative funded under the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Fund.
There are three different types of bursaries – Tier 1, 2 and 3.
Tier 1 Bursaries: Awardees will receive €5,000 per year for the normal duration of an undergraduate programme and up to a maximum of six years for a part-time programme. The bursary will also be paid as the awardee progresses to postgraduate study.
Tier 2 Bursaries: Awardees will receive €2,000 per year for the normal duration of an undergraduate programme and up to a maximum of six years for a part-time programme. The bursary will also be paid as the awardee progresses to postgraduate study.
Tier 3 Bursaries: Awardees will receive a once-off bursary of €1,500 for the 2021/22 academic year only.
Number of Bursaries available in the South Cluster:
Tier 1 Bursaries: 35
Tier 2 Bursaries: 29
Tier 3 Bursaries: To Be Confirmed
From 2021, a 1916 Bursary awardee who has successfully completed their undergraduate programme and wishes to progress to an approved postgraduate programme will be entitled to apply to have their bursary renewed for postgraduate study. More information at the following link: Information for 1916 Bursary Awardees progressing to Postgraduate study
Applications for the academic year 2021-2022 are now closed
All students are advised to first refer to information provided on this website below regarding the application process and eligibility criteria.
Applicants must meet financial, college entry and target group criteria in order to be deemed eligible for consideration for a bursary.
A) Financial Criteria
B) College Entry Criteria:
AND
C) Target Group Criteria:
Applicants must be from one or more of the following target groups:
Refugee, Programme Refugee, Family Reunification:
There is one central online application process for the South Cluster higher education institutions (Institute of Technology Carlow, Munster Technological University, University College Cork and Waterford Institute of Technology).
Applications for the academic year 2021-2022 are now closed
Applicants are required to submit relevant supporting financial and target group documentary evidence. This supporting documentation can only be submitted online in Application (Part II). Please refer to the 1916 Bursary Fund South Cluster SOAR Project Supporting Documentation Presentation 2021.2022, which you will find on the SOAR Project website at the following link: https://www.soarforaccess.ie/1916-bursary-fund/
Your application will be assessed on the basis of information provided on the online application and the supporting documentation uploaded with the application. Applicants must meet the college entry, financial and target group eligibility criteria set out in the 1916 Bursary Fund Guidelines in order to be considered for the bursary. The following additional indicators of socio-economic disadvantage will also be considered:
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.
Applicants must clearly demonstrate the significance and impact of the socio-economic disadvantage and barriers experienced. In accordance with the guidelines 20% of all Tier 1 bursaries must be awarded to lone parents.
How many Bursaries will be awarded in the South Cluster SOAR Project?
Tier 1 Bursaries: 35
Tier 2 Bursaries: 29
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 2021-2022 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 2021-2022 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 serious ill health which was certified at the time, pregnancy, bereavement in the immediate family.
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 the 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?
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.
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 hold the 1916 Bursary Fund if I have been awarded other Scholarships?
No students are not permitted to hold a 1916 Bursary (Tier 1, 2 or 3) in conjunction with any other bursary, scholarship or award, irrespective of value.
Can I hold the 1916 Bursary Fund if I have been awarded other Scholarships?
No students are not permitted to hold a 1916 Bursary (Tier 1, 2 or 3) in conjunction with any other bursary, scholarship or award, irrespective of value.
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 the supports of financial supports through Dormant Accounts Funding that supports members of the Irish Traveller 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:
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.
Please email all queries regarding the 1916 Bursary Fund - South Cluster SOAR Project to:1916BursaryQueries@soarforaccess.ie
The PATH 2 1916 Bursary Fund Implementation Guidelines 2021/2022 are available at
https://hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/1916-bursary-fund/