1916 Bursary

THE ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE 1916 BURSARY

FOR THE 22-23 ACADECMIC YEAR IS NOW OPEN

AND WILL CLOSE AT 5PM ON THURSDAY THE 20TH OF OCTOBER

 

INFORMATION CLINICS

3 information clinics to assist students making applications will take place

in room ITG01 (in the IT Building on the Cork Road Campus) from 2.15pm to 3.15pm

on Monday the 3rd, 10th & 17th of October 2022

 

Information for Academic Year 2022-2023

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. It is funded by 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, Target Group and College Entry eligibility criteria. Bursaries are awarded through regional clusters of higher education institutions. Each cluster has a limited number of bursaries which are awarded to the eligible applicants that present the greatest need.

 

1916 Bursary: South Cluster SOAR Project

The South Cluster is comprised of the following higher education institutions: Munster Technological University, South East Technological University and University College Cork. The 1916 Bursary is administered by the South Cluster’s SOAR Project on behalf of the three institutions. The SOAR Project is an inter-institutional Access initiative funded under the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) 3 Fund.

 

How much is the 1916 Bursary worth?
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 a full-time undergraduate programme and up to a maximum of six years for a part-time programme. The bursary will also be paid if the awardee progresses to postgraduate study.
• Tier 2 Bursaries: Awardees will receive €2,000 per year for the normal duration of a full-time undergraduate programme and up to a maximum of six years for a part-time programme. The bursary will also be paid if the awardee progresses to postgraduate study.
• Tier 3 Bursaries: Awardees will receive a once-off bursary of €1,500 for the 2022/23 academic year only.

PLEASE NOTE: The online application will open 12 noon Monday 12 September and close 17:00 Thursday 20 October 2022. 

 

Who can apply for a 1916 Bursary? (Eligibility Criteria)

Applicants must meet financial, college entry and target group criteria in order to be deemed eligible for consideration for a bursary.

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

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

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.

 

How and when can I apply?

The SOAR Project manages the 1916 Bursary Fund on behalf of the South Cluster higher education institutions - Munster Technological University, South East Technological University and University College Cork.

There is one central online application. You can only apply through the online application.

The online application will open at 12 noon Monday 12 September 2022. Applicants must fully and correctly complete the online application and upload relevant supporting documentation as required by 17:00 Thursday 20 October 2022.

 

Further Information?

For full details of the 1916 Bursary please visit http://www.1916Bursary.ie and the direct link for the form is 

https://ucc.

qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3f6LLaNt8xpOZIW

Application information and link to the online application for Munster Technological University, South East Technological University and University College Cork students is available at 1916 Bursary Fund | SOAR for Access Program

 

Queries:

Email [email protected] if you have any questions regarding the 1916 Bursary in the South Cluster.

 

PLEASE FIND INFORMATION BELOW FOR CURRENT 1916 BURSARY SCHEME RECIPIENTS, WHO ARE COMPLETING THEIR UNDERGARDUATE COURSE IN MAY 2022,

AND THEIR ELIGIBLITY FOR REMAINING IN RECEIPT OF THE 1916 BURSARY IF THEY ARE LOOKING TO PURSUE A POST GRADUATE QUALIFICATION  

Information for 1916 Bursary Awardees progressing to Postgraduate study in 2022-2023

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.

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.

Please Note: The 1916 Bursary is subject to an overall cap of four years for postgraduate studies.

FAQ's

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: 2022/23 South Cluster 1916 Bursary Fund Postgraduate Progression Transfer Form To supplement the bursary transfer application you will need a letter from the Access Service of the college where you completed you undergraduate confirming that you are a 1916 Bursary Awardee and target group information.

 

I was awarded the 1916 Bursary at a college outside of the South Cluster; I am now pursuing a postgraduate programme in a South Cluster college, what should I do?

If you are changing institution for postgraduate study you must complete the application at the following link: 2022/23 South Cluster 1916 Bursary Fund Postgraduate Progression Transfer Form You will have to provide an official letter from the Access Service of your undergraduate college that confirms you are a 1916 Bursary Awardee and target group information.

 

I have just completed my undergraduate study, but wish to defer postgraduate study, can I defer my bursary? You may defer postgraduate study for a maximum of one academic year only with the prior written approval of your HEI. You may defer before you commence or during the programme. If you have not yet applied for a postgraduate programme you may also defer the bursary for a maximum of one year.

 

I was a 1916 Bursary awardee but completed my undergraduate programme prior to 2020-21, can I avail of the Bursary for postgraduate study? Yes, for the 2021/22 academic year, postgraduate bursaries are also open, as an exceptional measure, to previous PATH 2 1916 Bursary recipients (i.e. students who completed their undergraduate studies prior to 2020/21). Previous 1916 Bursary recipients who have already commenced a course of postgraduate study will also be entitled to receive a bursary for the remainder of their postgraduate studies (subject to the progression requirement and the overall cap of four years).