Student Assistance Fund - South East Technological University | Waterford

This section is for full-time students only.

The Student Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for full-time higher education students who are experiencing financial difficulties whilst attending college.

The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills (DES). The SAF is allocated to higher education institutions (HEIs).

In general, the SAF has a dual focus and is designed to support students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds with ongoing needs for financial support AND provide emergency financial assistance for other students.

Please note that students requiring financial assistance to help with tuition fees, repeat learner fees or registration fees cannot be considered under the Student Assistance Fund.

Any student assistance fund related queries, please email: Email: [email protected]

Student Assistance Fund Workshops

Please find below SAF Workshop details which will be hosted over zoom each Tuesday at 12.15pm.

SAF Workshop for SETU Waterford Students

Workshops will take place on the following dates

October - 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

November - 1st, 8th

Zoom Link: Join Here

Meeting ID: 745 390 4078

In this section

Current Students

The SAF for the 2023/24 academic year will open mid/end October. All students will be notified of the SAF opening date via their student email.

Please review the above video and FAQs so that you're ready to apply once the SAF opens for applications.

For further queries, please email [email protected]

Eligible expenses for SAF

Books
Class materials
Mandatory course expenses - Course Related Expenses Form
Rent
Heating and lighting bills
Food
Essential travel
In the case of student parents, childcare costs may be included
Medical costs

This is not an exhaustive list.

Ineligible expenses for SAF

Tuition fees
Registration fees
Repeat fees
Student loans
Store loans e.g. Littlewoods

This is not an exhaustive list.

Eligibility Reckoner

This eligibility reckoner is provided to assist you in deciding if you should apply for the Student Assistance Fund.

The eligibility reckoner provides an approximate indication of your possible eligibility for funding based on the information that you provide. This is NOT an application for funding and it is NOT an assessment of your eligibility for funding.

Frequently asked questions.

The purpose of the Student Assistance Fund is to provide support to fulltime registered students of WIT who may be experiencing extreme financial difficulties, have experienced a major change of circumstances or are experiencing extreme personal hardship.
- Complete the Online Application Form (paper application form discontinued)
- Upload/Attach all the necessary documentaion
- Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified via their student email ([email protected]). Letters will not be sent. We anticipate a significant number of applications so please be patient until you hear a response from us.
Refer to “How to Apply” for full details.
Applications usually open in October. Please refer to the 'Apply' tab to see if the application link is active.
There is no closing date – the fund will remain open until it is exhausted, but as the fund is operated on a “first-come-first-served” basis, it is important to complete and submit your application form as soon as you have gathered all the required documentation/receipts (minimum of one month required).
Full time registered students of Waterford Institute of Technology, on courses that lead to a higher education award at level 6 to 10 of the national framework of qualifications are eligible to apply for this stream of SAF.

Part-time registered students can apply to a separate fund. For more information, please see: https://www.wit.ie/schools/education/student-assistance-fund-for-part-time-students
Please see “Eligible/Ineligible Expenses” tab
Please see “Eligible/Ineligible Expenses” tab
The application contains detailed information on a step by step basis. See below for some invaluable tips.

Dos and Do nots of Documentation

Do’s

DO upload clear documentation with visible name, address and amounts

DO upload pictures the right way round

DO upload clear receipts with visible date, items and amounts

DO upload itemised lists or receipts of stationary and text books with costing

DO ensure P21’s are for the year prior to your application

DO upload the requested e-statements for the most recent three months

DO ensure your uploaded unedited bank statements contain your name and address

DO use your personal statement to explain any income / expenditure that was not included due to lack of documentation

DO use the personal statement section to explain your economic / family / problematic / medical circumstances – avoid giving one or two lines

Do Not's

DO NOT upload multiple unreadable receipts in one photo

DO NOT upload screenshots of your computer screen with no name, date and amount

DO NOT upload password protected files

DO NOT upload using word online

DO NOT upload debit/credit card receipts

DO NOT upload blurry photos

DO NOT export your bank statement into an excel document

DO NOT blacken / hide transactions on your three months bank statements

DO NOT upload typed messages / screenshots saying “I have no receipts for this”

DO NOT upload pictures of school bags containing books or pictures of stationary

DO NOT waste your personal statement. Please use it as an opportunity to outline your circumstances and give any other information you deem relevant to your application
Students experiencing difficulties completing the online application or those with general queries can call to the Student Life and Learning Office during opening hours. You can also email the office at [email protected] with any queries.

Office Hours

Monday -Friday

9.00am - 12.30pm

2.00pm - 4.00pm

In Semester 1, SAF workshops take place every Tuesday at 12pm via Zoom.
Only one application per academic year can be made.
Each application form is assessed by the Student Assistance Fund Finance Committee on an individual and confidential basis. The committee will assess applications based on the application submitted and evidence provided.
The SAF is a limited pool of money awarded by the EU Social Fund and the Irish Government. Amounts approved under the fund will vary depending on the needs of each individual application and the overall level of demand for the fund. Each application form is assessed by the SAF Finance Committee on an individual basis and on its own merits.
If eligible for funding, payment will be made by electronic fund transfer into the bank account provided. Payment can only be made to your Irish bank account.
Yes, all students will be notified, whether successful or not via your student email only ([email protected]).
Yes, you can submit a new application each year.
Yes, students who were not awarded funding through the SAF can appeal this decision.

Please see section on “Appeals”
Yes, being a repeat student (registered) does not preclude you from making application to the fund once you are repeating the entire year (60 credits), however please note that the fund cannot be used to pay for tuition fees.
All Students must submit recent bills/documentation for all forms of income and expenditure – in terms of the amount of receipts, for example if you have €200 travel costs per month, we require €200 worth of diesel/petrol receipts.
- Rent or Mortgage (copy of contract, mortgage statement and rent book including proof of address)
- Books and Class Materials – e.g. receipts for books, laptop, software, materials, uniforms etc.
- Telephone/Mobile – receipts for top-up or a copy of phone bill
- Transport and Travel – Bus tickets, Train tickets, petrol/diesel receipts, tax, insurance etc.
- Proof of loan and receipt of payment: Bank, Credit Union etc.
- Electricity/Gas/other household bills e.g. ESB, Gas, Refuse, Broadband etc.
- Childcare – official receipt or handwritten note from Childcare provider
- Medical / Dental – e.g. Doctors Bills, prescription costs,
- This is not an exhaustive list, we are mindful that each student’s circumstances are individual and this list may not address every student’s circumstances.
Bank Statement

All applicants must provide a recent 3 month bank statement for themselves (dated within 3 months of their date of application).

Student Grant

If you are eligible for a student grant, you must provide correspondence from SUSI/Local Authority confirming that you have been approved. Please ensure details of the annual/monthly award are included.

Part-time Work

If you are working part-time, you must submit a recent payslip.

Social Welfare / Rent Allowance Income

If you, the applicant, have social welfare income like Back to Education Allowance, Job Seekers Allowance, Family Income Supplement (FIS), One Parent Family, Children’s Allowance or Rent Allowance etc., then you must submit:

- A letter from social welfare confirming your total income or a copy of the receipt of your payment
- A letter from social welfare confirming your total Rent Allowance Income or a copy of the receipt of your payment- Proof of Children’s Allowance Income AND a copy of Birth Certificates for each qualifying child.

You can request social welfare statements online:

https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/secure/OnlineStatementRequest.aspx

For parent(s), guardians, spouse / partner income:

If you are not in receipt of SUSI, you will need to provide one or more of the following documents for your parent(s), guardian, spouse or partner if they have income.
- P21 or a copy of a recent payslip
- Notice of Assessment/Self-Assessment Letter and copy of Audited Accounts
- P21/Social Welfare letter confirming total income
- P21/Social Welfare letter confirming total income
P21 - (make ensure a copy of the back is included if you are scanning a P21)

(A P60 shows total earnings from one employer only and does not take account of any additional income, such as another job or a spouse’s income. A P21 gives details of total household income, tax credits, tax reliefs and PAYE tax paid for a particular tax year). You can now request social welfare statements etc. online.

Important Points to note
- Remember, your application will be rejected if the required documentation is not submitted. This is not grounds for appeal and further documentation cannot be forwarded after your application has been submitted.
- Students must include a detailed note in the section provided specifying the reasons for applying and any other information or circumstances that may be relevant.
- A new application must be made for each academic year.
- Applicants will be disqualified from the scheme if found to have given false information or failure to advise of change of circumstances which would affect the amount of assistance given.
- Students must ensure to include all relevant information within the application. The SAF Finance Committee cannot take into account information which is not submitted but may be relevant.
- If your parents/guardians are supporting you, they will need to include a detailed letter with a breakdown of bills they pay on your behalf and you will need to include this in the monthly breakdown income section.

Who can apply?

Students registered on higher education courses of not less than one year in duration.

Students on courses that lead to a higher education award from level 6-10 of the NFQ are eligible to apply for the SAF.

Students on Springboard+/Human Capital Initiative courses, or who are on blended/distance learning courses, are eligible to apply for support through the SAF subject to meeting the criteria outlined above.

Students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding.

Students who are non-EU, including UK nationals, but who are eligible for free or reduced fees in line with the criteria for the Free Fees Initiative, may be considered for the SAF subject to meeting other relevant criteria.

Who cannot apply?

Students on courses that do not lead to a higher education award are not eligible to apply for the SAF.

International/non-EU fee paying students are not eligible for funding.

International Protection Act & Ukrainian Refugees

Persons qualified for protection under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015 (including Ukrainian students who are currently registered as Higher Education Students, on approved courses or authorised transition arrangements in approved publicly funded institutions in Ireland) To qualify, the student must have been granted permission to reside in the State by the Minister for Justice pursuant to section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015). The student must be present, and residing at an address in the State, and attending, or intending to pursue, an approved course in the 2022-23 academic year.

Irish Nationals who were attending a Higher Education Institution in Ukraine during the 2021/2022 academic year; and have now returned to Ireland due to the conflict, are now residing at an address in the State and enrolled on an authorised transition programme during 2022/2023.

Students who have been deemed unsuccessful in the SAF application process (who are eligible to apply for SAF funding here in SETU Waterford) have the option of (1) submitting a new SAF application or (2) appealing the original decision.

Information on submitting a new SAF Application

Unsuccessful applicants have the opportunity to submit a new SAF application. In submitting this new application please be mindful of the reason you were made unsuccessful in your original application. A new application may contain new or updated information that is relevant to your circumstances.

There is no closing date for submitting your new application, however once the fund is exhausted no further payments can be made regardless of eligibility.

You have one opportunity to submit a new application. Students must meet the criteria and provide relevant and sufficient documentation. Please make sure to follow all prompts on the application and you can visit the FAQS tab on this page.

Information on the SAF Appeals Process

You may appeal the outcome of your application on the grounds that the SAF Higher Education Authority (HEA) guidelines were not adhered to. This is the only grounds for appealing a decision of the SAF committee.

Please find some information on the SETU Waterford SAF Assessment procedure as per the HEA guidelines below:

All SAF applications are assessed by 2 members of the SAF committee.
Following this assessment each application are deemed to be either (i) successful or (ii) unsuccessful.
Each application is signed by both assessors and if unsuccessful the reasons for this are included on the completed application form.
Students are informed via their student email of the SAF committees decision regarding their successful or unsuccessful application and are given the correct information about the next stage i.e. if successful; when they can expect payment and if unsuccessful what their options are in relation appealing the SAF committees decision or resubmitting their SAF application

Appeals Committee Information

The Appeals sub-group is comprised of:

The chair of the SAF Committee.
Two other members of the SAF committee, one of which is a sabbatical officer of the SETU Waterford Students Union.

Only committee members that have not been responsible for the original award decision will review an appeal.

Outcome of Appeals and Further Information

The appeals meetings take place at the end of each semester.
The outcome of appeals will be notified to your student email account following the appeals meeting within four weeks of the closing date for appeals.
The Appeals Committee’s decision is final.

Please contact [email protected] where further information is available.

Waterford MABS - Money and Budgeting Service

Are you looking for advice in your student finances or for budgeting advice? Waterford MABS will be holding a free student advice clinic every Wednesday from 10.30am-12.30pm on the Cork Road Campus. These clinics will be based in the large meeting room in the Student Support Desk in the Business building.

This is a drop in clinic so appointments are not necessary. If students would like to make an appointment in advance, you can do so by contacting Avril 089 220 5743.