Student Financial Support
Recognising that affordability can be a barrier to a obtaining a Degree, the Tertiary Degree pathway helps to remove some of those funding barriers. To assist, we have highlighted some of the support and help to students who are taking a Tertiary Degree.
One benefit of studying for a degree through the Tertiary Degree pathway, is that there are no tuition fees or student contribution fees for the duration of the education delivered by the ETB. The Free Fees Initiative and student contribution arrangements will apply to the duration of tuition delivered by the Higher Education Institutions on the Tertiary Degree. Students will have to meet eligibility criteria of the Free Fees Initiative while undertaking the higher education part of programme, otherwise the standard student contribution arrangements will apply.
Tertiary students are eligible to apply for SUSI grants for the duration of the education delivered by both the Education and Training Board and Higher Education Institution subject to the normal eligibility criteria. There is also various funding available for those returning to full time education: including funding for students with disabilities, student assistance funding and back to education allowances. The HEA website has further detail on this.
Tertiary applicants may be eligible for the 1916 Bursary fund. This fund aims to encourage participation and success by students who are most socio-economically disadvantaged and from groups most under-represented in higher education. More information including a list of eligibility criteria can be found on their website.
Students registered on tertiary programmes and who have a valid Higher Education Institutions student number are eligible to apply for the SAF through the partner Higher Education Institutions, subject to meeting the criteria outlined.
Students registered on tertiary programmes and who have a valid Higher Education Institutions student number are eligible for supports under the FSD subject to the criteria set out elsewhere in these guidelines. To ensure a seamless transition from further education to higher education, eligible students on tertiary programmes should be supported by the higher education FSD funding operated by the partner Higher Education Institutions.
University of Sanctuary Ireland (UoSI) is an Irish initiative to encourage and celebrate the good practice of universities, colleges and other education institutes in welcoming refugees and protection applicants / people seeking asylum into their university communities and fostering a culture of welcome and inclusion for all those seeking sanctuary.
A full list of Higher Education Institutions that offer sanctuary scholarships can be found at on their website. There are a limited number of scholarships available for each Higher Education Institutions.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD, has confirmed that the following supports will be offered to Ukrainian students for the academic year 2024/25. This includes payment of tuition fees in respect of approved full-time higher education, a financial stipend for qualified persons undertaking a full-time course in a publicly funded higher education institution (HEI) and a bursary for eligible students pursuing an approved post-leaving certificate (PLC) course.
For students who commenced their studies in academic years 2022/23 and 2023/24, the supports in 2024/25 will be similar to previous years.
For new entrants to a course of study in academic year 2024/25, supports will be at revised rates which are detailed below.
A Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme for qualified persons will be in place for the 2024/25 academic year .
The scheme will provide EU tuition fee funding supports for eligible higher education students in receipt of Temporary Protection attending an approved course. The scheme is aimed at eligible first time higher education students and students seeking to progress to a higher level of study up to post graduate level. The applicable EU tuition fee funding will be paid directly to institutions where eligible students are registered.
EU Tuition fees available for eligible students:
- Full Time Undergraduate fees: The full EU tuition fee for approved courses at an approved institution.
Students that availed of the 2023/24 scheme, and are now progressing to the next year of their course, will remain eligible for the same supports in 2024/25.
For more information on this you can check gov.ie
Displaced Ukrainian students in receipt of Temporary Protection who are pursuing or progressing in a full-time approved course in a publicly funded higher education institution will be supported financially through a monthly stipend for academic year 2024/25. The stipend will be paid to the student through their higher education institution’s International Office.
The stipend amount will vary for existing students and new entrants as follows:
Existing Students
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection continuing with their higher education course of study will maintain their existing levels of stipend at €1,150 per month.
New Students
For those Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who are commencing their courses from September 2024 and those who are progressing onto a new course (e.g. NFQ Level 8 to NFQ Level 9) the stipend will be paid on the basis of €900 per month.
For the most up to date information on Ukraine Student Fees and Financial Support Update visit gov.ie