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 college fees for first 1-2 years while studying in an 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.
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has advised of revisions of supports offered to Ukrainian students who have been granted permission to remain under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015 i.e. Displaced Ukrainian Students who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP). The revisions will take effect from the start of academic year 2025/2026.
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.
The revisions vary depending on whether the student is a new entrant or an existing registered student in tertiary education, as well as the duration of BOTP status.
Academic Year for students undertaking undergraduate courses. Fee supports will not be available for student commencing postgraduate courses in 2025/26
A Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme applies in relation to the provision of EU tuition fee supports for eligible students attending approved higher education full-time courses in 2025/26. The scheme offers targeted supports to:
- students progressing to the next year of their 2024/25 course where they were eligible for the ‘Higher Education Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme for Displaced Persons (Ukraine) in academic year 2024/2025’, and
- new entrant undergraduate students whose Temporary Protection Permission was granted less than 3 years before the start of the 2025/2026 Academic Year.
To be eligible under this scheme, students must meet the criteria set out and to any further criteria or amendments which may be advised to the eligible institutions.
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 stipend for academic year 2025/26.
The stipend and tuition fees will be paid directly to institutions where eligible students are registered. The amounts will vary for existing students and new entrants. For the most up to date information on Ukraine Student Fees and Financial Support Update visit gov.ie