The 1916 Bursary aims to encourage participation and success by students who are most socio-economically disadvantaged and from groups most under-represented in higher education. Applications to the 1916 Bursary Fund for the academic year 2024/25 are expected to open in September 2024. The opening date and the link to the online application form will be posted on this webpage in late August/early September.

    In the meantime, you can complete an online eligibility check and find further information on the national 1916 Bursary webpage at 1916bursary.ie. 
    You can also review the information below but please note that this information is due to be updated for 2024/25.     

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     

    About the Undergraduate 1916 Bursary Fund.

    The 1916 Bursary Fund is a financial award co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), which aims to encourage participation and success by students who are most socio-economically disadvantaged and from groups most under-represented in higher education. The 1916 Bursary is open to new entrant (first-time) undergraduate students and, if awarded, may be available for the entire duration of a student's programme of study including their postgraduate study. To be eligible for a bursary, applicants must meet College Entry, Financial and Priority Group criteria. 

    All the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are awarding the 1916 Bursaries as regional clusters. The MEND cluster includes Maynooth University (MU), Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone Campus (TUS), Dublin City University (DCU), and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). There is a central online application process for the MEND cluster which is administered by DCU on behalf of these four institutions. Each college has a limited number of bursaries; awards will be made to eligible applicants who complete the application process fully and correctly and who rank highest under the various criteria headings.

      

     

    Value of the 1916 Bursary

    There were three different types of bursaries awarded in 2023/24:

    Tier 1 Bursaries: Awardees received €5,000 per year for the normal duration of an undergraduate programme or up to a maximum of six years for a part-time programme. The bursary may also be paid if the awardee progresses to postgraduate study.
     
    Tier 2 Bursaries: Awardees received €2,000 per year for the normal duration of an undergraduate programme or up to a maximum of six years for a part-time programme. The bursary may also  be paid as the awardee progresses to postgraduate study.
     
    Tier 3 Bursaries: Awardees received a once-off bursary of €1,500 for the 2023/24 academic year only i.e. for the first year of their undergraduate course. 
     
    Tier 1 and Tier 2 bursaries are paid each year for the normal duration of an undergraduate course (maximum of four years for full-time students or six years for part-time students), provided the recipient complies with the bursary guidelines and progresses to the next academic year of their course. Where the normal duration of a Level 8 undergraduate course exceeds four years, the bursary will be awarded for the full course duration.

    The bursary may also be held for progression at undergraduate level, i.e. from Level 6 to Level 7 and from Level 7 to Level 8.
    The bursary is generally paid in 2 instalments, one per semester, directly to the awardee's bank account. 

     


     

    Who can apply?

    The 1916 Bursary is for first-time undergraduate entrants to Higher Education who are socio-economically disadvantaged and from one or more priority groups. Applicants must satisfy College Entry criteria, Financial criteria and Priority Group criteria. 

    College Entry Criteria - Who can apply?

    • Students in year 1 of an undergraduate course for the first time in the forthcoming academic year. New entrant 1st year includes a full-time student who applied directly to the University and who is entering year 2 of a programme having not attended third level education previously.
    • Students must be undertaking a full-time or part-time course in a publicly funded higher education insitution which is participating in the 1916 Bursary Fund. The course must take at least 2 years to complete AND, on completion, the student must be awarded a major higher education and training award at Level 6 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications. There is no restriction on the programme of study. 
    • Students must be experiencing socio-economic disadvantage (as defined in the financial criteria) and must be from one or more of the socio-economic groups that have low participation in higher education, as listed in the priority groups criteria.
    • Students must be able to demonstrate that they would qualify for the special rate of SUSI grant, as set out in the Financial Criteria. 
    • Students must have been resident in the Irish State for 3 of the past 5 years.

    College Entry Criteria - Who cannot apply for the 1916 Bursary?

    • Students who are not first-time entrants to higher education.
    • Students who have already received a qualification at the same level on the National Framework of Qualifications as the course they are currently studying.
    • Students on a full-time or part-time undergraduate course in a publich funded higher education institution that takes LESS than 2 years to complete, or on competion of which a student is awarded a majore higher educaiton and traning award at Level 5 or below on the National Framework of Qualifications.
    • Students whose reckonable income is assessed as over the maximum income limit, as set out in the Financial Criteria
    • Postgraduate students.
    • Undergraduate students in years other than 1st year.
    • Students who have not been resident in the Irish State for 3 of the past 5 years. 

    Financial criteria - household income:

    • Applicants must show that their household income meets the criteria for the Special Rate of maintenance grant from SUSI (SUSI Universal Support Ireland) on 31st Dec of the year previous to year of application. To be eligible for the SUSI special rate of grant for the 2024/25 academic year, students must provide evidence that the household income in 2023 was under €26,200 (for a family with less than 4 dependents) or €28,715 (for a family with 4 to 7 dependent children), or €31,128 (for a family with 8 or more dependent children).
    • Applicants can evidence this income by either:
      • Giving your consent on the 1916 Bursary application form for SUSI to confirm that you have been awarded the Special Rate of Maintenance grant for 2024. You will be asked to do this on the application form by providing your SUSI application number (long number beginning with W), OR
      • Providing evidence of your household's income for the full year prior to your entry to university (2023); this income must include a Department of Social Protection (DSP) long-term means-tested social welfare payment. Specific household income documents are required, and documents must be provided in scanned electronic copies.
    • Note: to apply to the 1916 Bursary you are not required to have applied to SUSI, but your household income must be such that you would be eligible to qualify for the SUSI special rate grant, if you had applied.
    • See more about the Special Rate SUSI grant award and please note that each SUSI income threshold above will be increased by €4,950 for each additional person in the family in college. .

    Priority Group criteria -

    Applicants must belong to one or more of the following priority groups:

    • Students from disadvantaged backgrounds or from communites who have low levels of participation in higher education; students eligible for the SUSI grant or who had a household income of less than €26,200 in 2023 (for a family of less than 4 dependents)/€28,715 (for a family of 4-7 dependents)/€31,128 (for a family of 8 or more dependents)*; students who have experienced homelessness, the care system, surviviors of domestic violence, and those who have experience of the criminal justice system.
    • First-time mature students (23 or older on 1 January of their year of entry to higher education – and having never previously accessed higher education);
    • Second-chance mature students. Such students may be considered for a bursary where they have:
      • previously attended but not completed a course,
      • had a 3-year break in studies since leaving the course, and
      • are returning to attend an approved course
    • Students with a disability.
    • Members of the Irish Traveller community;
    • Members of the Roma community;
    • Further education and training (FETAC) 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).
    • Students who are 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 and are a national of an EU member state, a state which is a contracting state to the EEA agreement, the UK or the Swiss Confederation, or a person whose current immigration status or leave to remain under the Dept of Justice is one of the groups outlined in the FAQs under 'migrants,refugees, ethnic minorities' heading.

    *Please see more about the Special Rate SUSI grant award and please note that each SUSI income threshold above will be increased by €4,950 for each additional person in the family in college.

    To find out if you are eligible to apply to the 1916 Bursary, complete the 1916 Bursary Criteria Quick Check. 

     

    Tips for making a 1916 Bursary Application

    Applications for 2024/25 are expected to open in September 2024. The online application form is administered by DCU on behalf of Maynooth University and 3 other education institutions collectively named the MEND cluster: Dublin City University (DCU), Dundalk institute of Technology (DkIT), and Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). 

    • Before you complete the online application form, you should read carefully through the available information on this webpage and on the national 1916 Bursary webpage which provides some handy quick links: Criteria Quick Check (to find out if you are eligible to apply); the Applicant Guidelines for Students (for information on the application form); information on the Supporting Documentation; an Application Checklist. 

    • Read the data protection information below. The data protection information will be provided at the start of the online application form. You will be asked to agree to the processing of your data in order to complete the application form. 

    • Note: Applications can only be made online from a PC/laptop or mobile device. An application you have started can be re-opened anytime on the same device up until 5pm on the closing date. If you started your application on one device but did not complete it, you cannot re-open the same application on a different device. In this case, you can either access your application on the first device or start a new application on a second PC/laptop or mobile device.  Any duplicate applications will be deleted. You can only complete one application. You can re-access your application by clicking on the link in the most recent confirmation email you have received and you must use the same device. ​ 

     

    • Only fully completed and submitted applications will be assessed for a 1916 Bursary award. This includes uploading the supporting documents required for your situation. 

    • You must have all the following details ready before you begin your application:

               1. Your 9-digit CAO number. (This will also be your student number at university). Make sure to enter your CAO number correctly on the application form!
               2. ​Your student email address.
               ​3. Your phone number.
               4. Your Eircode from Eircode Finder
               5. Your PPS number. Ensure you enter the correct number!
               6. If you have applied to SUSI, you will need the W number or your application number. Ensure you enter the correct number!
               7. All your required supporting documents, saved on your device, ready to upload (see more information on supporting documents, below). 

    Supporting Documents - 

    Before you complete the online application form, you should try to have all the required supporting documents saved on your device as electronic scanned copies, ready to upload. The supporting documents required will depend on each applicant's details. You can review what supporting documents may be required, before you apply. When you start the application form, you will be prompted at various poimts for what documents to provide and your can take a screenshot at each point, as a reminder for yourself. 

    Allow several weeks to gather supporting documents. If you have to wait for documents to be sent to you, you can begin your application online and upload the documents at a later time, but still before the closing date. Please note: this will require you to continue your application on the same device that you started your application on. You can re-access your application by clicking on the link in the most recent confirmation email you have received.
    At each point on the application form where you are prompted to upload supporting documents, scan the supporting documents relevant to that point as one file. If you have two or more documents to upload per question you need to create a single digital file first. You will not be able to upload more than one file per question. Do not upload zipped files. 

    For any paper documents, you will need to create scanned electronic copies of them to upload online.  These can be in the following formats: JPEG, PDF, DOC, DOCX.
    There are a number of ways to create a scanned electronic copy of your document:

    Use your smartphone camera:

    • ​Scan your paper documents using the free app Microsoft Lens (Android / iPhone) combined with your camera. You can also follow these 8 steps using the Notes app on your iPhone.
    • If using the camera alone to take photos, ensure the screenshots are of good quality and all information is visible.
    • Save your electronic documentation onto your pc/laptop/USB key/phone. 

    Use a printer/scanner on campus (if you are already registered at Maynooth University when you apply) :

    • There are 7 printers with scanning functions around Maynooth University (locations are listed in Copy & Print Services)
    • At a printer, swipe your Student ID card and set the document that you wish to scan face up on the top tray of the printer and click Scan on the printer’s screen.
    • Your scanned document will be emailed to you as an attachment to your @mumail.ie address.
    • Save your electronic documentation onto your pc/laptop/USB key/phone.
    • It is not advisable to you use the Webprint facility to remotely print confidential documents.  

    If you have additional questions after reviewing the information available on this webpage and on the national 1916 webpage, please contact 1916bursary@mu.ie.

     

    Undergraduate 1916 Bursary Application Timeline 2023/24 - to be updated for 2024/25.

    Note: The application and outcomes for the academic year 2023/24 were delayed due to a change in the application assessment process. Applications for 2024/25 are expected to open in late August/early September. Outcomes are usually announced in late November/early December and payment is usually made in two instalments (Nov/Dec & Feb).

    2023/24 Application open date - 18th December 2023.
                                           
    2023/24 Application closing date - 25th January, 2024 at 5pm.
    .
    2023/24 Unsuccessful applicants notified - Monday 11th March, 2024.

    2023/24 Appeals - Open Monday 11th March, 2024 and close Friday 15th March, 2024 at 5pm.

    2023/24 Conditional Offers to successful applicants issued - 18th March, 2024. 

    2023/24 Payment Date  - May 2024. 
     

    Making an Appeal

    The MEND cluster (Maynooth University, Technological University of the Shannon, Dublin City University & Dundalk Institute of Technology) is committed to ensuring that all 1916 bursary applications are assessed fairly, accurately, and according to the published guidelines. Full details on making an appeal will be provided to all applicants who are initially unsuccessful in their 1916 Bursary applications. 

    • An appeal can only be lodged in respect of the process i.e., that you believe an administrative error was made. 
    • Appeals must be completed online within before the Appeal closing date. The appeal form is hosted by DCU on behalf of the 4 HEI's above. 
    • Appeals will be independently reviewed by an Appeals Panel to ensure that the information provided by you was considered, assessed, and ranked fairly, correctly and in line with the criteria.
    • The information you submitted in the online application and in your supporting documentation will be used in consideration of the appeal.
    • It will not be possible to submit further documentation at the appeal stage.
    • The decision of the 1916 Bursary Appeals Board is final.

    To make an online appeal you will need:

    • Your 9-digit CAO number
    • The identified ground for your appeal (in what respect you believe the administrative error was made).

    Before you submit an appeal, you can speak to a member of staff at Maynooth University Access Office. Email 1916bursary@mu.ie to discuss your application outcome and what other supports may be available to you. 

     

     

    1916 Bursary Awardees progressing to Postgraduate Study

    Students who are 1916 Bursary recipients at undergraduate level can avail of 1916 funding for postgraduate study. Please contact 1916bursary@mu.ie as soon as possible to check your eligibility. 

    • The postgraduate programme must be an approved full-time or part-time programme that takes no less than one year to complete, and must be provided by an approved Path 2 participating Higher Education Institution. 1916 Bursary funding is also available to current Bursary recipients who are studying at postgraduate level and who wish to progress to a higher level of postgraduate study.
    • Approved postgraduate courses are full-time or part-time courses, of at least one year's duration, at Level 8 Higher Diploma, Level 9 Master’s Degree or Level 10 Ph.D. at a Higher Education Institution approved for PATH 2 funding. Bursary recipients will not be permitted to do two postgraduate courses that are at the same NFQ level e.g. two Level 9 courses within the overall cap of four years. Postgraduate Bursary funding can be held as you progress from a lower to a higher level of postgraduate study, subject to a maximum cap of 4 years postgraduate funding. 
    • For students who were awarded the undergraduate 1916 Bursary, a postgraduate 1916 Bursary will be for the same amount as their undergraduate award: €5,000 per annum (Tier 1 bursaries) and €2,000 per annum (Tier 2 bursaries), for both full-time and part-time students.
    • The award of the 1916 Bursary funding at postgraduate level is subject to satisfactory progression in your course of study and subject to a maximum cap of 4 years at postgraduate level. Postgraduate 116 Bursary recipients will be required to sign a Terms & Conditions document and must meet with a dedicated Maynooth Access Programme (MAP) Advisor at least once per academic year.

     

    Who can apply for postgraduate 1916 Bursary funding for the academic year 2024/25?

    1. 1916 Bursary recipients at undergraduate level who will complete an undergraduate course in the 2023/24 academic year at Maynooth University or at another approved Path 2 participating Higher Education Institution, and who intend to take up postgraduate study at Maynooth University or at another approved Path 2 participating Higher Education Institution. To avail of 1916 funding, you must be taking up postgraduate study in 2024/25 or you can defer for 1 year and take up postgraduate study 2025/26.  Students may be permitted to defer for a second year in exceptional circumstances. Contact 1916bursary@mu.ie as soon as possible to confirm if you will be progressing to postgraduate study and to check your eligibility for 1916 Bursary funding. Please note: If you wish to defer uptake of your postgraduate funding you must have the prior approval of your postgraduate HEI's Access Office. You must also follow the relevant deferral process for your postgraduate HEI. For the deferral procedure at Maynooth University, please see the Graduate Studies webpage on How to Apply to a postgraduate programme and scroll down to the section ‘Deferring your place on a postgraduate programme’. 

    2. 1916 Bursary recipients at undergraduate level who graduated in 2022/23 and deferred for 1 year in 2023/24, who are now taking up postgraduate study in 2024/25 at Maynooth University or another approved Path 2 participating Higher Education Institution. Contact 1916Bursary@mu.ie for more information and to check your eligibility.  Please note, 1916 Bursary funding will not be available for postgraduate study you undertake after 2024/25, unless you are approved for a second year deferral due to exceptional reasons (see above).

    3. 1916 Bursary recipients already studying at postgraduate level who wish to progress to a higher level of postgraduate study e.g. a Level 8 Higher Diploma student who wishes to progress to Level 9 Master's Degree, or a Level 9 Master's Degree student who wishes to progress to Ph.D at Level 10. Contact 1916bursary@mu.ie  to check your eligiblity.

     

    Note for 1916 Bursary students transferring from another HEI, or transferring to another HEI, for postgraduate study: 

    • If you are a Maynooth University graduate who who wishes to transfer to another Higher Education Institution for postgraduate study, you must notify your prospective HEI of your 1916 Bursary status if you wish to avail of 1916 Bursary postgraduate funding. You must provide your prospective HEI with a letter of confirmation, which sets out specific information. You can request this letter from the Maynooth University Access Office by emailing 1916bursary@mu.ie.

    • ​If you graduated from another HEI and intend to transfer to Maynooth University for postgraduate study, you will need to provide a letter of confirmation of your 1916 status from your undergraduate university's Access Office. Please inform Maynooth University's Access Office before you request this letter from your undergraduate HEI, so that we can tell you what information you will need to provide in your letter. Contact  1916bursary@mu.ie. 

    For more information on postgraduate study options at Maynooth University see Postgraduate Studies.  

     

     
     

    Data Protection

    Data protection concerns the safeguarding of privacy rights in relation to the processing of your personal data. This includes any information that can identify you. This may, for example, include a name, email address, date of birth or telephone number. Personal data that you submit using the application form will be used only for the purpose of processing your application for the 1916 Bursary. Your data will be treated in accordance with the Data Protection Policies of each organisation and with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018. 

    In applying to the 1916 Bursary Fund you will be submitting your personal data to the higher education institutions working together in the MEND (Midlands, East, North Dublin) Cluster to process the 1916 Bursary Fund. These are: Maynooth University (MU), Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Dublin City University (DCU), and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). Certain elements of your personal data will also be shared with the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO), and with the Higher Education Authority (HEA). DCU acts as ‘Data Controllers’ in respect of your personal data and comply with our responsibilities under these laws. 
     

    Why we need your data

    By applying for the 1916 Bursary, you will be required to provide us with personal data including: 

    • Name, address, Eircode, date of birth, CAO number, mobile phone number, email address, country of birth, nationality
    • If it applies to you, information about the Free Fees Scheme, your residency status in Ireland, your main entry route into the college, and the HEAR/DARE Schemes. 

    In relation to the Bursary, this personal data is necessary for: 

    • verification of your identity
    • the assessment of your application,
    • eligibility for the Bursary fund
    • the selection of successful applicants,
    • the provision of additional supports.

    Separately, the following information is provided to the AIRO and the HEA:

    • AIRO: Your address and Eircode will be provided to AIRO, to enable understanding of what areas are represented by applicants for the 1916 Bursary. No other information will be shared with AIRO.
    • HEA: An anonymised version of your information will be shared with the HEA, in order to comply with the 1916 Bursary Scheme’s reporting requirements.

    If you do not provide the requested data, your application for the Bursary cannot be processed.

     

    How your personal information will be used 

    • We will only process such data for the purpose for which you provide it and to the extent necessary to process your application in line with the regulations attached to this Bursary.

    • You have the right to withdraw your consent to processing and you also have the right to access any personal data relating to you on request (see the ‘Your data rights’ section below).

    • The personal data you submit will be held for a period of 10 years. The personal data may be disclosed by each Organisation to relevant internal staff and agents in order assess this application and to deliver support services to you.

    • We may also share personal data with government departments, statutory bodies, and funding agencies where this is required under legislation or for the provision of services to you.
       

    What security measures are in place

    The online application form is hosted on the DCU website and based on Drupal software. A record of responses is generated as applicants submit their forms online. Application details will be stored on a secure network, and password protected. Access to the Drupal form and responses is strictly limited to two authorised individuals within DCU, who require secure log-in to access the information.

     

    What your data rights are

    Under data protection rules, you have rights as a ‘data subject’. These rights include: 

    • The right to be informed about what happens to information relating to you (personal data) (Articles 12-14 of GDPR).
    • The right to access information relating to you which is held by DCU (Article 15, GDPR).
    • The right to rectification, to correct any errors in your personal data (Articles 16 & 19, GDPR).
    • The right to erasure, to delete/destroy information relating to you which is held by DCU (Articles 17 & 19, GDPR).
    • The right to data portability (Article 20, GDPR).
    • The right to object to processing of information relating to you (Article 21, GDPR).
    • The right of restriction, to limit the way DCU uses information relating to you (Article 18, GDPR); and,
    • Rights in relation to automated decision making, including profiling (Article 22, GDPR).

     

    Who to contact in relation to your personal data

    All the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are awarding the 1916 Bursaries as regional clusters. The MEND cluster includes Maynooth University (MU), Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone Campus (TUS), Dublin City University (DCU), and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). There is a central online application process for the MEND cluster which is administered by DCU on behalf of these four institutions. If you have any questions in relation to how your personal data is used, you can contact 1916bursary@mu.ie or the Data Protection Officer at dataprotection@mu.ie or any of the following units:

    In addition, the Data Protection Commission (DPC) is the official authority overseeing data protection in Ireland. You have the right to lodge a complaint with the DPC if you believe your personal data is being processed by us unlawfully. To find out more information about how to make a complaint to the DPC, please visit dataprotection.ie.

    What consent declarations are required

    By proceeding to complete the 1916 Bursary Application Form, you will be asked to confirm:

    • that you have read and fully understand the data protection statement and its contents.
    • that you consent to the obtaining, processing, and retaining your personal data for the purposes described in the above statement. 

    Important: If you proceed to complete the 1916 Bursary Application Form, your personal data will be processed as described in the above statement. If you do not wish to have your personal data collected by and further processed, you should not complete an application to the 1916 Bursary.

     

    Frequently Asked Questions About the 1916 Bursary Fund

     

    • Take a look through these 1916 Bursary Frequently Asked Questions to see if the answer to your question is included there. 

    • If you have any additonal questions in relation to the 1916 Bursary at Maynooth University, you may contact 1916bursary@mu.ie. 

    • All the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are awarding the 1916 Bursaries as regional clusters. The MEND cluster includes Maynooth University (MU), Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone Campus (TUS), Dublin City University (DCU), and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). There is a central online application process for the MEND cluster which is administered by DCU on behalf of these four institutionsIf you have any questions in relation to how your personal data is used by Maynooth University, you can contact 1916bursary@mu.ie or the Data Protection Officer at dataprotection@mu.ie or contact any of the following units:

    • In addition, the Data Protection Commission (DPC) is the official authority overseeing data protection in Ireland. You have the right to lodge a complaint with the DPC if you believe your personal data is being processed by us unlawfully. To find out more information about how to make a complaint to the DPC, please visit dataprotection.ie.

    • If you have any other questions in relation to the Maynooth University Access Programme (MAP), or how to apply for disability supports or other supports, please see MAP Student Advisory or email access.office@mu.ie.