Maynooth University Access Programme (MAP)

KickStart Scholarship

Applications for the KickStart Scholarship for 2022-23 are now closed. If you have submitted an application, please review the Application Timeline 2022/2023 for information on the upcoming key dates. 

About the KickStart Scholarship 
Application Timeline 2022/2023
Eligibility - who can apply?
Eligibility - who cannot apply?
Completing your KickStart Application
Appeals
Confidentiality and Data Protection

Application Timeline 2022/2023

Eligibility - who can apply?

Students that have a criminal record and are experiencing socio-economic disadvantage who are seeking to access Higher Education (HE) are the priority group for this KickStart Scholarship Fund. 

• Applicants must be new undergraduates who have either applied to commence third level education in September 2022 for the first time OR current Maynooth University undergraduate students. 
• Applicants must enrol/be enrolled on a full-time or part-time undergraduate course that takes not less than two years to complete and on the successful completion of which an Applicant is awarded a major higher education and training award at level 6 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications. There is no restriction on programme of study.
• Applicants must be able to show that they have been convicted of a crime which resulted in them currently having a criminal record and have either served time in prison and/or received a community-based Probation sanction which resulted in a criminal record. As the impact of a criminal record is felt for many years after an individual has completed their court ordered sanction, there is no time limit on how recent their convictions were. 
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they would qualify for the Student Universal Grant Scheme (SUSI) maintenance grant on or below €46,790 in 2021.
• Applicants must also 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.

Priority will be given to applicants who are members of one or more of the following priority groups, as this demonstrates the complexity of intersectionality of an applicant's criminal justice history and socioeconomic disadvantage. 

• Applicants who qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant or with an equivalent reckonable income under €24,500 in 2021
• First time mature applicants
• Further education and training award holders
• Applicants with disabilities
• Irish Travellers and Roma
• Lone parents (confirmed by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) as holding a long-term means-tested social welfare payment)
• Applicant is or was in the Care of the State/ TUSLA
• Direct Provision residents who have been granted either refugee status, subsidiary protection status or leave to remain, and are currently transitioning out of direct provision per section 14 of the Applicant Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 the Applicant Support Regulations 2021 (Statutory Instrument No. 132 of 2021)
• Applicant who is/was previously homeless
• Applicant who is/was in supported accommodation. 

Eligibility - who cannot apply? 

• Applicants who do not have a criminal record. 
• Applicants who already have a qualification at the same level on the National Framework of Qualifications as the course they are currently enrolled on/are intending to enrol on. 
• Applicants who have received funding through another Scholarship or Bursary scheme at an equivalent value. 
• Applicants on a course that takes less than two years to complete, or on the successful completion of which a student is awarded a major higher education and training award at level 5 or below on the National Framework of Qualifications. 
• Applicants whose reckonable income is assessed as over the maximum income limit, currently €46,790 gross for the family in 2021. 
• Applicants who have not lived for 3 of the past 5 years in Ireland. 
• Postgraduate applicants. 
• In accordance with section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 the Student Support Regulations 2021 (Statutory Instrument No. 132 of 2021), Note: Applicants who are in the protection system or at the leave to remain or at deportation order stage are not eligible to apply for a KickStart Scholarship. Persons who are in the protection system or at the leave to remain (not at deportation order) stage however can apply to be considered for support under the Student Support Scheme for Asylum Seekers. Applicants currently living in direct provision are not eligible for support under the KickStart Scholarship scheme; the only exception is in respect of those residents who have been granted either refugee status, subsidiary protection status or leave to remain, and are currently transitioning out of direct provision. 

Completing your KickStart Application

Follow these steps to ensure that you are fully prepared for the application process. As you can see, there are a number of steps and the MAP team want to support you in all aspects of your application. So don't get stuck. Reach out at any time by email to kickstart@mu.ie and cc access.office@mu.ie for guidance, queries, and motivation. 

Appeals 

The MEND cluster is committed to ensuring that all KickStart Scholarship applications are assessed fairly, accurately, and according to the published guidelines. Applicants who are unsuccessful in their KickStart Scholarship application can appeal the outcome of screening only. Appeals will be independently reviewed on the grounds that the information provided was considered, assessed, and scored correctly. No additional documentation or information can be proved by appellants, the appeal can only be considered by reviewing the online application submitted as within the stated deadlines. An Independent Review and Appeals panel will review appeals and advise on outcomes. 

Appeals Application Process 

• To apply for an appeal applicants must have their 9-digit CAO number or registered MU student number ready and identify the grounds for their appeal. Appellants can email their appeal to kickstart@mu.ie and cc access.office@mu.ie, with the subject line: Kickstart Scholarship Appeal, within 5 days of receiving the outcome, citing their CAO/ student number and the grounds for appeal. 
• Appeals can only be considered on the grounds of: 
  • an “administrative error in assessment”. That is if the applicant believes there was an administrative error made in assessing their application. 
  • a belief that “insufficient weight was given to an aspect of their application” i.e., that all circumstances were not taken into account when their application was being reviewed, and something important was not considered about their personal situation. 
• The opening date for appeals is Wednesday 19 October 2022 and the closing date is 17:00 on Saturday 23 October 2022.
• Before completing an appeal, applicants can be offered the opportunity to speak to a member of staff in the MAP Office. Reach out to kickstart@mu.ie and cc access.office@mu.ie if you find this step challenging. The MAP team can give you some guidance on this aspect and discuss the outcome and other supports available. 

Appeals Review Process 

The Appeals process is managed by an Independent Review and Appeals Panel that review all appeals and determines the outcomes. The decision of the Independent Review and Appeals Panel is final. 

• First, the Screening Committee will review all appeals, checking for correct grounds of appeal. A summary of all appeals will be prepared by the Screening Committee for the Review and Appeals Panel. 
• The Independent Review and Appeals Panel will review all appeals and record their decision. 
• If an error in assessment is found, the application will be re-assessed and re-scored. Applicants whose appeals are upheld and who meet the scoring criteria will be progressed to interview. 
• All unsuccessful appellants are notified and referred to further supports. 

Confidentiality and Data Protection 

The KickStart Scholarship is operated in Maynooth University within an ethos of confidence and respect. 

By completing the application form, applicants will be submitting their personal data to Maynooth University and as such, Maynooth University is the Data Controller in relation to the personal data of the applicants (see ‘Data Protection Rules’ below). Certain anonymised elements of applicants’ data will also be shared with the Irish Probation Services. 

Personal data submitted using the application form will be used only for the purpose of processing applications for the KickStart Scholarship. Applicant data will be treated in accordance with the Data Protection Policies of Maynooth University. 

If candidates have any questions in relation to how their personal data is used by Maynooth University they are advised to refer to the Maynooth University Data Protection Office. 

Applicants will be required to provide Maynooth University with personal data including: 

1. Name, address, Eircode, date of birth, CAO number/ student number, mobile phone number, email address.
2. If applicable, documentation about Income, Criminal Justice History and Priority Group membership. 
3. In relation to the Scholarship, this personal data is necessary for: 
   • verification of applicant identity 
   • the assessment of the application, 
   • eligibility for the Scholarship 
   • the selection of successful applicants, 
   • the provision of additional supports. 
4. Separately, the following information is provided by Maynooth University as the lead institution to the Probation Services: an anonymised version of applicant information will be shared with the Probation Services in order to comply with the KickStart Scholarship reporting requirements. 
5. If applicants do not provide the requested data, their application for the Scholarship cannot be processed. 

Data protection rules 

Maynooth University must comply with of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018 when personal data is collected and used. Maynooth University acts as ‘Data Controllers’ in respect of applicant personal data and must comply with their responsibilities under these laws. 

How applicant’s personal information will be used 

Data will only be processed for the purpose for which applicants provide it and to the extent necessary to process their application in line with the regulations attached to this Scholarship. Applicants have the right to withdraw their consent to processing and they also have the right to access any personal data relating to them, upon request to Maynooth University. The personal data submitted will be held for a period of 10 years. The personal data may be disclosed by Maynooth University to relevant internal staff and agents in order to assess the application and to deliver support services to applicants. 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 applicants. 

Security 

The online application form will be hosted on the Maynooth University website. Further information about the scholarships will be hosted on the Unlocking Potential website. 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 form and responses is strictly limited to two authorised individuals within Maynooth University, who require a secure log-in to access the information. 

Applicant Data Rights

Under data protection rules, an applicant has rights as a ‘data subject’. These rights include: 

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

Consent Declaration 

By proceeding to complete the KickStart Scholarship Application Form, applicants confirm: 

• that they have read and fully understand the above statement and its contents. 
• that they consent to the obtaining, processing, and retaining of their personal data for the purposes described. 

If applicants do not provide the requested data, their application for the KickStart Scholarship cannot be processed.