The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) is co-funded by the Irish Government and European Union under the European Social Fund Human Capital Investment Programme.
The purpose of the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) is to assist further and higher education institutions in ensuring students with disabilities have the necessary assistance and equipment to enable them access, fully participate in and successfully complete their chosen course of study. The FSD is one of the main funding sources supporting participation by students with disabilities in approved further and higher education courses in Ireland. It also supports students from Ireland to study on approved courses in Northern Ireland, the UK and other EU countries.
Eligible students on an approved course can receive assistance from post-leaving certificate to doctoral level during any year of study. Full-time undergraduate courses must be not less than two years in duration. Part-time undergraduate courses must be not less than one year in duration. Postgraduate courses must be not less than one year in duration.
To be eligible for support under the FSD, a student on an approved course must:
- have a verifiable disability in one or more of the categories outlined
- meet the nationality and residency criteria outlined;
- be a participant on a full-time or part-time course; AND
- have a verified need for specific supports to enable attendance on their chosen course.
Please note a claim under the FSD is made on behalf of an eligible student by their college following an assessment of need. Applications cannot be made directly to the FSD by students.
Students are advised to apply for supports with the Disability Office as soon as possible so that supports available through the FSD can be accessed.
Further information on the FSD.
The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning.
Getting to University
There is no one route to third level. Some university students come straight from secondary level, others come to college later in life, some come from overseas and all pursue a variety of courses. The National Council for Special Education has published an Information Booklet on Post School Options for Adults and School Leavers with Disabilities and AHEAD have a range of information and resources on ways that students with disabilities can access college ahead.ie/accessingcollege.
School Leavers
Applicants with a disability applying for full-time undergraduate degrees at Maynooth University apply through the CAO. As part of your CAO application you are given the opportunity to let us know if you have a disability or a specific learning difficulty.
The CAO Handbook provides excellent information on completing your CAO application and the steps involved in disclosing a disability or specific learning difficulty.
You can also apply to DARE if you may not reach the points for your course because of the impact of your disability or specific learning difficulty.
Mature Students
Mature students who apply through the CAO can disclose a disability or specific learning difficulty as part of the CAO application. If you have been offered a place as a mature student and have not applied through the CAO you should contact the Disability Office to register with the service.
It’s a really positive thing to tell us about your disability as this is the first step to receiving a variety of academic supports that will help you reach your full potential while studying at Maynooth University.
For more information on applying to Maynooth University as a mature student please visit the Mature Student Office.
QQI/ FETAC Students
Students with FETAC qualifications who apply through the CAO can disclose a disability or specific learning difficulty as part of the CAO application.
It’s a really positive thing to tell us about your disability as this is the first step to receiving a variety of academic supports that will help you reach your full potential while studying at Maynooth University.
Part-time and International students are also encouraged to register with the Disability Office.
Top Tips for Students
- Make sure you know what documentation is required to register with the Disability Office.
- Check out Undergraduate Studies for advice on course choices and Open Days.
- Visit the campus and ask for a tour; discover the University’s student supports that are available.
- Think about the academic and personal skills you’ll need at college.
- Get in contact with the Disability Office as soon as you are offered your course.
- Put your name down for on campus accommodation if you are moving to Maynooth.
- Visit StudentFinance.ie to make sure you know your entitlements.
- Learn to use the Library website and add the Library Moodle space.
- Follow @MU_MAP on Twitter and get linked in with the office’s announcements, competitions & social activities.
- Read the Frequently Asked Questions that we get asked by students considering Maynooth.
- Look at the Maynooth University Campus Life pages and think about what Clubs and Societies you’d like to join.
Applications for the 2024/25 Maynooth University Undergraduate Scholarship for Students with Disabilities will open in December - date to be confirmed.
This scholarship is for students experiencing financial difficulty who are in the first year of their undergraduate degree, who have a significant disability and who have applied for supports from the Maynooth Access Programme. Up to 4 scholarships are available for 2024/25. Successful applicants will be awarded a scholarship of €1,400 for each year of their undergraduate degree, subject to satisfactory academic progress and to a maximum cap of 4 years for a full-time degree or 6 years for a part-time degree. The award is generally made in two instalments of €750 per semester.
The scholarship is open to students who meet the following criteria:
- You are a registered student at Maynooth University or jointly registered with Maynooth University & St.Patricks' Pontifical University, Maynooth.
- You are experiencing significant financial difficulty. See more information on this below.
- You are a first-time 1st year. You are not repeating a year of study.
- You are a full-time or part-time student on an undergraduate course at level 6 - Level 8, which takes not less than 2 years to complete.
- You have a significant disability requiring support from the Maynooth University Access Programme (MAP) and have had a Needs Assessment resulting in support being allocated. This support may be any of the following:
- A Personal Assistant (PA),
- A Notetaker,
- An Irish Sign Language (ISL) Interpreter,
- A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP),
- A referral to Student Central (you avail of support from an Assistant Psychologist at MAP),
- Transport to and from college paid by MAP,
- A recommendation for campus accommodation arranged by MAP,
- Flexibility on attendance at college due to impact of a disability, arranged by MAP.
- If you are an EU student studying in Ireland, you must satisfy residency requirements under the European Communities Regulations (Free Movement of Persons) 2006 and 2008: A person who is a family member of a person who is a national of
- an EU Member State,
- a state which is a contracting state to the EEA Agreement,
- the Swiss Confederation, and
- has permission to remain in the State as a family member of such person under the provisions of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 and 2008 and Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004,
is eligible to apply for the MU Disability Scholarship, provided they are 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.
Additional consideration will be given to applicants who are members of one or more of these underrepresented groups as this demonstrates the complexity of the intersectionality of socioeconomic disadvantage:
- First time mature applicants
- Irish Travellers
- Lone parents
- Applicants who are care-experienced
- Applicants who have experience of homelessness
Applicants will not be asked to provide documents evidencing any of the above groups as this information was already submitted by MAP registered students on the application for MAP supports. However, applicants who wish to upload extra documents evidencing the above may do so, and can use the secure upload link which will be provided if you apply to the Scholarship.
What does 'significant financial difficulty' mean?
This simply means that you are finding it hard to cover your additional costs while at college and that it is significantly affecting your participation in your study and/or your retention in college. You will be required to list your weekly outgoings on the application form and to provide supporting financial documents – usually this will only be proof of your family household income. If you apply to the Scholarship, you will be provided with this Supporting Documents Checklist to help you find out which document to provide and you will be supplied with a secure link to upload your confidential documents. Do not email your supporting documents.
Who is not eligible to apply:
- Applicants who have already secured funding from other significant Scholarship funds such as the 1916 Bursary or a scholarship of equivalent value (€2,000 or more per year) will not be considered for the MU Disability Scholarship. This does not include HEAR financial support or funding support from the Student Assistance Fund, Student Emergency Fund or Short Term Loan/other emergency supports.
- International students (non-EU) are not eligible.
- Occasional students are not eligible.
- Students on a course which takes less than 2 years are not eligible.
- Postgraduate students/students who are not in 1st year/students who are repeating first year, are not eligible.
- Students of St.Patrick's Pontifical University only, are not eligible. Only students of Maynooth University or students jointly registered with Maynooth University & St.Patrick's Pontifical University are eligible.
How to apply for the MU Undergraduate Disability Scholarship?
Complete the MU Undergraduate Scholarship for Students with Disabilities 2024/25 application form - link coming in December. When you complete the application form, you will be given instructions on next steps i.e. submitting supporting financial documents. Please note: you may need several weeks to gather your supporting financial documents. You will not be required to provide any documents on disability as MAP will use the information from your Needs Assessment.
How will your application be assessed?
Your application will be reviewed and assessed based on the eligibility criteria set out above, on impact of disability and on financial circumstances. You must meet all elements of the criteria.
- Eligibility criteria - 1st year, undergraduate etc, as set out above. This will be assessed by MAP. If you do not meet the basic eligibility criteria, your application will not be progressed.
- Disability criteria - your disability Needs Assessment information, which you provided when you registered with MAP, will be used to assess if you have a significant disability as outlined in the Scholarship criteria. You do not have to provide any further documents on disability.
- Priority group - this information was already been submitted when you applied for MAP supports. MAP will use this information in support of your application. You do not need to provide any further documents or information evidencing the groups listed above however, applicants who wish to upload documents evidencing any of the priority groups listed above may do so, and can use the secure upload link which will be provided if you apply to the Scholarship.
- Financial criteria - The decision on financial hardship will be determined by the Student Budgeting Advisor (SBA) based on the information you provide in the application form and on your supporting financial documents. In some cases, you may be asked to provide additional financial documents (e.g. your own bank statements) and/or to have an online/phone consultation with the SBA. You will be notified if this is the case.
- Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of available scholarships, the Needs Assessment/disabilty information will be reviewed by MAP to prioritise those applicants where the impact of disability is most significant.
Data Protection:
- The data you provide as part of your application to the Maynooth University Disability Scholarship will be used to process your application for the Scholarship.
- Some information may be used for the purposes of co-ordinating, monitoring and evaluating the operation of this scholarship;
- Some of the information you provide may be used for research and statistical purposes but these details will always be anonymised and none of your personal data will be identifiable;
- Some of the data you provide on this form may be shared with third parties within the university for the purpose of recommending you for other funding options;
- Maynooth University will not use the information you provide for any additional purpose other than processing your application to this Scholarship and those purposes stated above, without your express agreement;
- The information provided for your application will be held securely by Maynooth University in line with requirements of the Higher Education Authority (who provide funding) and Maynooth University data retention periods after which your information will be confidentially deleted. For information on the University's Data Retention Schedules, see the data protection webpage
- Maynooth University is the data controller. The Maynooth University Data Protection Office may be contacted with any Data Protection concerns: [email protected] 017086184.
