The opening of the 1916 Bursary Fund for the South Cluster of higher education institutions for the 2020/2021 academic year.

The Fund was established by the Department of Education and Skills to encourage the participation and success of students most socio-economically disadvantaged and from within groups significantly under-represented in higher education; it offers an annual bursary of €5,000 to successful applicants.

The South Cluster is comprised of the following higher education institutions: Cork Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Carlow, Institute of Technology Tralee, University College Cork and Waterford Institute of Technology, the cluster will award 35 bursaries in 2020/2021.

The 1916 Bursary Fund targets students entering higher education for the first time in 2020/2021 that:

a) experience socio-economic disadvantage (meet the SUSI Special Rate criteria)

    and

b) belong to at least one of the following target groups:

Socio-economic groups with low participation in higher education

Socio-economically disadvantaged area

Student with a disability

Lone parent with a DEASP means-tested payment

Irish Traveller

First time, mature student entrant

QQI Further Education award entrant

Ethnic minorities lawfully present in the State.

The online Application (Part I) opened on the 7th of May 2020 at www.soarforaccess.ie/1916-bursary-fund/. The closing date will be approximately five weeks after the 2020 CAO Leaving Cert Round One offers.

Once a student accepts a place in a South Cluster Higher Education Institution (HEI), they will receive an email inviting them to complete the online Application (Part II). This will involve providing additional information and uploading supporting documentation. One application will cover all five South Cluster HEIs.

For further information please Click Here. For queries please contact 1916BursaryQueries@saorfoaracecess.ie or email Stephanie Somers: access@traleeit.ie if you are interested in attending the Institute of Technology Tralee.