Application portal for the 1916 bursary is now open
Minister Lawless encourages students from underrepresented groups in Higher Education to apply for the 1916 Bursary
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, is announcing that the application portal for the 1916 Bursary is now open until 5pm on 9 October 2026.
The 1916 Bursary is a financial award to encourage the participation and success of students from National Access Plan priority groups that are significantly underrepresented in higher education. The Bursary can support student’s undergraduate study on either a full or part-time basis.
Minister Lawless is urging all eligible students to apply and said: “The 1916 Bursary makes a huge difference in the educational journey of students from the National Access Plan priority groups. Applications can be made online, and with the assistance of SUSI in the application, assessment and payments process, it is easier than ever for students to apply. I am encouraging all eligible students to make an application. Testimonials from previous awardees have shown that this is a valuable support for students. The guidelines for the Bursary and details on eligibility can be found at www.1916bursary.ie.”
The 1916 Bursary is currently co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and aims to encourage participation and success by students who are most socio-economically disadvantaged and from groups who are underrepresented in higher education. The availability of European Social Fund (ESF) funding for the last number of years has allowed for a significant increase in the potential bursaries that can be awarded.
Philip Connolly, Director of Services with SUSI said: “SUSI is proud to support the 1916 Bursary which encourages participation and success for students who are significantly underrepresented in higher education. We’re committed to delivering continuous service improvements for students accessing this funding. To date, we have streamlined the application process, launched a customer care channel and ensured students receive their supports as early as possible. The improvements will not end there as we continue to innovate and enhance the service for the future.”
Applications for the 1916 Bursary are open until 5pm on 9 October 2026. To be eligible for a 1916 Bursary, all applicants must meet financial, priority group and college entry eligibility criteria.
