Financial support for DSS students

 

Fund for Students with Disabilities

There is a fund available to eligible students with disabilities called the Fund for Students with Disabilities which can provide specific academic supports, personal assistants, sign language interpreters, etc. The Disability Support Officer makes applications to the Fund on behalf of an eligible student after an assessment of need with the student. Students cannot apply directly to the Fund, the funding is allocated to the college which the Disability Support Officer manages.

For MTU DSS Cork campus to apply for funding, the student must provide relevant documentation as evidence of a disability e.g. educational psychologist report, audiologist report etc.  Please note that letters from a GP are not accepted as evidence of a disability for the fund but may be accepted by the DSS for applying for supports**.  Students attending eligible courses in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK and the EU are eligible to apply for the fund dependent on residency criteria.

The Fund for Students with Disabilities is funded by the Government of Ireland and is managed by the Higher Education Authority. From 2014- 2020 it was an objective of the Third Level Access which was co-funded by the Department of Education and Skills and the European Social Fund as part of the European Social Fund Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

The Student Finance website has more information.

**Please note that students can still access DSS supports even if they are not eligible for funding from the Fund for Students with Disabilities.

 

MTU Student Assistance Fund

Registered MTU students can apply for financial assistance with the costs of going to college through the Student Assistance Fund (SAF).

For more information please see the SAF webpage.

 

Disability Allowance/ Other benefits

Students who receive disability allowance, other social welfare benefits and have questions about attending college or working while studying should contact their local social welfare office or their local Citizens Information centre.
 

1916 Student Bursary Fund

There are up to 7 bursaries of €5,000 available for each year of an undergraduate programme. Students who wish to come to MTU Cork campus and who come from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds in a range of categories including disability can apply up to 5 weeks after CAO Round 1 offer date.

Visit the website for more information and the online application form:

 

NCBI Bursary

The NCBI Gerald Byrne Bursary Fund consists of two annual grants for two undergraduate students only, with confirmed visual impairment or blindness, studying on a full-time basis at a recognised educational institution in the Republic of Ireland only. The value of each scholarship is set at €1,500 per year. NCBI may also offer a 6-month internship to one Bursary award winner per year, if appropriate to their area of study. The closing date is usually in July.

 

Dr Ciaran Barry Research Scholarship for postgraduate study

The Dr Ciaran Barry Research Scholarship run by the Central Remedial Clinic is available for a student with a disability and is open to any academic discipline undertaking a postgraduate degree. The scholarship covers one academic year up to a value of €5,000 and is not renewable. The closing date is usually in May.

 


Other useful websites relating to finance: