Financial Advice and Support
Studying at College can be financially challenging. If you need financial advice or help, NCAD has a range of supports available.
Student Assistance Fund
Round 2 of the Student Assistance Fund is now closed. All applicants have been contacted regarding the outcome of their award.
The Student Assistance Fund is available to students experiencing particular or unexpected financial hardship during the course of their study. This may be as a result of family breakdown, bereavement, accidents, health problems or other crises that result in unexpected financial difficulty. You can apply for help with the cost of rent, travel, books and art materials, utilities and other unexpected financial hardships. Payment to successful applicants will be made in two instalments, the first in November and the second in February.
Who can apply?
All full-time or part time registered students (undergraduate and postgraduate) for the 22/23 academic year are eligible to apply for assistance from the Student Assistance Fund.
What can the award be used for?
Students can apply under one of the following categories for assistance from the fund:
- Books and Materials
- Rental Expenses
- Electricity & Gas Bills
- Transport or Compulsory Transport Abroad
- Medical Expenses (Doctor/Dentist/Etc)
- Unexpected financial hardship (eg. Bereavement)
What documents will I need to provide?
Documents you may be requested to provide are:
- Copy of SUSI grant awarding letter
- Copy of your means tested social welfare payment (and/or that of your parent/guardian/spouse/partner)
- Receipts for travel, materials, utility bills, medical expenses, etc.
- Rent Book or Lease Agreement
- To prove household income a student may provide a copy of their/their parents P60 or P21
- If applying for Childcare Support, a copy of the birth certificate of the child/children and a letter from the childcare provider (nursery/creche) confirming that your child attends the provider and this statement should detail the monthly amount for each child within the current academic year.
How long will the process take and how will I be notified?
Applications may take up to six weeks after closing date to process. You will receive an email to your student email address stating the outcome of your application.
Further queries?
Feel free to contact us if you have any further queries on the Student Assistance Fund at studentassistance@staff.ncad.ie
Childcare Support Fund
Applications to the Childcare Support Fund are now open. For any queries relating to the Childcare Support Fund, please contact studentassistance@staff.ncad.ie.
The purpose of the Childcare Support Fund is to provide assistance towards the cost of childcare (nursery, crèche etc) for children of full-time students at NCAD, whose ability to participate in education may be adversely affected by childcare responsibilities.
Payment to successful applicants will be made in two instalments, the first in November and the second in February. The College does not have a crèche so it is necessary for students with children to make their own arrangements.
For further information and application forms for this fund, please contact the Access Officer, Finola McTernan, at the beginning of Trimester 1, mcternanf@staff.ncad.ie
The 1916 Bursary
Applications have now closed for 2022/23. For information on how to make an appeal please click here.
What is the 1916 Bursary?
The 1916 Bursary is a financial award to encourage the participation and success of students from sections of society that are significantly under-represented in higher education.
The 1916 Bursary is funded by 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 most under-represented in higher education.
To be eligible for a 1916 Bursary, all applicants must meet, Financial, Priority Group and College Entry eligibility criteria.
Each participating college has a limited number of bursaries which are awarded to the eligible applicants that present the greatest need.
How much is the 1916 Bursary worth?
Tier 1: €5,000 per annum. In 2022, Tier 1 Bursaries will be awarded to a total of 253 new entrant undergraduate students for the duration of their studies.
Tier 2: €2,000 per annum. In 2022, Tier 2 Bursaries were awarded to a total of 121 new entrant undergraduate students for the duration of their studies. Tier 2 Bursaries will be awarded to applicants who meet the criteria for the 1916 Bursary but who did not ultimately qualify for a Tier 1 bursary.
Tier 3: Once-Off Bursary (€1,500 payable for 2022/23 academic year only). The number of Tier 3 bursaries to be paid will depend on the amount of remaining funding available to each cluster following the allocation of Tier 1 and 2 bursaries (including for continuing students and students progressing to postgraduate study).
Tier 1 and 2 bursaries will also be paid as students progress into postgraduate study. This means that students already in receipt of a 1916 Bursary and who are completing their undergraduate studies will be entitled to continue to receive their bursary for postgraduate study.
Additional details are provided by the PATH 2 HEA guidelines
Who can apply for a 1916 Bursary?
Any students entering year 1 of an (undergraduate) programme in the academic year (2022/23), full or part-time, with a household reckonable income less than €24,500 in 2021, who are in the identified priority groups, can apply for the bursary. Students who are entering directly to year 2 of a programme can also apply.
What is the criteria to apply?
To see if you may be eligible to apply for a 1916 Bursary, please see the Criteria Quick Check at www.1916Bursary.ie
If I am unsuccessful, can I appeal?
Yes. Full details on making an appeal will be provided to all applicants who are initially unsuccessful in their applications.
There will be an Independent Appeals Panel to ensure your application was assessed fairly and in line with the criteria. An appeal must be made before the closing date. The appeal process will open on 21st November 2022 and will close on 28th November. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified on 21st November including information on how to make an appeal.
The appeals procedure is in respect of process only i.e., that you believe an administrative error was made.
No new information can be included or considered at appeal stage.
Appeals must be completed online before the closing date.
Appeals will be independently reviewed on the grounds that the information provided was considered, assessed, and ranked correctly. The information submitted in the online application and the supporting documentation received will be used in consideration of the appeal. It will not be possible to submit further documentation at the appeal stage.
The decision of the 1916 Bursary Appeals Board is final.
FAQ’s - The 1916 Bursary
Useful Links
NCAD Laptop Loan Scheme
Applications to the Laptop Loan Scheme are now open. For any queries relating to the Laptop Loan Scheme, please contact access@staff.ncad.ie.
The NCAD Laptop Loan scheme is available to you this academic year if you need to borrow a laptop for your studies and are not able to finance it. Please note there are a limited number of laptops available through the scheme.
Who can apply?
Full-time and part-time students (both undergraduate and postgraduate) are eligible to apply for a laptop under this scheme. This scheme covers both incoming first year students and returning students. To be eligible for a laptop you must be registered as a student in 2022-23 and be from a low income household, this is an annual income below €49,840.
Supporting documentation must be provided to be considered for this scheme. Your application will be assessed on your eligibility, and on the information you provide in the final question of this application. Laptops remain the property of NCAD and must be returned on completion of your course.
SUSI/Maintenance Grants
All queries regarding maintenance grants should be directed to the SUSI Support Desk.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday (9.00am – 5.30pm), excluding public holidays.
Email: support@susi.ie
Phone: 0818 888 777 or +353 1 524 2257 if calling from abroad
Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the only free, confidential, independent and non-judgemental service for people in debt, or in danger of getting into debt, in Ireland.
Their helpline 0761 07 2000 operates Monday to Friday from 9am - 8pm. MABS is funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board.
Consumer Help
This website provides excellent advice on managing your finances as well as an online budget planner.
