KickStart Scholarship

Eligibility criteria

The priority group for the KickStart Scholarship Fund are applicants who: (i) have a criminal conviction, (ii) are experiencing socio-economic disadvantage, and (iii) are commencing undergraduate third level education. Applicants must be new undergraduates commencing third level education for the first time in one of these four MEND HEIs to apply to the scheme. Applicants must be first-time new entrants enrolled on a full-time or part-time undergraduate course in one of the MEND publicly funded institutions that takes not less than two years to complete and on the successful completion of which an applicant is awarded a major higher education and training award at level 6 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications. There is no restriction on programme of study. Applicants should be aware that information on criminal convictions may be required for Garda vetted programmes in accordance with the Convictions Policy of the relevant MEND HEI. Applicants must be able to show that they have been convicted of a crime which resulted in them currently having a criminal record and have either served time in prison and/or received a community-based Probation sanction which resulted in a criminal record. As the impact of a criminal record is felt for many years after an individual has completed their court ordered sanction, there is no time limit on how recent their convictions were. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they would qualify for the Student Grant Scheme (SUSI) maintenance grant at the cut-off set for the Kickstart Scholarship Scheme eligibility in that particular year or would qualify for full fees from SUSI with a Department of Social Protection (DSP) long-term means-tested social welfare payment such as Back to Education Allowance i.e. applicants must be able to provide evidence that shows they are experiencing socio-economic disadvantage equivalent to the SUSI maintenance rate limit set by the Scholarship Scheme in that particular year (details to be published each year). All applications will be assessed in line with SUSI assessment process. Applicants must also have been resident in the State (Republic of Ireland) for three of the past five years prior to the date their first year of study commences (evidenced by HEI Fee Status). Additional Prioritisation Criteria Applications are assessed on the basis of all information provided in the application process to weight the scholarships in favour of those applicants who meet additional prioritisation criteria. Priority will be given to applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria as this demonstrates the intersectionality of an applicant's criminal justice history and socioeconomic disadvantage. Applicant who qualifies for the special rate of maintenance grant or with an equivalent reckonable income at the same level (details to be published each year). First-time mature student (23 or older on 1 January of their year of entry to higher education) Further education and training award holder (FETAC/QQI) progressing to higher education Applicant with disabilities Member of Irish Traveller community Member of the Roma community Lone parent Applicant is or was in the Care of the State / TUSLA Direct Provision residents who have been granted either refugee status, subsidiary protection status or leave to remain, and are transitioning out of direct provision (within previous 3 years) per section 14 of the Applicant Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 the Applicant Support Regulations 2021 (Statutory Instrument No. 132 of 2021) Applicant who is/was previously homeless (within previous 3 years) Applicant who is/was living in supported accommodation (within previous 3 years)