Bursary for Young People with Care Experience
Up to €5,000 towards the tuition fees on a further education or training course, paid straight to the college rather than to you.
Last checked August 2026
What it is
For anyone 18 or over who spent at least 6 months in care in the Republic of Ireland before their 18th birthday. It pays up to €5,000 towards TUITION FEES for further education or training, a new course or one you are already on. You must not be getting a SUSI fee grant, and you need to be able to show why. Applications for 2026 open on 31 August and close at 5pm on Friday 2 October. Tusla will not consider anything late or incomplete, so start it early. Ask your Aftercare Worker or Tusla Support Worker, they have to sign it off.
Who can get it
- You are aged 18 or over.
- You spent at least 6 months in care in the Republic of Ireland before your 18th birthday, under Section 4, 17 or 18 of the Childcare Act 1991.
- You are looking for help with tuition fees, either for a new course or one you are already on.
- You are NOT eligible for, and not getting, a SUSI grant for fees, and you can show evidence of that.
- Your Aftercare Worker or Tusla Support Worker will confirm your care history, and your college will give you a letter confirming your place.
- It is fees only. Applications cannot be made for course equipment, ICT equipment, driving lessons or accommodation costs.
- The money never comes to you. Tusla pays the college or training centre directly, on a valid invoice, and it will not reimburse fees you have already paid yourself. So apply before you pay.
- The 2026 window is 31 August to 5pm on Friday 2 October, and Tusla states plainly that applications received before or after those dates will not be considered. Incomplete ones are not considered either.
- The amount is not automatic. A Tusla Education Champions panel decides each award, and it weighs the size of the fund against how many valid applications come in, so you may get less than you asked for.
- This is a different thing from the Standardised Aftercare Allowance, which is a weekly payment while you are in education. You may be able to look at both.
How to apply
Applications go through Tusla. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.
Go to the official page →Checked against the official source on 28 August 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.
Questions people ask
How much can I get?
Up to €5,000 towards tuition fees. The exact amount is decided by Tusla's Education Champions panel, which takes into account how many valid applications it receives so the fund is shared out fairly. You may be awarded less than you apply for.
I am already getting a SUSI grant, can I apply?
No, not if SUSI is covering your fees. The scheme is specifically for people who are not eligible for, or not receiving, a SUSI fee grant, and you have to be able to evidence that as part of your application.
Can it pay for a laptop, my rent or driving lessons?
No. Tusla states that applications cannot be made for course equipment, ICT equipment, driving lessons or accommodation costs. It is tuition fees only.
When do I have to apply by?
The 2026 window runs from Monday 31 August to 5pm on Friday 2 October. Nothing sent before or after those dates is considered, and neither are incomplete applications. You need a sign-off from your Aftercare Worker or Tusla Support Worker and a letter from your college, so start gathering those early.
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