Student Accommodation Assistance
Up to €6,000 for the academic year, which can include a lease of 51 weeks or 12 months or up to €3,000 if you only need accommodation for one semester. Your college bases the award on your verified rent and your assessed need and it depends on the funding available, so meeting the rules does not guarantee an award. It can be paid straight to you by bank transfer, in one or more instalments.
Last checked October 2026
What it is
Help with rent for Traveller and Roma students and students with experience of the care system, in higher education at college or university. It is paid from the Dormant Accounts Fund through the Student Assistance Fund in your college. Up to €6,000 an academic year towards your rent or up to €3,000 if you only need accommodation for one semester, based on your verified rent and need and subject to the funding available. You must be living independently to attend your course, for example renting away from home in student accommodation, a house share, private rented accommodation or digs. You must not be getting HAP, Rent Supplement or another public accommodation support. Care-experienced means you were in care in Ireland under a care order between the ages of 12 and 18 and you must not be getting an aftercare allowance. The closing date for 2026/27 applications is 16 October 2026, so apply through your college's access office now.
The participating colleges are Atlantic Technological University (including St Angela's College), Munster Technological University, South East Technological University, Technological University of the Shannon, Technological University Dublin, Dublin City University, Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Galway, University of Limerick, IADT Dun Laoghaire, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Marino Institute of Education, Mary Immaculate College, the National College of Art and Design, the National College of Ireland, St Patrick's College Maynooth and RCSI.
Experience of the care system means care in the Republic of Ireland under a care order under the Child Care Act 1991, including Section 5 of the Act. Traveller or Roma students who also have care experience do not need to fill in the care form.
If you are going abroad on Erasmus+ as part of your course you can still apply, but any award may be reduced so that your accommodation is not funded twice.
Who can get it
- You are a member of the Traveller or Roma community or you were in the care system between the ages of 12 and 18 and do not get an aftercare allowance. Traveller and Roma students self-declare and need no documents to show it, though everyone must show proof of rent
- You are ordinarily resident in Ireland and registered on a higher education course of at least one year at NFQ Level 6 to 10 in a participating college. Full time or part time, undergraduate or postgraduate, mature and repeat students included. You do not have to prove you are on a low income, but you must also meet the general eligibility rules of the Student Assistance Fund (section 2.1 of its guidelines), which your college applies
- You live independently to attend college, renting away from your home and you do not get HAP, Rent Supplement or another public accommodation support. International or non-EU fee-paying students and incoming Erasmus students are not eligible
- It can go towards purpose-built student accommodation on or off campus, private rented accommodation, a house share or digs. It cannot be used for a mortgage, social housing rent, renting from family (including extended family), renting from foster parents or former foster parents or your main home
- Care-experienced students need the Department's form signed and stamped by a social worker, care worker or Tusla representative. Your college can give you the form for your aftercare drop-in service or Tusla support worker to complete. Mature students with care experience must also show they did not get aftercare payments
- You can get help from the general Student Assistance Fund as well. Funding for the years after 2026/27 depends on each year's Budget
How to apply
Apply through the access office in your college. Bring your tenancy or licence agreement showing the monthly rent or if you are in digs without one, a bank statement or receipts showing your rent payments. You sign a declaration that the information is true. The closing date for 2026/27 is 16 October 2026, so check the process with your college's access or student support office straight away. The Department says it will issue further guidance on a second application window only if more funding becomes available.
Go to the official page →Checked against the official source on 13 October 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.
Questions people ask
Can Traveller students get help with college rent?
Yes. Student Accommodation Assistance gives up to €6,000 a year towards rent to Traveller and Roma students in higher education who live independently to attend college. You self-declare that you are a Traveller or Roma, with no documents needed for that and you show proof of your rent. The 2026/27 closing date is 16 October 2026.
I grew up in care. Can I get help with my rent at college?
If you were in the care system between the ages of 12 and 18 and you do not get an aftercare allowance, you may qualify for up to €6,000 a year. You need the Department's form signed and stamped by a social worker, care worker or Tusla representative.
Can I get Student Accommodation Assistance if I get HAP or Rent Supplement?
No. You cannot get it with HAP, Rent Supplement or any other public accommodation support.
Is it the same as the Student Assistance Fund?
It is paid through the Student Assistance Fund in your college, but it is a separate, ringfenced amount for rent. If you get it you can still apply to the general Student Assistance Fund.
Related guides
- Bursary for Young People with Care Experience
- SUSI Student Grant
- Free Fees Initiative
- Student Assistance Fund
- Fund for Students with Disabilities
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