Student Accommodation Assistance

Financial Assistance for Accommodation for Traveller, Roma, and Care Experienced Students in Higher Education

For the 2025/2026 academic year, funding is being provided to assist students from Traveller and Roma backgrounds and those with experience of the care system with the cost of accommodation, when living independently while attending third level education.

The aim of the Student Accommodation Assistance is to alleviate the cost of accommodation as a barrier to accessing higher education.

If an application is successful, how much assistance is available?

Amounts will vary depending on the cost of accommodation. The maximum assistance available in an academic or a calendar year is €6,000.

For example,

• If a student is paying €4,000 in rental fees, an application should be made for no more than €4,000 in assistance.
• If a student is paying more than €6,000 in rental fees, an application should be made for the maximum €6,000 in assistance.
• If a student is applying for assistance for just one semester, the maximum assistance is €3,000 however, if paying €2,000 in rental fees for the one semester, application can only be for €2,000 in assistance.

Who can apply?

Students must be a member of one or more of the following groups:

• Traveller Community
• Roma Community
• Have experience of the care system between the ages of 16 and 18 and are not eligible for an aftercare allowance

How to apply

Contact higher education institution's access/student support office

Closing Date

17th October 2025