Student Accommodation Assistance - Frequently Asked Questions for Students

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.

Below is a list of all participating Higher Education Institutions.

Universities

• 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

Institutes of Technology

• Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology
• Dundalk Institute of Technology

Other Colleges

• Marino Institute of Education
• Mary Immaculate College
• National College of Art and Design
• National College of Ireland
• St Patrick’s College, Maynooth
• Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences

To be eligible for the Student Accommodation Assistance 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 12-18 and are not in receipt of an aftercare allowance.

You have had care experience within the Republic of Ireland under a care order as legislated for in the Childcare Act 1991, including under Section 5 of the Act.

Eligible students must be registered on full-time or part-time courses leading to a higher education award (National Framework of Qualifications level 6-10) in Irish universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges as outlined above.

This funding is available for all types of accommodation, including but not limited to:

• Purpose-built student accommodation (Public and Private).
• Private rented accommodation.
• Shared accommodation (privately rented).
• Digs accommodation.

• Renting from family, including extended family.
• Renting from foster parents/former foster parents.
• Your primary/main residence

No, students must not be in receipt of another accommodation support e.g., Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), Rent Supplement or any other housing assistance to be eligible for the student accommodation assistance.

No, the funding is not provided for mortgage costs.

No, the funding is not provided for rental costs associated with Social Housing.

Yes, you can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Mature students with experience of the care system between the ages of 12-18 must show that they did not receive aftercare payments.

Yes, you can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Yes, you can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Yes, you can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Yes, you can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.

No, International/non-EU fee paying students are not eligible for this assistance.

Check with the access office or student support office in your college. It is important to apply as soon as you can. The closing date for applications is the 17th of October 2025.

Applications are made through the access office in your college.

Your lease agreement should be provided, which must include your rental fees per month.

For those who do not have a lease agreement, proof of rent payments should be provided for example by producing a bank statement showing these payments or producing a receipt of rent payment.

Your college can provide you with a form that you can bring to your local aftercare drop-in service clinic or to your local Tusla support worker to complete. This will also be made available at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-further-and-higher-education-research-innovation-and-science/services/student-accommodation-assistance/ .

The Student Accommodation Assistance is administered on a strictly confidential basis by your college. Any information you provide as part of your application is protected under the data protection regulations of your college.

A new application window will open in January 2026 and if eligible you may apply for the assistance then.

No, funding will depend on levels of demand. It is important to understand that it is your responsibility to pay any rental commitments in line with your lease agreement.

All applications will be processed by the access office in your college. You will be notified in November if you have been unsuccessful/successful in your application.

You will be emailed to your student email account. If your application has been approved this email will state, the amount of your payment and the date that payment will be made.

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

For example,

• If you are paying €4,000 in rental fees, you should apply for no more than €4,000 in assistance.
• If you are paying more than €6,000 in rental fees, you should apply for the maximum €6,000 in assistance.
• If you are applying for assistance for just one semester, the maximum assistance is €3,000 however, if you are paying €2,000 in rental fees for the one semester, you can only apply for €2,000 in assistance.

The funding will be paid into your bank account in two separate instalments. One payment will be made before the end of 2025 and the second will be paid in your second semester in 2026.

Before payments are made administrators will ensure that the student is attending their course on a regular basis.

It is important to understand that it is your responsibility to pay any rental commitments in line with your lease agreement. The Student Accommodation Assistance will not be paid in advance.

No, this is not guaranteed. This application is only for the 2025/26 academic year.