Supports to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection for Academic Year 2025/ 2026

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science advises all stakeholders of the following revisions to the delivery of supports to students who have been granted permission to remain from the Minister for Justice under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015 i.e. Displaced Ukrainian Students who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP). These measures will take from the start of academic year 2025/2026.

The revisions vary depending on whether the student is a new entrant or an existing registered student in tertiary education, as well as the duration of BOTP status.

Students whose initial Temporary Permission was granted by the Minister for Justice more than 3 Years before the start of the 2025/ 2026 Academic Year

Supports for entrants to a new Course whose initial Temporary Protection was granted more than 3 years before the start of the 2025/26 Academic year will be via existing schemes such as the Free Fees Scheme and/or the Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI.

Prospective students must meet the relevant eligibility criteria of those schemes to avail of supports.

What students should do

1. Discuss with the Fees Office of the institution they plan to attend to establish whether they will meet eligibility criteria for the Free Fees Scheme, and/or,
2. Apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) to check eligibility for financial supports.

SUSI (www.susi.ie) is now open for new applications for academic year 2025/2026 and prospective students should apply immediately.

To note:

1. Eligibility for the Free Fees scheme is subject to a number of criteria regarding nationality, residency, and academic progression.
2. Eligibility for the Student grant is subject to meeting criteria regarding nationality, residency, academic progression and means.
3. Both schemes have residency criteria. To meet eligibility criteria for SUSI applicants must have been resident in the State for 3 out of the last 5 years prior to the start date of their academic year.

Students commencing a higher education course at undergraduate level and whose initial Temporary Protection Permission was granted by the Minister for Justice less than 3 years before the start of the 2025/2026 Academic Year

Temporary Schemes for Academic Year 25/26 will be in place for eligible BOTPs whose Temporary Protection Permission was granted less than 3 years before the start of the 2025/2026 Academic Year and who:

1. are 2025 Leaving Certificate students (or equivalents) who become new entrants to Higher Education in Academic Year 25/26, and
2. have been resident in the State for the preceding six months prior to the 1st of October 2025.

A Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme will be in place for the 2025/2026 Academic Year for eligible BOTPs undertaking undergraduate courses. Fee supports will not be available for students commencing postgraduate courses in 2025/26.

A BOTP Stipend will be in place for the 25/26 academic year for eligible undergraduate students in Higher Education. In the case of students in this cohort whose primary address is less than 30kms to their college, the stipend will amount to €3,230 per annum. For those living 30kms or more from their college, it will amount to €7,586 per annum.

What students should do

At the time of registration, students are required to present evidence including Section 60 Temporary Protection, your primary address to the college authorities, along with confirmation of your bank details.

Students commencing an approved Post Leaving Certificate courses and whose initial Temporary Permission was granted by the Minister for Justice less than 3 years before the start of the 2025/ 2026 Academic Year

Temporary Schemes for Academic Year 25/26 will be in place for eligible BOTPs whose Temporary Protection Permission was granted less than 3 years before the start of the 2025/2026 Academic Year and who:

1. are 2025 Leaving Certificate students (or equivalents) who become new entrants to Further Education in Academic Year 25/26, and
2. have been resident in the State for the preceding six months prior to the 1st of October 2025.

A PLC Bursary will be in place for eligible students for the 2025/2026 Academic Year. In the case of students in this cohort whose primary address is less than 30kms to their college, the bursary will amount to €2,575 per annum. For those living 30kms or more from their college, it will amount to €6,115 per annum.

What students should do

A new Ukraine PLC Bursary Scheme will be opened and announced in the coming weeks. When this is open, details will be available on www.gov.ie . The Scheme will be subject to progression rules.

Students whose initial Temporary Permission was granted by the Minister for Justice more than 3 Years before the start of the 2025/2026 Academic Year

The Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme will continue to be in place for the 2025/2026 Academic Year for eligible BOTPs who are progressing in their course.

The existing BOTP stipend will cease. Students can check eligibility for maintenance supports via the Student Grant Scheme as administered by SUSI.

What students should do

1. Students may be asked to confirm that their Section 60 Protection remains valid to continue to avail of the Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme.
2. Apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) to check eligibility for maintenance supports. SUSI (www.susi.ie) is now open for new applications for academic year 2025/2026 and students should apply immediately.

To note:

Eligibility for SUSI is subject to meeting criteria regarding nationality, residency, progression and means.

Students whose initial Temporary Permission was granted by the Minister for Justice less than 3 years before the start of the 2025/ 2026 Academic Year

The Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme will continue to be in place for the 2025/ 2026 Academic Year for eligible BOTPs who are progressing in their course.

The existing BOTP stipend is being revised. The amount will now change, and adjacency criteria will be applied. In the case of students in this cohort whose primary address is less than 30kms to their college, the stipend will amount to €3,230 per annum. For those living 30kms or more from their college, it will amount to €7,586 per annum.

What students should do

At the time of registration renewal, students are required to present evidence of their primary address to the college authorities, along with confirmation of your bank details. You may also be asked to confirm that your Section 60 Protection remains valid.

Existing Students (Post Leaving Certificate) whose initial Temporary Permission was granted by the Minister for Justice 3 years or more before the start of their 2025/ 2026 Academic Year

The existing PLC Bursary will cease. Students can check eligibility for maintenance supports via the Student Grant Scheme as administered by SUSI.

What students should do

Apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) to check eligibility for maintenance supports. SUSI (www.susi.ie) is now open for new applications for academic year 2025/2026 and students should apply immediately.

To note:

Eligibility for SUSI is subject to meeting criteria regarding nationality, residency, progression and means.

Existing Students (Post Leaving Certificate) whose initial Temporary Permission was granted by the Minister for Justice less than 3 years before the start of their 2025/ 2026 Academic Year

In the case of eligible BOTPs who commenced Year 1 of a 2-year SOLAS approved PLC course in Academic Year 2024/ 2025 and are progressing into Year 2 of that course in 2025/ 2026 Academic Year, the PLC Bursary will continue to be in place.

In the case of students in this cohort whose primary address is less than 30kms to their college, the bursary will amount to €2,575 per annum. For those living 30kms or more from their college, it will amount to €6,115 per annum.

What students should do

A new PLC Bursary Scheme will be drafted and published shortly. When this is open, details will be available on www.gov.ie. SUSI will communicate the opening to students who commenced year 1 of a 2-year SOLAS-approved full time PLC course in the academic year 2024-25 and are progressing into year 2 of that course in 2025/ 2026. The Scheme will be subject to progression rules.

Temporary Protection Status will expire in March 2026, and the Department is awaiting a decision of the continuation or otherwise of this status after that date.

Where supports have been approved on the basis of above, payment will continue to be paid to eligible students for the duration of the 2025/ 2026 Academic Year, provided they meet necessary course requirements.

Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme, the BOTP Stipend and the PLC Bursary will be closed for any applicant starting a new course in the 2026/2027 Academic Year.

It should be noted that all revised supports are in respect of academic year 2025/2026 alone. Determination on eligibility and subsequent payment in the 2025/2026 academic year is not intended to create an expectation of continued payment into the following academic year.

Any queries regarding this technical notice should be emailed to Ukraine@dfheris.gov.ie

Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

6th May 2025