The Financial Aid fund will close for the current academic year on March 29th.

All applications to the Fund must be submitted and completed by March 29th. If you are considering making an application you must do so before then. 

What Is the Financial Aid Fund for Part Time Students?

The Financial Aid Part-Time Fund provides financial assistance for part-time higher education students who are experiencing financial difficulties whilst attending college. It is a separate amount of monies allocated to part-time students that comes under the auspices of the Student Assistance Fund. 

The Financial Aid Part-Time Fund is part supported by the Irish government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF programme for employability, inclusion and learning 2014-2020. 

The fund cannot be used for tuition fees related to the course you are undertaking and is specifically intended to help students with the living costs associated with attending college. 

If you require any further assistance or information you may make an appointment online or in person.  

Who Can Apply For The Financial Aid Fund?

All part-time students (subject to EU status), registered on courses that lead to a higher education award (NFQ level 6-10), for the 2022/23 academic year will be eligible to apply for assistance from the fund. The Financial Aid Part-Time fund is a financially assessed fund, which requires the applicant to provide evidence of reckonable income for the 2021 financial year. Students earning over €49,840 are recommended to make an appointment to determine financial eligibility.  

However, students pursuing a programme at the same or lower level than a qualification they already possess are ineligible to apply. Students may be supported for one repeat year only. PhD applicants may be supported for years 1 – 4 only. 

This Financial Aid Part-Time Fund, as directed by the HEA (Higher Education Authority), is primarily targeted at lone parents or members of the other access target groups. However, any eligible part-time student who is facing financial difficulty should consider applying to the fund. 

The target access groups includes those who identify as:

How Do I Make an Application?

• Applying for the Financial Aid Part-Time fund is a two-part process. 

• First, you must complete the Financial Aid Part Time Fund Assessment Tool as it forms a mandatory part of your application (this is not your application) to the Financial Aid Part Time Fund. 

• Secondly, you must complete the Online Application Form and upload the pdf output from our Assessment Tool.

   

• A quick guide to using the Financial Aid Part Time Fund assessment tool:

  • Log in using your UCC student details (your UCC student admin portal details - umail and password). 
  • When the FinAid Part-Time assessment tool is completed and submitted, an email will be sent to your UCC umail account with a PDF Attachment containing the list of financial documentation required for your application based on the answers you have given to the various questions asked. This is a guide only. 
  • You must then fill out the Financial Aid Part Time online application form, attach a copy out of the Assessment Tool email output and the relevant financial documentation for your household situation. 
  • Due to COVID-19, there is no requirement to visit the office in person to submit your application.
  • Physical visits to the Financial Aid Part-Time Fund offices are not permitted, but online and face-to-face consultations can be requested via the section of this website. We do not accept applications by email. 

   

• If you are unable to complete the assessment tool due to your unique situation, believe that the guidance produced from the assessment tool varies from your actual situation, had a change of circumstances, traveled, or worked abroad, or have a complex situation, then you need to make an appointment to meet us online or face-to-face. 

What If I Have Any Questions About The Form Or The Process?

All queries on the application form can be answered by first reading the information on this website. 

Any additional questions can be emailed to the Administrator: 

Email: FinancialAidPartTime@ucc.ie 

Web: https://www.ucc.ie/en/sfsa/financialaidparttime/ 

What Income Do You Assess?

ALL STUDENTS must complete the Financial Aid Part Time Fund Assessment Tool prior to submitting their online application. The Assessment tool will guide you in what documentation you will need to upload alongside your online application. While assessing your Financial Aid Part Time Fund application, we will take into account income for the previous calendar year. While not an exhaustive list, the following are some factors that we consider: 

• Whether or not you are living with your parents 
• Your age on 01 January of the first year of entry to your present course of study 
• Your financial independence 

Please note: That if you were receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) for the year 2021, you will be required to provide a Statement of Liability for 2021 along with a Department of Social Protection 2021 statement. 

What Can The Award Monies Be Used For?

There is no longer a requirement to submit receipts to receive your award. The new simplified procedure will be explained if you are successful in your application for funding.

The following items are allowable types of expenditure for the Part Time Financial Aid Fund: