KickStart Scholarship
Applications Open: Yet to be confirmed for 2026/2027 Academic Year
About the KickStart Scholarship
The KickStart Scholarship, funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund, was established by the Irish Probation Service, and supported by the Irish Prison Service, to support persons with a criminal justice history experiencing socio-economic disadvantage to access Higher Education across the MEND cluster of 4 Higher Education Institutes (Technological University of the Shannon Athlone Campus, Dublin City University, Dundalk Institute of Technology and Maynooth University).
Two tiers of scholarship are available to be awarded to each MEND HEI to fund the entire duration of an awardee’s programme of study. Every KickStart applicant is offered wraparound advisory support and guidance regardless of the application outcome:
- One scholarship of €5,000 per year of undergraduate study to a maximum of €20,000 over 4 years of a full-time course or 6 years of a part-time course.
- One scholarship of €1,250 per year of undergraduate study to a maximum of €5,000 over 4 years of a full-time course or 6 years of a part-time course.
KickStart Scholarship applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have a criminal conviction
- Experiencing socio-economic disadvantage
- Registered in undergraduate third level education in the year of application.
Applicants must also:
- Be first-time undergraduates enrolled on a full-time or part-time course in one of the MEND publicly funded institutions that takes not less than two years to complete, and on the successful completion of which an applicant is awarded a major higher education and training award, at level 6 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications. There is no restriction on programme of study.
- Provide verification that they have been convicted of a crime which resulted in them having a criminal record and have either served time in prison and/or received a community-based Probation sanction which resulted in a criminal record.
As the impact of a criminal record is felt for many years after an individual has completed their court ordered sanction, there is no time limit on how recent their convictions were. NB: Irish citizens who have been extradited from another country to a prison in the Republic must have spent at least 2 years in Ireland in order to meet the criteria.
- Be able to demonstrate that they would qualify for Band 4 (0-3 dependents) of the Student Grant Scheme (SUSI) maintenance grant with a reckonable household income of or below €64,315 in 2025 or would qualify for full fees from SUSI with a Department of Social Protection (DSP) long-term means-tested social welfare payment such as Back to Education Allowance.
Please Note: Applicants must be able to provide evidence that shows they are experiencing socio-economic disadvantage equivalent to the SUSI maintenance rate of or below €64,315. All applications will be assessed in line with SUSI assessment process.
- Have been resident in the State (Republic of Ireland) for three of the past five years prior to the date their first year of study commences (evidenced by HEI Fee Status).
Applications will be assessed based on all the information provided. Priority will be given to applicants who meet the following additional criteria:
- First-time new entrants commencing their third level education in 2026/27.
- Those who are not in receipt of additional funding awarded to the same or greater value.
- Those who meet one or more of the following criteria, as this demonstrates the intersectionality of an applicant's criminal justice history and socioeconomic disadvantage:
- Qualify for the SUSI special rate of maintenance grant for 0-3 dependent children, or with an equivalent reckonable income under €28,600 in 2025
- Mature student (23 or older on 1 January of their year of entry to higher education)
- Further education and training award holder (FETAC/QQI) progressing to higher education
- Applicant with disabilities
- Member of Irish Traveller community
- Member of the Roma community
- Lone parent
- Applicant who is or was in the Care of the State / TUSLA
- Direct Provision residents who have been granted either refugee status, subsidiary protection status or leave to remain, who are living in or transitioning out of direct provision (within previous 3 years), as per section 14 of the Applicant Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 the Applicant Support Regulations 2021 (Statutory Instrument No. 132 of 2021).
- Is/was previously homeless (within previous 3 years)
- Is/was living in supported accommodation (within previous 3 years).
- Qualify for the SUSI special rate of maintenance grant for 0-3 dependent children, or with an equivalent reckonable income under €28,600 in 2025
The following students are not eligible to apply for a KickStart Scholarship.
Those who:
- Do not have a criminal record.
- Already have a qualification at the same level on the National Framework of Qualifications as the course on which they are currently enrolled /are intending to enrol.
- Have received funding through other multi-annual Scholarship or Bursary schemes with a value greater than €2,000 per annum.
- Are on a full-time or part-time undergraduate course that takes less than two years to complete, or on the successful completion of which an applicant is awarded a major higher education and training award at level 5 or below on the National Framework of Qualifications.
- Reckonable income is assessed as over the maximum income limit, as per the assessment criteria for SUSI.
- Have not lived in the Republic of Ireland for 3 of the past 5 years.
- Registered in Postgraduate study.
- Are in the protection system or at the leave to remain or at deportation order stage are not eligible to apply for a KickStart Scholarship.
This is in accordance with section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 the Student Support Regulations 2021 (Statutory Instrument No. 132 of 2021).
Persons who are in the protection system or at the leave to remain (not at deportation order) stage however can apply to be considered for support under the Student Support Scheme for people in the International Protection System (asylum seekers).
- Are currently living in direct provision.
The only exception is in respect of those residents who have been granted either refugee status, subsidiary protection status or leave to remain, and are currently transitioning out of direct provision (or within previous 3 years).
The top scoring KickStart Scholarship applicants will be requested to provide supporting documentation. All applicants should review the KickStart Scholarship 2026-27 Supporting Documents Checklist and start to gather evidence that confirms their application details, as this can take some time.
Please Note: If your personal circumstances make gathering financial documentation challenging, please contact our Student Support Officer for advice on completing this requirement.
Please email [email protected] or call into the Student Support Office, F167.
Before starting your KickStart Application:
- Review the criteria for the KickStart Scholarship and determine whether you are eligible to apply for this Scholarship. If you have any queries at any point as you work through this application form, please contact the [email protected].
Application Link will be provided once opening date has been confirmed.
Our Student Support Officer is available to you for guidance on completing your application form and on the supporting documentation you may need. They can also advise on alternative supports if you are not eligible for this scholarship. Contact [email protected] to seek support in relation to any aspect of your KickStart Scholarship application.
These scholarships meet the strategic objectives of the Working to Change Social Enterprise and Employment Strategy 2021-2023 and the Irish Probation Service Public Sector Duty Action Plan. The KickStart Scholarship is aligned with the objectives of the Unlocking Potential Fair Admissions Policy, DkIT Strategic Plan 2024 - 2028 and the National Access Plan 2022 - 2028.