Student Finance Supports
We recognise that some students may face financial difficulties during their time at college and as such we have a number of supports and services available to students to help them manage their money matters.
Budgeting Advice
Going to college is an exciting time whether you are staying at home or moving away but it can be tough financially if you don’t have a regular income and you are on a tight budget. With so many new costs and financial products to consider it can be hard to manage your cash. Below we have listed some useful sites and resources to help you manage your budget.
- DkIT Students Union: Information on managing your money sensibly can be obtained from the DkIT Student Union website.
- Competition & Consumer Protection Commission: The Competition & Consumer Protection Commission provides free and expert information on personal finance and managing money. Check out Going to College on their website and other useful links prior to starting college. Their budget planner will help you to work out what you are spending your money on and compare this with your income. This will allow you to work out a plan that suits you and help you to keep control of your spending effectively. Their Spending Calculator will help you to understand where you’re spending your money and help you to work out a realistic budget you can stick to. it’s a good idea to work out a budget.
- Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS): MABS provides free and expert information on managing your money. The MABS Budgeting Tool will help you work out what you are spending and how to keep it under control while the MABS School Leavers Checklist is full of useful information for your first year after leaving school.
- Information on Fees and Grants at DkIT: We have all the information you could need relating to fees, grants and scholarships at DkIT.
Student Assistance Fund
The Student Assistance Fund for this term will go Live on Thursday October 1st 2026, and will remain open until 8pm Wednesday 21st October 2026.
All applicants will receive their application outcome on Monday, 16th November 2026.
The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial support to students who are experiencing short or long-term financial difficulties and are unable to meet the costs associated with day-to-day participation in Higher Education. SAF is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.
Successful Applicants may receive support of up to €1,500
Student may only submit one SAF Application per academic year.
Full-time or part-time students, registered on courses, of not less than one year’s duration, that lead to a Higher Education Award (NFQ level 6-10), and who are socio-economically disadvantaged and belong to one of the following target groups as specified by the HEA’s National Access Plan:
- Lone Parents/Teen Parents
- 1st time Mature Students
- 2nd time Mature Students
- Students with a Disability
- Care Experienced Students
- Domestic Violence Survivors
- Students who are Carers
- Irish Travellers
- Members of the Roma Community
- Further Education award holders
- Lone Parents
- Ethnic Minorities (including programme refugees)
- Students with experience of Homelessness
- Students with experience of the Criminal Justice System
Students on Springboard+ courses, or who are on blended/distance learning courses, are also eligible to apply for support through the Student Assistance Fund subject to meeting the criteria outlined above.
- Complete your Course Registration.
- Prepare your Personal Statement, approx. 500 words (see SAF Guidelines, page 4. add link).
- Gather all necessary supporting documentation (see SAF Guidelines, page 5. add link).
- Prepare all supporting documentation for upload, by saving each document using the following format:
Student Name – Document Name (examples below)
Joe Bloggs – SUS Awarding Letter 26/27
Joe Bloggs – Bank of Ireland Statement (12th July 2026 – 12th Oct 2026)
Joe Bloggs – Revolut Statement (12th July 2026 – 12th Oct 2026)
Joe Bloggs – Statement of Liability 2025
Joe Bloggs – Mums Statement of Liability 2025
What are considered Eligible Expenses?
The Student Assistance Fund is available to assist students who are unable to meet the costs associated with day-to-day participation in higher education, throughout the duration of the academic year, including:
- Books and Class Materials
- Utility Bills - Rent, Heating, Lighting, Mobile phone data plans.
- Food
- Essential Travel
- Childcare Costs
- Medical Expenses
- Emergency Support such as Family Difficulties
What are considered Ineligible Expenses?
Funding is not available to assist students with the costs of:
- Tuition Fees
- Registration Fees
- Student Loans
Who is ineligible to apply?
- Students on courses that do not lead to a Higher Education Award (NFQ Level 6-10).
- International students/non-EU fee paying students.
Link will be provided here once ready. Please check back soon
Laptop Loan Initiative
The Laptop Loan Initiative for this academic year is now LIVE.
If your online application is successful, you will be awarded the loan of a laptop for the duration of your studies.
The HEA (Higher Education Authority) has provided funding to individual third level colleges to allow for the purchase of laptops to be given to student on loan.
Students who are eligible to receive this support:
- Student must be in receipt of one of the following:
- SUSI Special Rate of Maintenance
- SUSI 100% Maintenance
- Means-tested Social Welfare Payment eg. BTEA, Disability etc.
AND
- Student must also be a member of one or more of the following target groups:
- Those disadvantaged by socio-economic barriers
- First-time mature students
- Students with disabilities (the NAP prioritises physical / mobility / sensory disability)
- Part-time/flexible learning students
- Students who hold further education qualifications
- Students who are members of the Traveller/Roma communities and minority ethnic groups
- Mature Students
- Lone Parents
- HEAR Eligible Students – only applicable for 1st yr students
- Complete your Course Registration.
- Gather all necessary supporting documentation (see Laptop Loan Initiative Guidelines, page 5. Add Link).
- Prepare all supporting documentation for upload, by saving each document using the following format:
Student Name – Document Name (examples below)
Joe Bloggs – SUS Awarding Letter 26/27
Joe Bloggs – Social Welfare Statement 2026
(Link will be provided here once ready. Please check back soon.)
Lapsafe Self-Service Laptop Loans
DkIT has 48 laptops available for students to borrow through Lapsafe, our self-service laptop kiosk. Students can borrow laptops for up to 24 hours at a time using their student card.
Located in the Faulkner building adjacent to the MPC.
How to Use
Instructions for borrowing and returning laptops from Lapsafe
Download Lapsafe Terms and Conditions
This ICT Laptop Loan Initiative is supported by the Department of Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
