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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.

On this page:


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 (SAF) provides financial support to students who are experiencing short or long-term financial difficulties while attending higher education. Download the flyer for additional information.

Who is eligible to apply?

  • DkIT full-time registered students registered on courses leading to a higher education award (NFQ level 6-10) in the universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges are eligible to apply for SAF.
  • Part-time students registered for a course of not less than one year’s duration that leads to a higher education award at Level 6 to 10 of the national framework of qualifications and who belongs to one of the following target groups as specified by the HEA’s National Access Plan:
    • mature students
    • Students with a disability 
    • Irish Travellers
    • Further education award holders
    • Lone parents 
    • Ethnic minorities (including programme refugees)
    • People who are or were in the care of the state
    • Students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds

Eligible Expenses

The SAF is available to assist students who are unable to meet costs associated with day-to-day participation in higher education, including:

      • books and class materials
      • rent, heating and lighting bills
      • food
      • essential travel
      • childcare costs
      • medical costs
      • family difficulties e.g. bereavement
      • Students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds

Who cannot apply for the Student Assistance Fund?

    • Students in courses that do not lead to a higher education award are not eligible for SAF.
    • International students are not eligible for the Student Assistance Fund.

What do I need to do before I start my application form?

    1. You must agree to the DkIT Data Protection Policy for the Student Assistance Fund in order to proceed with the application 
    2. Be registered as a student at DkIT and apply with your DkIT student email account
    3. Gather your supporting documentation i.e. proof of welfare, bank statement, proof of susi, etc.

How to Apply 

Once you register as a student at DkIT you will receive your DkIT student details, including email address and a student id, which are required to make your application. Once you have received these details you can proceed with the following steps: 

  • Step 1: Review the application guide to see whether you are eligible
  • Step 2: Complete the online application form
  • Step 3: Upon receipt of your application, you will receive an email requesting the supporting documentation with a link where to upload them. You need to name each document, i.e. (Susi Letter). 
    Applications will not be processed unless you upload the necessary documentation as per the guide.
  • Step 4: You receive communication from DkIT with the result of your application

Watch the application walkthrough video.


DkIT Laptop Loan Initiative

The HEA (Higher Education Authority) has provided funding to individual third level colleges to allow for the purchase of ICT (laptops and other devices) to be given to students on loan. 
 
Students who receive this support must:

1. be able to demonstrate a “verifiable financial need” for this support ( explained in the guidelines)
AND 
2. also be a member of one or more of the following target groups, as specified in the  HEA’s National Access Plan.  i.e., People with Disabilities; Mature Students; Students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds; Students progressing from further education, Part-Time students and students of the Irish Traveller community.

Special consideration will also be given to first years students, however students from all years are invited to apply.

DkIT have a limited number of devices available to loan to student under this initiative. We expect demand will exceed supply therefore only those on the lowest level of income are invited to apply.

 

How to Apply

  • Step 1: Review the application guide which includes DkIT Data Protection and Consent Declaration Policy.
  • Step 2: Complete the online application form
  • Step 3: Upon receipt of your application, you will receive an email requesting the supporting documentation with a link where to upload them. You need to name each document, i.e. (Susi Letter).
    Applications will not be processed unless you upload the requested documentation.
  • Step 4: You receive communication from DkIT with the result of your application

Lapsafe Self-Service Laptop Loans

DkIT has 48 laptops available for students to borrow through Lapsafe, the self-service laptop kiosk for borrowing laptops.

Located in the Faulkner building adjacent to the MPC, students can borrow laptops for up to 24 hours at a time using their student card.

This ICT Laptop Loan Initiative is supported by the Department of Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 

Contact Us

  • Student Services Centre
  • Faulkner Building, F113