Marie Birkett Bursary

Verifying Care Experience

Care Experience: For those who have been in care of the state a letter from Tusla or other Fostering Organisation including the applicant’s name, date of birth, and confirming they were in care of the state for more than three months. Kinship care placements arranged through the courts/ Tusla should also provide a Tusla letter.

Verifying Kinship Care Experience

Informal Kinship Care Experience: Evidence of informal kinship care should normally include at least two forms of supporting documentation from the list below:

Guardianship documentation (where legal guardianship was granted before the applicant turned 18).

Confirmation that the kinship carer received Child Benefit on behalf of the applicant before they turned 18.

Confirmation that the kinship carer received the Guardian's Payment (Contributory or Non-Contributory).

A letter from a school confirming the applicant resided with the kinship carer and identifying them as the primary parent/guardian or emergency contact.

A letter from a GP or other healthcare professional confirming the applicant's long-term residence with the kinship carer.

A letter from a social worker, family support service or other statutory agency familiar with the family's circumstances.

A letter from a recognised community or voluntary organisation (such as Kinship Care Ireland) supporting the applicant's circumstances.

Other documentary evidence demonstrating that the kinship carer was the applicant's primary caregiver during childhood.

SUSI Verification

Your most recent SUSI letter pages which must show your name, address and the "Assessed Reckonable Income". See here for an example: Sample-SUSI-Grant-Award-Letter.pdf

Alternative verification if SUSI unavailable

Documentary Evidence

If you have not been awarded a SUSI Grant you must provide documentary evidence to demonstrate that you meet the SUSI Special Rate criteria for the 2025 reference year. You are required to submit evidence of your own income and the income of all relevant household members for the 2025 reference year, including income from parents/guardians, a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant (where applicable). You must also provide evidence that either you or a relevant household member was in receipt of an eligible long-term Department of Social Protection (DSP) payment during the 2025 reference year, in accordance with the SUSI Special Rate criteria. Please note that more than one document may be required. The number and type of documents required will depend on your income sources, household circumstances and the evidence required to confirm eligibility under the Student Grant Scheme Special Rate criteria. All income sources and eligible social welfare payments being considered as part of the assessment must be supported by the appropriate documentary evidence. The documents required are determined by:

· Your applicant type (dependent student, mature dependent student or independent mature student);

· The number of dependent children in the household;

· The number of other relevant persons in further or higher education; and

· The source(s) of household income.

You must submit all relevant financial document(s) listed in the table below. Failure to provide sufficient evidence for all income sources may result in your application being deemed incomplete.

Application Process

• Applications for the Marie Birkett Scholarship must be submitted by Friday, 23 October 2026.
• Be an undergraduate student entering Year 1 of a degree programme
• Applicants must complete the online scholarship application form
• Only fully completed applications received by the closing date will be considered.
• Applicants must ensure that all required supporting documentation is submitted by the deadline.
• The scholarship scheme will open in September 2026 for students enrolling in first year for the 2026/27 academic year.

Selection Process

• Applications will be assessed by the University’s selection panel.
• Where multiple applications are of an equal standard, preference will be given to applicants demonstrating greater financial need.
• The University’s selection decision is final.
• Detailed feedback is not available to unsuccessful applicants.

Terms and Conditions

The Marie Birkett Bursary will be awarded to one first year new entrant University of Galway student. The bursary will award 6000 per annim for a maximum of four consecutive years.

2. The Bursary Panel will consider the application form and supporting documentation to determine who will be awarded a bursary. Evaluation of applications will be on the basis of financial need, demonstration of impact on studies, future career potential and personal circumstances. The bursary panel's decision is final.

3. Students will not be entitled to receive this bursary in conjunction with any other bursary, scholarship or award of similar description.

4. Any offer of a Bursary is dependent upon information being truthful and accurate and upon the applicant fulfilling all of the conditions of the Bursary. The right to withdraw an offer is maintained in the event of any error or omission whatsoever in the information provided by or on behalf of the Applicant. The Applicant will be given 14 days' notice in writing that the offer is being withdrawn.

5. The bursary will only be awarded to Applicants who have been formally offered a place on a designated course by University of Galway.

6. Detailed feedback is not available in the case of an unsuccessful application.

7. Each Bursary is for the named person on the application only.

8. The Bursary will be renewed each year subject to the scholar being in good academic standing. Scholars will be expected to adhere to the regulations of the Institution and to undergo every term examination or any other examination determined by the authorities of their Institution for their course.

9. The Scholar must commence his or her programme of study during the academic year of 2026/27. The Scholar must successfully complete their programme of study within the standard time-frame. The duration of the Scholarship will be clearly stated upon confirmation of award and will not be extendable to cover any deferred or repeated year. Authorised postponements will be considered only in exceptional circumstances, and for a valid reason. In the event that no reasons are provided, it will remain within the discretion of University of Galway to withdraw the Scholarship.

10. If a bursary holder withdraws from the programme for which s/he has registered or fails to continue throughout the year to meet the attendance and other requirements for the programme, including examination entry, s/he may be required to repay to the University the whole or part of the bursary in which case the University shall, in consultation with and subject to the agreement of the Donor, determine an alternative application for the refunded funds, consistent with the wishes of the Donor and informed by its original purpose.

11. The Scholar will agree to allow the Institution to share certain data (name, course, student ID number, institution, etc.) with other parties within the Institution as required with the scholar's express permission.

12. All bursary recipients must adhere to the University of Galway student Code of Conduct.

13. University of Galway, in consultation with the supporter, reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions on notice to the scholars where necessary.

14. The bursary recipient may be invited to attend an award ceremony and participate in donor engagement or impact reporting activities. The University may invite the recipient to provide a photograph, biography or statement about the impact of the bursary. Any use of these materials in public communications will be explained to the recipient and handled in accordance with the University’s data protection policies.