Financial Aid Fund

What are the Financial Aid Funds

The Financial Aid Funds are operated by Professional Services providing financial supports to students experiencing short or long-term financial difficulties while attending higher education. The Funds are partly supported by the Student Assistance Fund with additional funding provided by NUI Galway.

The Student Assistance Fund is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

The NUI Galway Financial Aid Funds are overseen by a Steering Group comprising of Professional Services with the Students Union and Academic College representatives.

The Funds are intended to tackle disadvantage by providing financial support to enable students fully benefit from their third level studies. Financial problems can arise for several reasons and NUI Galway endeavours to offer opportunities for students to apply for financial assistance and support in a number of ways. The FAF provides a further source of funding for higher education students in addition to the (SUSI) Student Grant.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any NUI Galway student who is currently registered on a full-time or part-time programme of one year’s duration or more that leads to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification and each fund has specific eligibility criteria.

When will the fund open for the academic year 2021/22?

We are opening the Financial Aid Fund for the academic year 2021/22 in mid-September 2021. The Means Tested Funs are scheduled to open in early October.

Four Options to Consider:

The Financial Aid Fund is divided into four funds as follows:

International Student Hardship/Emergency Fund

For non-EU students who are living in Galway and who have had a significant life changing experience within the last 12 months

International Student Hardship/Emergency Fund

Hardship/Emergency Fund (Irish and EU Students)

For Irish and EU (including UK) Students who have had a significant life changing experience within the last 12 months that has impacted on their financial plan for attending University.

Hardship/Emergency Fund (Irish and EU Students)

Means Tested Fund

For Irish and EU Students with a gross family income less than €43,380

Means Tested Fund

HEAR|Access Fund

For HEAR students, Access School Leavers and Access Mature students

HEAR|Access Fund

Who is not eligible to apply?

Incoming ERASMUS students
Students who have completed a Degree/Masters/PhD and are undertaking a second qualification at the same level. However, in extreme circumstances students from Graduate Entry programmes, will be considered.
Students owing the student levy may apply but will not be eligible to receive an allocation while the levy is unpaid.
Students living outside of Ireland (in the case of the International Financial Aid Fund).

What costs are eligible under the fund guidelines?

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

books and other class materials
rent, heating, lighting bills and other utility bills e.g. data plans
food
essential travel
childcare costs
medical costs
family difficulties e.g. bereavement
other expenses that are required to enable students to continue and participate in teaching and learning and/or complete examinations

What costs are ineligible under the Fund?

Funding is not generally available to assist students with the costs of tuition fees, registration fees, student loans or any costs that are borne by the Higher Education Institute.

What happens after you apply?

When you save or submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email to your NUI Galway email account.
Your application is reviewed by NUI Galway Professional Services staff to validate your eligibility. In a small number of instances, where consent is given and your application is deemed suitable, staff may advocate on your behalf for additional funding from external agencies.
The value of each allocation from the Hardship/Emergency funds is established by a sub-committee of the Financial Aid Funds Steering Group. If deemed eligible for funding, based on criteria decided upon by the Steering Group, the money will be deposited in the bank account you specify and you will receive an email confirming this from a Financial Aid Funds administrator.
Applicants who are ineligible will also receive an advisory email.

We protect your data

Under GDPR your personal data collected as part of the application process may be processed for the purposes of coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the operation of the Fund and to comply with European Union requirements. This personal data may include personally sensitive data where you choose to share that data and your data may be shared with third parties for monitoring and reporting on co-financed activities.