Following the successful pilot of the Student Accommodation Assistance for the 2024/2025 academic year – The Student Accommodation Assistance Scheme returns for the 2025/2026 academic year, funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) through Dormant Accounts Funding.
This scheme is designed to reduce the barriers that students from the Traveller and Roma communities and those with experience of the care system face when accessing higher education, particularly the challenges of securing affordable accommodation while living independently and is open to any relevant students hoping to attend/attending courses in MTU who are/will be living independently (see below).
Key Points:
- Funding available: Up to €6,000 per academic year (or €3,000 for one semester) towards rental costs.
- Eligible groups:
- Members of the Traveller community
- Members of the Roma community
- Students with care experience between ages 12–18 who are not in receipt of an aftercare allowance
- Eligible accommodation: On-campus or off-campus student accommodation, private rental, house shares or digs. (Mortgage or social housing rent is not covered.)
- Application windows:
- First window: September 2025 – closes 17th October 2025
- Second window: January 2026 – closes 6th February 2026
- Both undergraduate and postgraduate students (full-time, part-time, mature, and repeat students) are eligible.
- Students should apply directly with the access office or student support office in their college. The closing date for the first round of applications is the 17th of October 2025.
The aim of this scheme is to alleviate accommodation costs as a barrier to higher education and to support participation, retention, and success among underrepresented groups.
Frequently Asked Questions for Students
A helpful guide with frequently asked questions can be found here.
