Irish Government Funding

You will need to be completing a study or work placement in the Republic of Ireland or Europe for a minimum of 28 days and up to 12 months in duration to apply for this funding.

The study or work placement must be approved by your Studies Advisor or Placement Tutor in your school before applying for funding.

The application form for funding is available here.

Please see below for more information on deadlines and eligibility criteria.

The grant amount will be calculated based on the number of days on placement. Duration is calculated from the first day a student is required to be at their place of study or work until the last date they need to be present. The grant can vary depending on the destination country and whether you meet the criteria under the scheme for additional support as a student from a disadvantaged background. The exact amount of funding you will receive will be outlined in your Student Grant Agreement.

Grant Rates

The amount of funding provided towards the cost of living for each participant will vary depending on the sector and destination country/territory.

Destination countries/territories will be grouped into three categories:

• Group 1 (high cost of living)
• Group 2 (medium cost of living)
• Group 3 (lower cost of living)

A full list of country groups is provided below. The rates that will be provided are:

Please note that placements lasting nine weeks to twelve months will receive the rates identified for this category for the full duration of the mobility and not the higher rates for the initial period of eight weeks.

Additional Financial Support

Students who meet the specific criteria for additional financial support as a student with Widening Access and Participation background will be entitled to receive a higher cost of living grant as outlined below:

Travel Grant

Students who meet the specific criteria for additional financial support as a student with Widening Access and Participation background will also receive a  contribution  towards the cost of  travel. This will be dependent on the distance between the University and the destination provider as outlined below:

• 10 to 99km: £20
• 100 to 499km: £165
• 500 to 1,999km: £250
• 2,000 to 2,999km: £325
• 3,000 to 3,999km: £480
• 4,000 to 7,999km: £745
• 8,000 to 12,000km: £905
• 12,000km+: £1,360

You will be eligible for a higher rate of funding if you meet one of the criteria below:

• You are in receipt of an Ulster University Access Bursary
• You are from an area of low higher education participation, low household income or low socioeconomic status (including those with an annual household income of £25,000 or less)
• You receive Income Support or Universal Credit and are financially supporting yourself or financially supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on you and living with them, such as a child or partner
• You are from a background of care
• You have caring responsibilities
• You have no living parents
• Your parents cannot be found or it is not reasonably practicable to get in touch with either of them (estranged students)
• You are a refugee or asylum seeker

Proof of the above criteria will be required as part of your application.

The Irish Government grant will be paid directly to your bank account in two instalments.

The first instalment will amount to 80% of your total grant and will be paid when you have completed and submitted the following:

• Approval for Placement form
• The ‘Before the Mobility’ section of your Learning Agreement for Traineeship/Studies
• Signed Student Grant Agreement
• Completed Student Medical Disclosure
• Completed Pre-Mobility Survey
• Signed Certificate of Arrival

The remainder of your grant will be paid to you when you have successfully completed your placement and submitted the following within 10 days of your mobility end date:

• The ‘After the Mobility’ section of your Learning Agreement for Traineeship/Studies
• Your signed Certificate of Completion
• The Post-mobility Survey

You can find these documents below.

All forms to be submitted to the  Global Opportunities Team

As an Ulster student in receipt of Irish Government mobility funding, you will be required to:

• Keep in touch with the Global Opportunities Team, as well as your Ulster study adviser / placement tutor
• Inform us of any placement changes, such as, but not limited to: start date, end date, location.
• If you return early from your placement, if you fail your year abroad, or if you breach the terms of your Student Grant Agreement, it is likely that you will have to return some or all of your grant.
• Complete all required documentation within the appropriate timeframe; if you do not, you should be aware that you may be considered ineligible to have received the grant and will be asked to return any money you have already been paid.

If you return early from your placement or if you contravene the terms of your Student Grant Agreement, it is likely that you will have to return some or all of your Irish Government-funded grant.

In any of these cases, you must let the Global Opportunities team know as soon as possible of any changes in your situation which may affect your eligibility to receive a grant.

Yes. Registered students from all nationalities and backgrounds are welcome to apply for Irish Government mobility funding.