PLC Bursary for Displaced Persons (Ukraine) Scheme 2024: Your questions answered

Программа стипендий PLC для перемещенных лиц (Украина) 2024 г.: Ответы на ваши вопросы

Програма «Стипендія PLC для переміщених осіб (Україна) 2024»: Відповіді на ваші запитання

Post Leaving Certificate courses are full-time and last for one to two years. The courses generally lead to major awards at National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Levels 5 and 6. PLC courses are delivered by Education and Training Boards (ETBs).

PLC courses take place in schools, colleges and community education centres and are available in all regions of the country.

PLC courses adopt an integrated approach, focusing on technical knowledge, core skills and work experience. They are designed as a step towards skilled employment and, as such, they are closely linked to industry and its needs with many leading to an industry recognised qualification. They also offer an alternative route to higher education and can give students the opportunity to try out a subject of interest to them before progressing to work or higher education.

Courses are delivered in a wide range of disciplines including:

• agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary.
• arts and humanities.
• business and administration and law.
• education.
• engineering, manufacturing and construction.
• generic programmes and qualifications.
• health and welfare.
• information and communication technologies (ICTs).
• natural sciences, mathematics and statistics.
• services.
• social sciences, journalism and information.

Below you can find a list of PLC courses provided by an approved institution in the 2024-25 academic year.

Note: The PLC Bursary for Displaced Persons (Ukraine) Scheme 2024 is not payable to those undertaking FET courses such as English language training and is only payable to eligible students on a full time PLC course.

There is no cost associated with undertaking a Post Leaving Cert (PLC) courses since the start of the 2021/22 academic year.

The scheme is aimed specifically at persons who have entered the State as a result of the emergency situation in Ukraine and who:

• are living in Ireland
• have been granted temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015 and
• would like to participate in a SOLAS-approved full time post leaving certificate (“PLC”) course in their local Education and Training Board.

Closing date for applications

Please submit your application no later than in the last calendar month of attendance by a student on an approved course to which the application relates.

The Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55 EC) has been activated by EU Council Decision EU 2022/382 of 4 March 2022, to provide immediate protection in EU countries for people displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This requires, among other, that qualified persons under this Act will be able to access education on the same basis as Irish citizens.

On arrival in the state or shortly thereafter displaced Ukrainian nationals will be provided with a letter from the Minister for Justice confirming that they are a beneficiary of Temporary Protection in Ireland granted under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. This evidence will be requested by the awarding authority.

I lived in Ukraine but I’m not Ukrainian, can I apply for the scheme if I register on a PLC course?

Yes if you have temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015 you can apply. The temporary protection also applies to non-Ukrainian citizens who were living in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 with their Ukrainian family.

People who were living in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 as refugees, or with another form of international protection, or as a stateless person can also benefit from temporary protection. Family members of these groups are included if they lived in Ukraine before 24 February 2022.

I lived in Ireland before the war but I’m from Ukraine, can I apply for the scheme if I register on a PLC course?

Yes if you have successfully obtained temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015 from the Department of Justice.

I’m an existing PLC student but I don’t get a SUSI grant. Can I apply for the PLC Bursary for Displaced Persons (Ukraine) Scheme 2024?

Only those who have been granted temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015 can apply.

The Bursary is payable at either the adjacent rate of €2,575 or €6,115 non-adjacent rate of for the academic year 2024/2025 in accordance with the criteria outlined below:

(1) The non-adjacent rate of bursary is payable to:

• eligible students who provide evidence that their normal residence is 30km or more from the approved institution they are attending and
• eligible students who started year 1 of a 2 year PLC course in 2023-24 and are progressing into year 2 of that course in 2024-25.

(2) The adjacent rate of bursary shall be payable to eligible students in all other cases.

The bursary payable in respect of a month shall be one-ninth of the annual rate.

The first payment will not be made until confirmation from the approved PLC college has been received that the applicant has been registered as a student and is attending a full time SOLAS approved PLC course.

Payment will be made into the recipient’s open and active Euro account in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) that can accept Electronic Fund Transfers (including new Irish bank accounts opened on arrival to the State as well as Revolut and N26). Applicants are advised to check with their financial institution if in doubt.

I’ve applied but how will I know if I am getting this bursary?

Eligible applicants will be notified once their PLC college has confirmed their registration on a full time SOLAS approved PLC course.

Do I have to show that I am registered on a PLC course to get the bursary?

No, once you apply for the bursary, the awarding authority will process your application. They will contact the approved institution on your behalf and they will confirm your registration and attendance on the PLC course.

A Beneficiary of Temporary Protection who is in receipt of a Jobseeker’s payment and wants to take up a PLC course may be eligible for income support under the Back to Education Allowance, subject to meeting the scheme conditions.

Prior to applying for the PLC Bursary Displaced Persons (Ukraine) Scheme 2024 it is important that you contact the local INTREO centre and ask for the Employment Personal Adviser and check whether you are entitled to the Back to Education Allowance which may be of more value than this bursary.

What the Back to Education allowance is

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support to certain DSP customers to undertake a range of education and training options with the aim of improving labour market opportunities.

Where a student is eligible for BTEA they can apply through the Department of Social Protection for this support and not the DFHERIS PLC Bursary for Displaced Persons (Ukraine) Scheme 2024.

Criteria to qualify for the Back to Education Allowance

In order to qualify for BTEA a DSP customer who wishes to become a student of a PLC course must be:

a. a specific age.

b. in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specified period of time.

c. commencing the first year of a course of study.

d. pursuing a course of study which requires full-time college attendance for the complete academic year.

e. undertaking a course of study that is leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college.

f. progressing in the levels of education held.

Specific criteria

For a person on a Jobseeker Payment including Jobseekers Transitional Payment:

• aged at least 21.
• if aged between 18 and 20, then 2 years outside formal education.
• in receipt of a qualifying payment for 3 months or more.

For a person in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Disability allowance:

• aged at least 18 years.
• in receipt of a qualifying payment for 3 months or more.

Note: Periods spent on different qualifying payments can be combined to meet the qualifying period. Time spent receiving Supplementary Welfare Allowance counts towards meeting the qualifying period.

I don’t know if I am eligible for BTEA, how do I find out?

If you have any queries on the eligibility criteria please contact your Employment Personal Adviser at your local INTREO office.

I have been told by Department of Social Protection that I am eligible for BTEA. Can I apply for this scheme too?

No, you cannot retain your social welfare payment and/or transfer to BTEA and also be in receipt of this bursary.

I don’t want to do a PLC but I’d like to do some training that might help me find employment. Can I apply to this scheme?

No, you can only apply to this scheme if you have temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015 and would like to participate in a SOLAS-approved full time post leaving certificate course.

FET courses and programmes are provided through the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across Ireland and through the SOLAS eCollege online platform.

There are a range of options available at Further Education and Training Courses.

Further education is free of charge or heavily subsidised. Courses are designed to support learners who are interested in:

• upskilling to enter the workforce or progress in their existing career.
• progressing into further or higher education.
• undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship.
• developing their skills in reading and writing.

I’m a refugee but I’m not Ukrainian, can I apply for the scheme?

No, this scheme is only for those who have been granted temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. You can apply for support via the statutory  Student Grant Scheme . Go to SUSI for more information.

I have subsidiary protection, can I apply for the scheme?

No, this scheme is only for those who have been granted temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. You can apply for support via the statutory Student Grant Scheme . Go to SUSI for more information.

I am currently in the international protection system process and live in Direct Provision, can I apply for the scheme?

No, this scheme is only for those who have been granted temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015.

However, you may be eligible to apply for financial support via the Student Support Scheme for people in the International Protection System as it provides financial grants for students who are in the protection system or at the leave to remain (but not deportation order) stage.

An adjacency criterion is being introduced for students who are entering the first year of their course in 2024/25. This means that the rate of Bursary payable for these students is determined by the distance between the student’s normal residence and the approved institution which he or she is attending.

• Adjacent rate – less than 30km between the student’s normal residence and the approved institution which he or she is attending.
• Non-adjacent Rate – 30km or more between the student’s normal residence and the approved institution which he or she is attending.

Students who started year 1 of a 2 year PLC course in 2023-24 and are progressing into year 2 of that course in 2024-25 will continue to be eligible for a Bursary of €6,115.

I got this Bursary last year, can I get it again this year?

If you received funding under the 2023 Bursary, you may be eligible for funding under the 2024 Bursary if:

• You are progressing into year 2 of a 2-year approved course or
• You completed a PLC qualification at QQI level 5 in 23/24 and now wish to attend a course at PLC QQI level 6

I already hold a further education/ PLC qualification from Ireland, can I get this Bursary?

It depends.

• If you have previously completed a PLC qualification at QQI level 5 in Ireland, you cannot avail of this Bursary unless you are now progressing onto a course leading to a PLC qualification at QQI level 6 (this can be year 2 of a 2-year course or a separate qualification at level 6)
• If you have previously completed a PLC qualification at QQI level 6 in Ireland, you cannot avail of this Bursary.

I already hold a further education/ PLC qualification from the Ukraine, can I get this Bursary?

Yes, if you hold a further education/ PLC qualification at QQI level 5 or 6 from the Ukraine you can apply for this Bursary.

I already hold a degree in the Ukraine, can I get this Bursary?

No, a student who already holds a higher education qualification (ie: a degree) from the Ukraine, Ireland or any other country cannot access the 2024 scheme.

I started a PLC course last year in Ireland and dropped out, can I get this Bursary?

If you previously attended an approved course in Ireland for less than a year but did not complete it, and now want to study a different PLC course, you have to complete an equivalent period of study before being eligible for funding.

For example, if you completed 5 months of a PLC course in the 2023/24 academic year and dropped out before completing the course, you will be required to complete 5 months repeat period of your new PLC course in the 2024/25 academic year before being eligible for funding.

A dedicated email address has been established to deal with student queries: plcbursary@susi.ie