HCI Micro-credential Fee Subsidy Eligibility Criteria

Be living fulltime in the Republic of Ireland

Have your own, valid PPS Number

a) You are an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss national or: 

b) You have Stamp 4/Stamp 4 EU FAM, Stamp 5, or Stamp 6 on your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card. This includes those resident here on Stamp 4 on the basis of:

     i) Having permission to remain in Ireland as a family member of an EU citizen or;

     ii) Having official Refugee/Subsidiary Protection status in Ireland /being here on the basis of refugee family reunification or; 

     iii) Having been granted Humanitarian Leave to Remain in the State (prior to the Immigration Act 1999) or; 

     iv) Having permission to remain following the Minister’s decision not to make a deportation order.

a) Have lived in either the EU, the EEA, the UK, Switzerland for at least 3 out of the last 5 years 

b) Any period the Department of Justice can count towards Citizenship can count towards residency (except stamp 2 & 2 a). 

c) If you have Refugee/Subsidiary Protection status in Ireland, residency is counted from the date you applied for International Protection. 1 The HEA reserve the right to modify eligibility and other entry criteria. 

Note 1: Applicants who are in receipt of an eligible DSP payment are not expected to demonstrate that they meet the Nationality/Visa requirement or 3 of the previous 5 years EU/EEA/UK/Swiss residency requirement. 

Note 2: The process for determining eligibility is undertaken by the third level institution to which the student is attending.

As per existing guidance under Note 1 of existing and current eligibility criteria: 

Note 1: Applicants who are in receipt of an eligible DSP payment are not expected to demonstrate that they meet the Nationality/Visa requirement or 3 of the previous 5 years EU/EEA/UK/Swiss residency requirement. 

Applicants who are in employment or returning to the workforce, would need to demonstrate their eligibility in line with existing guidance i.e., ostensibly on the same basis as an Irish citizen, including the residency requirements for 3 out of the last 5 years in the EU, the EEA, the UK, Switzerland. 

Employed Ukrainians under Temporary Protection and in receipt of a Temporary Protection Letter, are still required to meet the residency requirement i.e., a student must have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least 3 of the 5 years prior to entry to their third level course of study in order to qualify to participate in the programme.

Residency for 3 out of previous 5 years in the EU/ EEA/ UK/ Switzerland: 

Non-EU applicants, with the exception of “Unemployed” status and in receipt of a qualifying DSP payment, must provide evidence limited to the following visas for three out of previous 5 years residency in the Republic of Ireland: 

• Stamp 1
• Stamp 3
• Stamp 4 / Stamp 4 EU FAM / Stamp 4D 
• Stamp 5 
• Stamp 6 

NOTE 1: Stamp 2 & Stamp 2A are not reckonable towards residency and cannot be included in determining 3 out of previous 5 years residency. 

NOTE 2: Residency in another qualifying jurisdiction outside the Republic of Ireland (and in the EU/ EEA/ UK/ Switzerland) for non-EU nationals is assessed on a case-by-case basis and proof of equivalent visas is required. Holiday or educational visas are not acceptable.

When applying for the HCI Fee Subsidy through a participating University you must indicate your current employment status: 

• Employed - Working either for yourself or someone else. The sector you are working in and the size of the company. 
• Unemployed - Not currently working, receiving a qualifying welfare payment from the Department of Social Protection (unless you are formerly self-employed) and actively seeking employment.

Entry requirements to courses are set by individual course providers and may include recognition of prior experience and learning.