September 2026 · Now Open
Learner Fund Graduate Bursary 2026
A €1,000 bursary for early years educators who graduated in 2024, 2025 or 2026
Kildare County Childcare Committee
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) has opened the Learner Fund Graduate Bursary to Early Learning and Care educators who are new graduates of a Qualifications Advisory Board approved Early Childhood Education and Care degree programme. Applications are processed locally by Kildare County Childcare Committee before appraisal by DCDE.
Applications are open now and close at 5pm on Friday 9th October 2026. Click the poster to open the full-size version for printing or sharing.
| €1,000 bursary per successful applicant |
Level 7 & 8 QAB approved ELC qualifications |
2024–2026 academic years of graduation |
Applications close
Friday 9th October 2026 at 5pm
Applications opened on Monday 14th September 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
About the bursary
In 2026 the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is offering a bursary of €1,000 to Early Years Educators who have completed a Qualifications Advisory Board (QAB) approved ELC qualification at Level 7 or Level 8 in the academic years 2024, 2025 or 2026.
The eligibility and selection criteria for this scheme have been aligned with those of the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund, so that applications to both schemes are assessed on an equitable basis. Applications are submitted to and processed by your local City/County Childcare Committee before being appraised by DCDE.
Who can apply
To be considered for the Learner Fund Graduate Bursary in 2026, all of the following must apply to you:
- ✓You completed a QAB approved ELC qualification at Level 7 or above in the academic years 2024, 2025 or 2026.
- ✓The qualification is completed in full. The bursary is not paid for partially completed awards.
- ✓The qualification is the one that qualifies you to work in the Early Learning and Care sector, and it appears on the QAB List of Approved Programmes.
- ✓You are working in a Tusla registered Early Learning and Care service at the time of application.
- ✓You have not received the Learner Fund Bursary before. Applicants may only apply once and cannot be granted the bursary a second time.
- ✓You did not receive any public funding towards completing the award relating to this application.
Please note: staff working in standalone School Age Childcare services are not eligible to apply.
What you need to send with your application
Please gather your documents before you begin, as incomplete applications cannot be accepted.
- ✓Your graduating certificate — or, in its place, a full transcript of the completed degree. A full transcript can be obtained from the educational institution where you studied and must clearly show that you have been awarded the full degree.
- ✓A copy of your fees statement from your Higher Education Institution for the final year of study.
- ✓Photographic identification, provided along with all other supporting documents.
- ✓The name on your certificate or transcript — please apply using the same name that appears on your qualification documents.
How to apply
Download and complete the application form, attach your supporting documents, and return your completed application to Kildare County Childcare Committee before the closing date.
If demand exceeds the available funding
If applications for the Learner Fund Graduate Bursary exceed the funding available for 2026, applicants will be selected using the following criteria, applied in order of priority:
- The number of graduates in the applicant's service, with priority given to applicants from services with no graduates.
- The Equal Start Priority Index, with priority given to applicants from services supporting the most disadvantaged children (index 1 = the first 9% of most disadvantaged services, index 2 = the second 9%, followed by all remaining services).
- Whether the applicant is in a Core Funded partner service.
- If the above prioritisation has been applied and has not been decisive, random selection will be applied.
Important to know
Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted, so please allow yourself time to gather every document before the deadline. The decision of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is final and cannot be appealed.
Applications for the Learner Fund Graduate Bursary 2026 are open now and close at 5pm on Friday 9th October 2026. If you graduated in 2024, 2025 or 2026 and you are working in a Tusla registered Early Learning and Care service, we would encourage you to apply.
For more information on the Learner Fund Graduate Bursary, please contact Lorraine at lorraine.jennings@kccc.ie or call 045 861307.