Visually impaired students invited to apply for 2023/24 Bursary

NCBI Gerard Byrne Bursary recipients for 2022 - Maya Flynn, Rafiat Agbona and Jack Spillane.

The National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), the country’s leading sight loss charity, is now accepting applications from students who are blind or vision impaired for our annual Gerard Byrne Bursary. 

The NCBI Gerard Byrne Bursary honours the contribution of Gerard Byrne, who was a lifelong advocate for education. The bursary consists of annual grants for undergraduate students who are blind or vision impaired studying on a full-time basis at a recognised educational institution in the Republic of Ireland. The value of each scholarship is set at €2,000 per year and continues for the duration of the undergraduate programme chosen by the Bursary winners. 

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

Toni O’Dwyer, National Services Manager for NCBI’s Children and Young Persons (CYP) team, said: “The Gerard Byrne Bursary is one of the most important tools that NCBI has in supporting young people to progress into and complete third level studies.

It provides support to students who are blind or vision impaired to lift some of the financial burden of post-secondary study so they can fully focus on completing their studies within an education system that can often leave them behind.

“This, along with our other education resources, like Bookshare Ireland and individualised support from the CYP team, continue to help break down barriers to education for people who are blind or vision impaired and who wish to progress beyond college and into the workforce.

“We would encourage students to read our accessible awarding criteria document, which is available on the NCBI website, and to apply if you are eligible. We can’t wait to meet our eventual 2023/24 Gerard Byrne Bursary award winners and to see how far they have and will come in their education goals.”

JULY DEADLINE

Deadline for applications is 21st July. Students who wish to submit queries about the bursary can do so at bursary@ncbi.ie. All details are available on NCBI’s Gerard Byrne Bursary webpage https://www.ncbi.ie/gerard-yrne-bursary/