Credit Union Scholarships & Bursaries
Education
6
min read
04 Aug 2026
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Whether you're heading to college, starting an apprenticeship or enrolling in a PLC course, many credit unions across Ireland offer scholarships and bursaries to help members with the cost of further education.
Collectively, credit unions provide almost €750,000 in scholarships and bursaries each year. Around one in three credit unions in the Republic of Ireland and one in five in Northern Ireland offer a scholarship or bursary programme, helping members take the next step in their educational journey.
The list below highlights some of the scholarship and bursary programmes available through participating credit unions. As opportunities vary across the movement, we also encourage you to contact your local credit union to find out what educational supports may be available in your area.
Ballyconnell Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of six €500 bursaries.
Application Deadline: Applications Open on September 1st and close on 30/09/2026
Find Out More: www.ballyconnellcu.ie
Bannvale
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of four €500 bursaries.
Application Deadline: 18/09/2026
Find Out More: https://www.bannvalecu.com/news.asp?sf=69
Blessington & District Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of eight €1, 000 for entry into third level or €500 for entry into secondary school
Application Deadline: 18th September for Third level and 7th August for secondary school.
Find Out More: https://www.blessingtoncu.ie/Scholarship
Cahir Credit Union
Bursary Details: €1,500
Application Deadline: 26th September 2026
Find Out More: https://www.cahircu.ie/Student-Bursary-2026
Cairde Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of three €2,000 bursaries
Application Deadline: 30th September 2026
Find Out More: https://www.cairdecu.ie/community/student-bursary-2026
Castleblayney
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of two €1000 bursaries
Application Deadline: 5pm 26th September 2026
Find Out More: https://www.castleblayneycreditunion.ie/community-news/college-bursary/
Castleblayney Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of two €1000 bursaries
Application Deadline: 26th September 2026
Find Out More: https://www.castleblayneycreditunion.ie/community-news/college-bursary/
Claddagh Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of five €1000 bursaries
Application Deadline: 17th September 2026
Find Out More: https://www.claddaghcu.ie/unicash/
Clonakilty & Dunmanway
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of three €1,500 bursaries
Application Deadline: 30th September 2026
Find Out More: https://cdcreditunion.ie/at-the-cu/cash-for-college
Cookstown Credit Union Ltd
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of four £500 bursaries
Application Deadline: 29th August 2026
Find Out More: Email info@cookstowncu.com
Drogheda Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of fifteen €1,000 scholarships
Application Deadline: 5pm 28th August 2026
Find Out More: https://droghedacu.ie/student-scholarship/
Dunboyne & District
Bursary Details: Members can apply for €1000 student bursary or €1000 apprenticeship bursary.
Application Deadline: Mid January Annually
Find Out More: https://www.dunboynecu.ie/news.asp?id=100
Dungannon Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of two £1,000 awards
Application Deadline: 10th September 2026
Find Out More: https://dungannoncu.com/about/news-events/entering-3rd-level-education-in-september-2026-apply-for-a-dcu-student-bursary
Enniscorthy Credit Union
Bursary Details: €1,500 a year for up to three years for third level, €1,000 a year for up to three years for third level and €500 once off payment for Apprentice or PLC student
Application Deadline: October 24th 2026
Find Out More: https://www.enniscorthycu.ie/credit-union-news/scholarship-draw-2026-welcoming-apprentice-applications-for-the-first-time/
First Choice Credit Union
Bursary Details: Annual Fund up to €10,000 divided among recipients
Application Deadline: September 2026
Find Out More: Email marketing@fccu.ie
Goresbridge Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of five €1,000 scholarships
Application Deadline: 20th September 2026
Find Out More: www.goresbridgecu.ie
HSSCU
Bursary Details: €200,000 Bursary & Education Fund, including the Betty Noone Bursary
Application Deadline: End July & End August
Find Out More: https://www.hsscu.ie/betty-noone-memorial-bursary/
Inishowen Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of ten €1,000 bursaries
Application Deadline: 5th September 2026
Find Out More: https://inishowencu.ie/services/student-bursary
Kanturk
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of four €1,000 (3rd Level), or four €250 (2nd Level) bursaries.
Application Deadline: 18/09/2026
Find Out More: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2501544380361612
Kildare Credit Union Limited
Bursary Details: The winner of the Bursary will receive €1,000 per annum for up to three years towards the cost of third level education.
Application Deadline: 30th September 2026
Find Out More: https://kildarecu.ie/news-events/2026-chris-kelly-bursary
Kilrush Credit Union
Bursary Details: €1,000 bursary awarded to one student from each eligible secondary school within the Kilrush Credit Union common bond: Kilrush Community School and Kilkee Community College
Application Deadline: 18th September 2026
Find Out More: https://kilrushcreditunion.ie/services/student-hub/student-bursary
Larne
Bursary Details: Members can apply for a £1000 bursary
Application Deadline: 14th September 2026
Find Out More: www.larnecreditunion.com
Le Chéile Credit Union (Athboy & Oldcastle)
Bursary Details: €16,000.00 Le Chéile Scholarship & Bryan Keane Bursary (Leaving Certificate 2026)
Level 7 & Level 8 Students
Apprenticeships, PLC's & Level 6 Students
Application Deadline: 31st August 2026
Find Out More: https://lecheilecu.ie/news-events/le-cheile-scholarship-bryan-keane-bursary
Lifford Credit Union
Bursary Details: Four €1000 and two €500 bursaries are available to members to apply.
Application Deadline: 10th October 2026
Find Out More: https://www.liffordcu.ie/
Link Credit Union
Scholarships: Members who have taken out Education loan between 1st July - 31st Dec 2026 and has given consent to enter this draw can win one of ten €1,000 scholarships .
Bursaries: All members in third level education can apply for one of eight €1,000 bursaries.
Application Deadline: Scholarship draw 31st Dec 26
Find Out More: https://linkcu.ie/donations-and-sponsorship/
Naomh Breandan Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of three €500 Donal Burke Memorial Scholarships.
Application Deadline: 30 September 2026
Find Out More: https://naomhbreandancu.ie/community/scholarship
New Ross Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for a €1,000 or €500 bursary depending on their type and duration of courses. The bursaries for €1000 are open to any student starting a full time Irish third level education course with a minimum 2 year duration. The bursaries for €500 are open to any student starting a full time Irish PLC education course that has a one year minimum duration.
Application Deadline: 14th October 2026
Find Out More: https://www.nrcu.ie/student-bursary/
Newtownhamilton Credit Union Ltd
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of four £300 awards in their first year of college.
Application Deadline: Monday 21st September 2026 at 3.30pm
Find Out More: In Branch
Palmerstown Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for a €500 apprenticeship bursary.
Application Deadline: 25th September 2026
Find Out More: https://www.palmerstowncu.ie/community/scholarships-bursaries/apprenticeship-bursary
People First Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of eight €1,000 scholarship awards.
Application Deadline: 1st November 2026
Find Out More: https://peoplefirstcu.ie/services/scholarship-award
Portarlington Credit Union
Bursary Details: Bursary fund of €5,500
Application Deadline: 20th September 2026
Find Out More: www.portcu.ie
Progressive Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of five €3,000 scholarship awards.
Application Deadline: Friday 4th September 2026
Find Out More: https://progressivecu.ie/services/student-bursary
Sarsfield Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of three €2,000 bursary awards.
Application Deadline: 31/08/2026
Find Out More: https://www.sarsfieldcu.ie/services/bursary-awards
St. Brigid's Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of two €1,000 scholarships.
Application Deadline: 10th October 2026
Find Out More: www.stbrigidscu.ie
The Lough Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of three €1,500 bursaries.
Application Deadline: August 31st 2026
Find Out More: https://loughcu.ie/the-lough-cu-student-bursary/
The Rosses Credit Union Limited
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one of three €2,00 bursaries (€500 per year for four years)
Application Deadline: Friday 4th September
Find Out More: https://rossescu.ie/about-us/news-events/student-bursary
Tipperary Credit Union
Bursary Details: €1500 Tipperary Credit Union operates a €1,500 Student Scholarship Scheme. One student member of Tipperary Credit Union and one student from each of the five following secondary schools in the Common Bond of Tipperary Credit Union will be selected:
- Castletroy College, Limerick
- Scoil Na Trionoide Naofa, Doon, Limerick
- St Ailbe’s Secondary School, Tipperary Town
- St Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary Town
- The Abbey CBS, Tipperary Town.
Application Deadline: 31st October 2026
Find Out More: https://www.tipperarycu.ie/john-gaynor-scholarship/
Youghal Credit Union
Bursary Details: Members can apply for one €1,000 bursary for each year of university/ college course, one €500 bursary for PLC course & one €500 bursary for 1st year apprentices
Application Deadline: 30th September 2026
Find Out More: https://www.youghalcu.ie/studentbursary