Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary 2025

Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary 2025

The Learner Fund Bursary will open for applications for Graduates and Childminders in autumn 2025.

This year, changes to eligibility and selection criteria of the Learner Fund Bursary will be introduced to align the scheme rules with those of the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF).

The Learner Fund Bursary amount for 2025 will remain set at €1000 however where the demand for Learner Fund exceeds funding allocations successful applicants will be selected based on the new eligibility and selections criteria.

Since its inception in 2024, the pilot NSLF scheme has offered financial support to approximately 700 early years educators.  In view of the success of the pilot NSLF, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) now intends to wind down the Learner Fund Bursary by 2026.

The rules have been amended to reflect an alignment with the NSLF scheme in relation to the eligibility criteria (and the selection criteria in case of excess demand).

For 2025, the Learner Fund Graduate Bursary will be open to early years educators who fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

  • have graduated in 2024 or 2025 only;
  • have graduated with a Qualifications Advisory Board (QAB) approved Early Learning and Care Degree Programme at Level 7 or 8 only. 

If demand for Learner Fund Graduate Bursary Fund exceeds the available allocation in 2025, applicants will be selected based on criteria set out in the rules of the scheme.

For 2025, the Learner Fund Childminder Bursary will be open to childminders who fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

  • have graduated in 2024 or 2025 only;
  • have graduated with Level 5, or 6 award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or Level 7 or 8 on the Qualifications Advisory Board (QAB) list of approved Early Learning and Care Degree Programmes.
  • Applicants must currently be a Tusla registered Childminding Service.

The local City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) will process applications for Learner Fund Bursaries  for appraisal by the DCDE. 

The  Learner Fund Graduate Bursary and the Learner Fund Childminder Bursary will open for applications on 15 September 2025 and close on 17 October 2025.

Additional Links:

The list of  QAB approved Level 7 and Level 8 courses referred to above can be viewed at the attached link  list-of-approved-programmes-for-adherence-to-the-professional-award-criteria-and-guide.pdf.