Moonpig Is Giving One Irish Student Up to €2,500 Towards College Fees

If you’ve a Leaving Cert student in your house this August, you’ll know that the next few weeks are a rollercoaster. The waiting, the what-ifs, the quiet googling of CAO points at midnight. And hovering in the background, for most families, is the very real question of how you actually afford what comes next.

Moonpig Ireland has launched a nationwide competition that could take a significant chunk of that pressure off one lucky student’s shoulders — and it’s open for entries right now.

What’s on offer

To mark Results Day and celebrate the Class of 2026, Moonpig is giving one Leaving Cert student a single prize of up to €2,500 towards their student contribution for the 2026/27 academic year. That’s the maximum mandatory charge in Irish third-level education and, as any parent who’s been through it knows, one of the first big financial hits before term even begins.

The competition is open now, with entries closing at midnight on Monday 31st August. Students can enter themselves by submitting a short written response of 100 to 150 words explaining what completing the Leaving Cert means to them and how winning the prize would help them begin their next chapter. A parent or legal guardian can also enter on behalf of their child. No purchase is necessary.

The prize will be paid directly by Moonpig to the winner’s college or university via bank transfer, and the winner will be announced following CAO Round One offers.

Because the cost of college is no joke

It’s not just the student contribution. It’s the accommodation, the books, the laptop, the bus pass, the bits and pieces that quietly add up before they’ve even attended a single lecture. Research from Zurich Ireland found that more than half of parents believe their child is under financial strain at college, and 70% say their child works a part-time job alongside their studies. For a lot of families, that’s not a surprise — it’s just the reality.

Alice Kinsella, Country Lead at Moonpig Ireland, put it simply: “Leaving Cert Results Day is one of those moments families remember forever. It’s a day filled with excitement, pride and anticipation, and at Moonpig we’re passionate about helping people celebrate life’s biggest milestones. We also know this exciting next chapter often comes with real financial pressures, so we wanted to do something that genuinely helps one student as they take that next step.”

Don’t forget the card either

Whether your teen gets the points they were hoping for or needs a moment before figuring out what’s next, Results Day is still worth marking. Moonpig has a dedicated range of Leaving Cert and congratulations cards, along with flowers, balloons and personalised gifts, with next-day and Saturday delivery available across Ireland. So even if you’ve left it to the last minute (no judgement), you can still pull something lovely together.

A lovely range of Leaving Cert congratulations cards for 2026.

To enter the competition or browse the full range, head to moonpig.com/ie/leavingcert. The competition is open to residents of the Republic of Ireland only, and full Terms and Conditions are available on the entry page.

Good luck to every student waiting on that envelope. You’ve earned the celebration, whatever comes next.