Moonpig Is Giving One Leaving Cert Student Up to €2,500 for College
The results are in. Leaving Cert 2026 is officially done and dusted, and if you’ve spent the last few days alternating between proud tears and quietly googling what the student contribution actually costs these days, you’re in very good company.
Because here’s the thing nobody warns you about when your child starts secondary school: Results Day isn’t just emotional. It’s the moment the financial reality of third-level education comes into sharp, slightly terrifying focus. The student contribution alone can run to thousands of euro before a single lecture is attended or a single ready meal is microwaved in a student flat.
Which is why what Moonpig Ireland is doing right now feels genuinely worth knowing about.
A prize that actually makes a difference
To celebrate the Class of 2026, Moonpig is running a nationwide competition 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 one of the first big costs families face before the college year even begins.
Students can enter by submitting a short written piece of between 100 and 150 words explaining what completing the Leaving Cert means to them and how winning the prize would help them start their next chapter. It’s a lovely idea — not a quiz, not a social media gimmick, just a genuine chance for a student to put their experience into words and be heard.
A parent or legal guardian can also enter on behalf of their child, which means if your teenager is currently too busy celebrating (or sleeping, let’s be honest) to fill in a form, you can do it for them.
Thoughtful graduation gift picks to celebrate the big day.
The pressure is real
Research from Zurich Ireland puts some sobering numbers on what most families already feel instinctively. More than half of parents believe their child is under financial strain at college while seven in ten say their child works a part-time job alongside their studies. That’s not the college experience anyone pictures at the start of sixth year.
Alice Kinsella, Country Lead at Moonpig Ireland, put it well: “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.”
The winner will be selected by a judging panel and announced after the release of CAO Round One offers. The prize will be paid directly to the winner’s university, so it goes exactly where it’s needed.
How to enter and how to celebrate
Entries close at midnight on Monday 31st August so there’s still time to get involved. Students or their parents can enter at moonpig.com/ie/leavingcert where the full terms and conditions are available. The competition is open to residents of the Republic of Ireland only and to students who sat the June 2026 Leaving Certificate.
Four Leaving Cert congratulations cards for every milestone.
And while the forms are being filled in, Moonpig’s dedicated range of Leaving Cert cards, flowers, balloons and personalised gifts is well worth a look. With next-day and Saturday delivery available across Ireland, there’s no reason the celebrations can’t feel as big as the moment deserves. Whether it’s a card from a proud parent, a personalised gift from a grandparent or something small and thoughtful from a family friend, it all adds up to a day this year’s graduates won’t forget.
They worked hard for this. A little fuss is well-earned.