Applications for Student Grants for Autumn 2024
This September, many young Irish people will hopefully be accepting places at Universities and Colleges.
A large number of those students will be relying on student grants to help with living expenses and travel etc. Student grants were cut in recent years – but at least they are still available here in Ireland.
Student Grant Applications in Ireland are dealt with by SUSI. (Student Universal Support Ireland).
SUSI Opening Dates
Renewal grant applications opened on the 9th of March 2024
NEW student grant applications opened at SUSI on April 13th 2024.
If you think you might be eligible for a student grant, you should apply for it as soon as possible.
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SUSI Closing Dates
The priority closing dates are usually around the 9th of June for renewal applications and the 7th of July for new applications,
The “official” closing date for receipt of 2024/25 applications is usually the end of July 2024. But Student Universal Support Ireland will usually allow late applications. (See Below).
On average, it takes approx. 5 weeks to process an application.
Do not delay your grant application until you receive an offer of a place or enrol in college.
You can complete the student grant application with the details of your first choice of course. As the application progresses you will be provided with an opportunity to change this information. If you applied through the CAO and ticked the SUSI ‘opt-in’, the CAO will automatically confirm to SUSI which course you have accepted.
Late Applications
The closing date for Online Applications for the 2024/25 academic year is expected to be November 1st 2024. Students who wish to make an application after that date must satisfy one of the following criteria in order to be granted access to make a late application.
- Your course is starting after November 1st 2024.
- You have had a Change in Circumstances under one, or more, of the following criteria, after November 1st 2024 and no later than the end of the 2024/25 academic year;
- Reckonable Income;
- Number of Dependent Children;
- Relevant Persons commencing an approved course;
- Normal Residence;
- Nationality or immigration status; and/or
Change of course or institution. - You experienced extenuating circumstances that adversely affected you and your ability to make an application prior to November 1st 2024. Some examples of this would be a close bereavement or medical circumstances.
Grants are available to eligible students attending most colleges in Ireland as well as for Irish students attending most colleges in Northern Ireland, the UK and the other EU States.
SUSI is accepting applications in the usual way from Irish students intending to study approved courses in the UK and from UK students intending to study in Ireland, as they can continue to avail of student grants if eligible.
You can access the Online Student Grant Application system by visiting www.susi.ie and clicking “Apply Now”. Alternatively, you can reach the system through the URL www.grantsonline.ie
How Much is the Student Grant in Ireland?
The full maintenance grant for students living away from home is €4292 a year.
The income of you and/or your family is the main factor in working out your eligibility for a student grant.
Don’t assume that your parent’s income is too large to qualify – you can still get some level of grant support even if your parent’s income is as much as €100,000 a year (Even more if you come from a family with a large number of children.)
The income threshold for the 50% student contribution grant is €62,000 per year (from 1 September 2024)
The levels of student grants payable range from a maximum of €7856 to as low as €500 a year. It depends on the level of your parent’s income and if you are living at home or not.
If you get a student grant you normally get the tuition fees and “registration fee” covered too. (That’s worth around another €3000).
The grant is paid in 9 monthly instalments.
Income Disregards for Student Grant
Gross income is used to calculate the eligibility for student grant applications in Ireland – but there are a few types of income that are not used.
- Employment-related expenses as approved by the Revenue Commissioners that appear on your Statement of Liability, (formerly P21);
- income from employment which represents holiday earnings outside of term time, maximum €7925;
- maintenance payments made under a legally enforceable arrangement to a separated spouse, as approved by the Revenue Commissioners that appear on your Statement of Liability, (formerly P21);
- contributions to pension schemes and pension or retirement products, within the limits allowed by the Revenue Commissioners that appear on your Statement of Liability, (formerly P21)
- overtime payments earned in the reference period (2023) that are not recurring payments.
As well as the above disregards – there are also many social welfare payments that are disregarded. See the list here
Students who are currently in receipt of a student grant and who are progressing to the next year of the same course will continue to be assessed and paid by the existing awarding authorities – i.e. the relevant local authority or Vocational Educational Committee.
If you are changing your course or starting a new course in 2024 you will need to apply to SUSI. (Student Universal Support Ireland)
Any queries .. contact the SUSI Support Desk
E-mail: support@susi.ie – Telephone: 0818 888 777
(Don’t worry about call charges on that 0818 number)
SUSI Student Universal Support Ireland. www.susi.ie
Mon-Fri 9:00 – 17:30
Post: SUSI PO BOX 12210, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
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As far as we are aware – the thresholds remain the same as last year.