Budget 2023: SUSI Student Grant Scheme measures

Once-off extra maintenance payment

Who will benefit?

Everyone who has been awarded a SUSI maintenance Grant will receive this payment. This includes PLC, undergraduate and Postgraduate Students who are in receipt of the Special Rate of Grant.

Students who are in receipt of support towards the cost of their fees only, including both Undergraduate Students and Postgraduate Students, are not included in this measure.

This is approximately 50,000 students.

How much extra will I get?

Students will receive a once-off payment which is equivalent to one monthly maintenance grant payment at 2022 levels (see table below).

When will I get my money?

The once-off payment is due to be paid by SUSI to all eligible students before the end of December 2022.

Once-off increase in Post Graduate fee Grant by €1000 from €3,500 to €4,500

Who will benefit?

Post Graduate Students who meet the eligibility criteria for a Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant. This excludes Post Graduate Students who receive the Special Rate of grant as they have their tuition fee contribution paid up to €6,270.

Around 2,400 students will benefit.

How much extra will I get?

All eligible students will receive an additional €1,000 paid on their behalf.

When will I get my money?

If you have already applied for a student grant, SUSI will pay the higher amount to your Higher Education Institution on your behalf.

Once-off €1,000 reduction in the Student Contribution rate

Who will benefit?

All higher education students eligible for the free fees initiative.

How much extra will I get?

For those eligible for support towards the Student Contribution SUSI will reduce the applicable rate payable to HEI’s on your behalf.

For those on the 50% Student Contribution Rate this reduction will mean that the balance you pay to your Higher Education Institution will be €1,000 (a reduction of €500) for the 22/23 academic year.

Increases to maintenance grant rates to take effect from 1 January 2023

Who will benefit?

All maintenance grant holders will benefit. This is around 50,000 students.

How much extra will I get?

The student grant maintenance rates will increase effective from January 2023.

This will mean that from January, the Special and Band 1 maintenance grant rates will increase by 14% and all other maintenance grant rates will increase by 10%.

Students in the current academic year will see their grant payments increase proportionately once this measure comes into effect in January. It is important to note that the increase which is effective from January 2023 will not be backdated to the start of the 2022/23 academic year.

For ease of reference, the indicative total increase to the SUSI maintenance grant recipient from January to May 2023 and the total academic year increase to the SUSI maintenance grant recipient from September 2023 onwards is shown on the tables below.

Total increase for SUSI Maintenance Grant recipients January to May 2023

Please note that the revised grant rate will take effect from January 2023 for the remainder of the 2022 to 2023 academic year and will not be backdated.

Total increase for SUSI Maintenance Grant Recipients 2023/24 Academic Year

Please note that the full academic year increase compares 2023/24 rate to existing 2022/2023 rate.

When will I get my money?

This is being commenced on an annualised basis from 1 January 2023. This means students will benefit from 5/9ths (around 55.5%) of the increase between January and May 2023.

Increase in income limit for 50% student contribution grant and new student contribution grant

There will be an increase in the income limit for the 50% student contribution grant, from €55,240 to €62,000. There will also be a new student contribution grant of €500 for incomes between €62,000 and €100,000.

Who will benefit?

42,500 - 50,000 families to receive support under the Student Grant Scheme for the first time.

Those who are assessed as having a reckonable income of between €55,240 and €62,000 will be eligible for a 50% student contribution grant.

This is estimated to bring around 8,000 new people into the scheme by making them eligible for the 50% student contribution grant rate.

Those who are assessed as having a reckonable income of between €62,000 and €100,000 will be eligible for a grant of €500 towards their student contribution fees.

This is estimated to bring somewhere in the region of 34,500 to 42,000 new people into the scheme by making them eligible for a €500 student contribution grant.

How much extra will I get?

Eligible students with reckonable incomes up to €62,000 will receive a grant toward 50% of the prevailing student contribution fee and those with a reckonable income between €62,000 and €100,000 will receive a €500 grant toward the prevailing student contribution fee (see table below).

Indicative changes to student contribution grant for September 2023

Please note that official changes will be made in the Student Grant Scheme 2023.

Increase in Post Graduate fee Grant by €500 on 2022 levels from €3,500 to €4,000

Who will benefit?

This measure will benefit post graduate students who are eligible for a postgraduate fee contribution towards the cost of their tuition fees. That means postgraduate students whose reckonable income is up to €55,240 and who are not eligible for the special rate of grant.

This will benefit around 2,400 students.

How much extra will I get?

All eligible students will receive an additional €500 paid on their behalf.

Reducing eligibility for second chance mature students from 5 to 3 years under the Student Grant Scheme

Who will benefit?

A mature student who is at least 23 years old, who is returning following a full 3 (previously 5) year break in studies and previously attended but did not complete a course and is returning to pursue an approved course at PLC, undergraduate or postgraduate level.

Exclusion of rental income earned under rent-a-room relief scheme from reckonable income

When will this measure come into effect?

This measure will come into effect for the 2023/24 academic year.

Reckonable income for the student grant is based on the tax year prior to application for a grant so as this measure will come into effect for the 2023/24 academic year it means that income earned under the Rent a Room Scheme in 2022 will not be included in the reckonable income calculation for grant applications made in respect of the 2023/24 academic year.

Increase in student earnings outside of term time from €4,500 to €6,552

Who will benefit?

Students whose reckonable income contains income from earnings that they have been earned outside of term time up to an increased limit of €6,552 may find that they will receive a higher rate of grant once this measure is introduced. Some new students may also find themselves eligible for a grant for the first time when the income above is disregarded.

When will this measure come into effect?

This measure will come into effect for the 2023/24 academic year.

Reckonable income for the student grant is based on the tax year prior to application for a grant so as this measure will come into effect for the 2023/24 academic year it means that income earned outside of term time in 2022 will not be included in the reckonable income calculation for grant applications made in respect of the 2023/24 academic year.