Minister Lawless announces significant expansion of the student grant schemes to take effect from the new academic year
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Ó: An Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta
- Foilsithe: 3 Aibreán 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 12 Aibreán 2025
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless has encouraged eligible students to apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) following the opening for applications of student grant funding for the 2025/26 academic year.
Speaking today, Minister Lawless said:
"I am delighted to announce substantial eligibility expansions for students and families. My department has made significant improvements to the scheme that will benefit a wide range of applicants.
"The announcements today represent a further significant step in easing the financial burden on students attending further and higher education. The substantial increase in the thresholds for grants means a greater number of students will now be eligible for grant support.
"We know the cost of going to college can be very difficult for families and every year these costs have been increasing. This is why we have now expanded the scheme, significantly increasing the threshold to assist students and their families. Undergraduate students whose reckonable income is under €115,000 may now be eligible for support.
"These improvements will take effect from September this year. Please visit the SUSI website on www.susi.ie for further information and to find out if you are eligible for a grant."
Budget 2025 provided significant improvements to existing supports under the Student Grant Scheme and the Student Part-Time Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses. Improvements from September 2025 for eligible students will include:
- an increase in the income threshold to the special rate of grant from €26,200 to €27,400 in line with increases in social welfare rates
- an increase in all other income thresholds by at least 15%
- an increase to the income deduction for student earnings outside of term time from €7,925 to €8,424 effective for the 2025/26 academic year
- an expansion of the eligibility criteria to allow students who have certain immigration permissions to apply for grants. This will include those who received permission to remain under Strand 1 of the Department of Justice’s Regularisation Scheme for Undocumented Migrants and those who are the Parent of an Irish Citizen Child
SUSI is open for new applications from today, 3 April 2025, for both the Student Grant Scheme and the Part-Time Student Grant Scheme. Students should check out SUSI’s website to make an application.
Notes
Students planning on attending further or higher education in the next academic year, should log on to www.susi.ie and check out the Eligibility Indicator. This is a quick and easy way to see if you might be eligible for funding.
Students do not need to have their Leaving Cert results or to have accepted a course to apply. They can simply supply the details of the course they hope to study and update their course choice online at a later date.
Students who received funding in the 2024/25 academic year and are progressing to the next year of the course must submit a renewal application.
Students are advised to apply early as a high number of applications are expected over the coming months.
SUSI aims to have a decision with as many applicants as possible before the start of the new academic year and applications received on or before the priority processing dates will receive priority assessment. The priority processing dates are 5 June 2025 for renewal applications and 10 July 2025 for new applications.
The table in the document below outlines the increase in thresholds.
